NE Sharp-tailed Grouse Habitat Enhancement

The need is: sharp-tailed grouse are listed SGCN and their habitat management is embedded in DNR-SWAP. Populations are declining due to quality habitat loss/degradation. This is occurring because brushland habitats are growing older, more dense and more rank and openland habitats (old fields/hay meadows/upland grass is being encroached upon by brush and trees. This all due to lack of adequate, routine management because DNR Wildlife lacks funding necessary to enhance and maintain these habitats in the Transition and Forest Zones. Sharptail populations have experienced a precipitous decline evidenced by spring dancing ground surveys which show a 50% loss of these Leks in the past 10 years. These project sites suffer the same "plague" as the above described scenario. The acres planned to be treated with this ECP Grant DO NOT overlap the acres to be treated with the MSGS/PF OHF FY 15 Partnership Grant.