The Elko County Sagebrush Ecosystem Conservation Strategy In the spring of 1999, the Sage Grouse Pod members began looking at the 12 issues identified as possible risks to sage grouse health. They met biweekly for six months covering each topic of concern. Monthly meetings followed, with periodic update reports to the full membership. Gary Back, Pod chairman, responded in 2001 to Governor Guinn'ss request for NNSG to participate as one of six Nevada working groups to produce the state conservation plan for sage grouse. Back was instrumental in guiding the progress of the state process. Following this, in May of 2004, the final Strategy document was presented to the Governor's Sage Grouse Team in Reno, Nevada.
Over the five years of Strategy development, natural resource and ecosystem topics were part of the NNSG monthly meeting presentations, symposia, workshops and research projects. The writing of the Strategy was contracted to insure a consistent voice for the document; there were about 20 to 30 individuals who participated in its preparation and finalization. The Strategy represents a collaborative construction of an ecosystem/watershed-conscious approach to land management for northeastern Nevada. Documents, maps and photos associated with the Strategy:
- The Elko County Sagebrush Ecosystem Conservation Strategy
- The Brussard Document
- ARS, Very Large Scale Aerial (VLSA) photographic information
- Vegetation Treatment Demonstration Plots
- Watershed map showing fire history, sage grouse leks, property ownership patterns, vegetation data and topographic features
- Watershed Assessment maps
- Watershed heritage overview of historic patterns of use and development
- Current Watershed patterns of use
- Projected patterns of Watershed restoration and sustainable management