12-7-2010 Elko Daily Free Press

Nevada to receive sage grouse funds

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service is providing $6.5 million to Nevada to continue efforts to preserve the sage grouse species and assist farmers.

"It is important that we prevent the sage grouse species from becoming endangered and provide assistance to our farmers and ranchers who are playing an important role preserving Nevada wildlife," Reid said.

"Nevada producers already have good projects under way as a result of the first round of funding, and I welcome this continued funding so we can keep the sage grouse off the endangered species list," he said in the Friday announcement.

Nevada also received funding last year for its efforts to preserve the sage grouse.

In recent years, the sage grouse population has dramatically declined, and Reid secured $16 million from the USDA in 2009 to be dispersed to 11 states where the species is found.

This year, Nevada's $6.5 million allocation is the most funding of any Western state, except for California, according to Reid.