HELENA, Mont — The Montana Sage Grouse Oversight Team (MSGOT) will meet on Thursday, November 21, 2019, from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. in Room 152 at the Montana State Capitol in Helena, Mont.

MSGOT will consider policy direction for Program staff concerning term lease and term easement negotiations and consider increasing the Stewardship Account grant award amount for the Watson Conservation Easement.  MSGOT is expected to take executive action on these two topics.

All meeting materials are available on MSGOT’s meeting web page. See https://sagegrouse.mt.gov/Team.

The Montana Sage Grouse Habitat Conservation Program works to sustain viable sage grouse populations and conserve habitat, enabling Montanans to maintain control of their lands, wildlife, and economy by avoiding a listing of the Greater Sage-grouse under the federal Endangered Species Act.  The future of sage grouse in Montana will depend on our collective efforts.

A copy of the agenda appears below.

AGENDA

Montana Sage Grouse Oversight Team (MSGOT)

November 21, 2019:  1:00 – 3:00 p.m. 

Montana State Capitol

Room 152

1:00 – 1:10:  Call to Order and Administrative Matters, John Tubbs, MSGOT Chair and DNRC Director

·         Introductions

·         Approve Minutes:  September 18, 2019

1:10 – 1:40:  MSGOT, Program, and Partner Reports

1:40 – 2:00:  Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks 2019 Greater Sage-grouse Population Report

2:00 – 2:15:  Policy Direction for Staff Concerning Term Lease and Term Easement Negotiations for Future Stewardship Account Grants

• Introduction:  John Tubbs, MSGOT Chair
• Public Comment
• MSGOT Discussion and Potential Executive Action

2:15 – 2:25:  Watson Conservation Easement:  Increase Stewardship Grant Award

• Introduction:  Carolyn Sime, Sage Grouse Habitat Conservation Program Manager and Montana Land Reliance
• Public Comment
• MSGOT Discussion and Potential Executive Action

2:25 – 2:45:  Update on Implementation of Senate Bill 299

• Carolyn Sime, Sage Grouse Habitat Conservation Program Manager, and MSGOT Members
• Public Comment

2:45 – 3:00:  Public Comment on Other Matters