The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel reports that the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado is asking the state Department of Local Affairs for a $380,000 grant for the project.
The group hopes to receive money that has been made available through a new state law aimed at improving cooperation between the federal government and local groups on public lands issues.
The mapping project is a response to the Bureau of Land Management's recently finalized land-management plans for sage grouse habitat in Colorado and 10 other states. The coalition hopes to make a more detailed map to pinpoint sage grouse habitat and avoid restrictions on grazing, oil and gas development, power-line construction and other activities.
