Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat Management Areas for Idaho and Southwestern Montana

2015 spatial data delineates Priority, Important, and General Habitat Management Areas for the Greater Sage-Grouse in the Idaho-Southwestern Montana sub-region. The dataset was developed by the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, State of Idaho, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of an Environmental Impact Statement. It reflects administrative decisions and edits made through 2015.

Use Cases

• Analyze the spatial distribution of Priority Habitat Management Areas (PHMA) versus General Habitat Management Areas (GHMA) for conservation prioritization.
• Overlay the Habitat_Management_Area attribute with land ownership or use data to assess management conflicts.
• Model species occupancy by correlating the habitat management area classifications with sage-grouse population survey data.
• Track changes in habitat designations by comparing the 2015 PHMA, IHMA, and GHMA boundaries with earlier alternative maps.

Strengths

• Polygon data covers the entire Idaho-Southwestern Montana sub-region of the Great Basin.
• Includes three distinct, policy-relevant habitat classification attributes (PHMA, IHMA, GHMA).

Limitations

• Dataset is based on a 2015 administrative plan and may not reflect current on-the-ground conditions.
• Specific row/feature counts and precise spatial resolution are not provided in the metadata.

Provenance

Source

U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

Collection Method

Delineated by interagency collaboration (BLM, U.S. Forest Service, State of Idaho, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) based on species occupancy, landscape, and habitat considerations.

Time Range

2015

Freshness

Data reflects a 2015 administrative plan, with a platform record last updated in 2026.

Geography

Idaho and Southwestern Montana, USA, within the Great Basin Region.