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

2015 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 represents the Administrative Draft Proposed Plan, with final edits made in May 2015.

Use Cases

• Classify land parcels by habitat management category (PHMA, IHMA, GHMA) for regulatory compliance mapping.
• Analyze the spatial distribution of Priority Habitat Management Areas (PHMA) relative to sage-grouse occupancy data.
• Overlay Habitat_Management_Area polygons with land ownership or use data to assess conservation opportunities.
• Model habitat connectivity and fragmentation using the geospatial boundaries of General Habitat Management Areas (GHMA).

Strengths

• Data reflects a multi-agency collaborative effort involving BLM, USFS, and state wildlife services.
• Includes three distinct, legally-relevant habitat management classifications (PHMA, IHMA, GHMA).
• Specific edit history is documented, with updates noted for September 2014 and May 2015.

Limitations

• Dataset represents a 2015 administrative proposal, not necessarily final, current on-the-ground status.
• Sample data and specific row/feature counts are unavailable for assessing granularity.
• Description mentions some areas were added based on specific models not reflected in earlier alternatives, indicating potential inconsistencies.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Delineated by interagency teams based on sage-grouse occupancy, landscape, habitat, and land use considerations.

Time Range

2015 (Administrative Draft Proposed Plan).

Freshness

Last platform update was 2026-04-04, but the underlying data reflects a 2015 plan.

Geography

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