Northwest Colorado's Vermillion Basin. © Sam Cox
The Sagebrush Sea covers approximately 100 million acres of the American West, making it one of the most extensive landscapes in North America. We support conservation across the entire Sagebrush Sea but focus on the portions found in Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado, which are defined by wide-open spaces, large herds of free-ranging antelope, and a stunning high desert landscape punctuated by the massive uplifts of the Wind Rivers, the Uintas, and other dramatic mountain ranges. The Sagebrush Sea is also home to both species of sage-grouse and several prairie dog species like the white-tailed, Utah, and Gunnison’s. Here are a few specific Sagebrush Sea gems we seek to protect:
Uinta Basin. Some of the largest and healthiest white-tailed prairie dog complexes, reintroduced black-footed ferrets, ferruginous hawks, burrowing owls, and mountain plovers all call this basin in northeastern Utah home. In addition, oil shale outcrops harbor rare plants like Graham’s penstemon and White River penstemon. While concentrating oil and gas development often makes good biological sense, this important basin contains too many rare species to declare the whole area a sacrifice zone. In conjunction with Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, Utah Native Plant Society, Western Resource Advocates, and other partners, Center for Native Ecosystems is working to ensure that energy development does not cause the further imperilment of Uinta Basin species.
Gunnison sage-grouse. © BLM
Vermillion Basin. Located in the remote northwest corner of Colorado, this area has been proposed for wilderness because of its expansive colorful badlands, rugged canyons, spectacular scenery, and other wilderness qualities. The area is also home to significant archeological sites and numerous at-risk native species like the kit fox. We are working with our Colorado Wilderness Network friends to protect this magnificent Colorado jewel.
Gunnison Basin/Grand Valley. The Gunnison Basin is a high-elevation valley in western Colorado, characterized by its namesake river, wet meadows, mountain valleys and forests, sagebrush, and the spectacular river canyon known as the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Just adjacent is the Grand Valley, which shares the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area with the neighboring Gunnison Basin. These unique landscapes harbor such at-risk inhabitants as the Gunnison sage grouse, endangered native plants like the clay-loving wild buckwheat, and Colorado River endangered native fish species. The Gunnison Basin and Grand Valley are suffering from a rapid loss of habitat as their ranches and open space are consumed by ranchettes and suburban sprawl, overgrazing, and severe pollution problems from irresponsible off-road vehicle use and other sources. Oil and gas drilling is also making its mark as large numbers of acres are leased and new operations started.
