Getting a Seat & Environmental Excellence

Getting a Seat & Environmental Excellence. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.

The Wilderness Society, National Wildlife Federation and mining watchdog group Earthworks have all won the right to have a seat at the table during legal battles between the government and opponents of new U.S. protections for the greater sage grouse. Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter didn't oppose granting intervener status to the three national conservation groups in the lawsuit he filed last fall but nine Nevada counties, three mining companies and a livestock ranch opposed to the move. The environmentalists say they back the Obama administration's new land use planning amendments that protect thousands of square miles of grouse habitat across the West.

The Palouse-Rock Lake Conservation District is being recognized for leadership in making on-the-ground improvements that benefit healthy farms and protect clean water. Brook Beeler with the Washington Department of Ecology says the District has really been a strong agricultural partner.

BEELER: They have really been committed to working with landowners to make on the ground improvements that not only benefit agriculture and farm practices but they also benefit the environment. They've improved water quality by installing 40 miles of vegetative buffers that help provide shade to improve temperatures. Over the years they're planted 100-thousand native trees that also help provide shade and they've just been an incredible partner for us all along the way.

That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network of the West.