Colorado Western Slope 

Grouse Conservation SAFE

State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE)

Overview

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Colorado 

Parks and Wildlife (CPW) are partners in implementing a 

State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) project to 

enroll agricultural land in portions of 6 counties on the 

Western-Slope of Colorado. The purpose of the Colorado 

Western Slope Grouse Conservation SAFE is to restore and 

enhance habitat for the Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse, 

Greater Sage-grouse, and the Gunnison Sage-Grouse, all of 

which are species of concern in the state of Colorado. This 

project targets the conversion of cropland to a specific cover 

providing a superior habitat for at-risk grouse species.

Background

SAFE is part of the USDA Conservation Reserve Program 

(CRP). CRP is a federally funded voluntary program that 

contracts with landowners and agricultural producers to 

establish and manage vegetative covers that control soil 

erosion, improve water quality, and provide wildlife habitat. 

SAFE is a unique type of CRP that offers organizations 

the opportunity to partner with the USDA to establish 

habitat for high-priority wildlife species on agricultural 

land. SAFE sponsors work with the USDA to identify the 

wildlife species, the vegetative cover that provides habitat 

for the target species, and the location in the state where 

the habitat is needed. A partnership is formed between the 

SAFE sponsor and the USDA, and federal funds are made 

available to allow for CRP enrollment on eligible land within 

the SAFE project location.

Target Wildlife Species

The goal of the Colorado Western Slope Grouse 

Conservation SAFE project is to provide habitat for 

Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse, Greater Sage-grouse, and 

the Gunnison Sage-grouse. These bird species are important 

to Colorado because of the social and economic benefits 

to local communities in the area as well as their historic 

presence and role in the ecology of the region.

Habitat

Landowners and agricultural producers participating in 

Colorado Western Slope Grouse Conservation SAFE are 

required to develop a conservation plan with assistance from 

the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) 

or a technical service provider. The conservation plan will 

provide details on how to plant, establish, and manage 

habitat for Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse, Greater Sagegrouse, and the Gunnison Sage-grouse. The habitat being 

established is diverse grass and shrublands including grasses, 

shrubs, forbs, and legumes. After the habitat is established, it 

will need to be maintained and managed by discing, grazing, 

and interseeding as needed and authorized. Proper habitat 

establishment, maintenance, and management will maximize 

benefits for the targeted bird species in this project.

MARCH 2023 COLORADO

Photo Courtesy: Wayne Lewis, Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
STATE ACRES FOR WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT (SAFE) 2

Project Location

The Colorado Western Slope Grouse Conservation SAFE 

project location is portions or entirety of Dolores, San 

Miguel, Montezuma, Routt, Rio Blanco, and Moffat counties 

in the areas of the Dolores, San Miguel, Little Snake and 

Yampa Rivers.

Eligible CRP Practices

This SAFE project uses the following CRP practices:

 CP38E-4D, SAFE Permanent Wildlife Habitat

 CP38E-12, SAFE Wildlife Food Plot (Only eligible when 

used in conjunction with CP38E-4D)

 CP38A-33, SAFE Habitat Buffers for Upland Birds

 CP38E-42, SAFE Pollinator Habitat

Haying and Grazing

Acreage enrolled in this SAFE project is not eligible for 

emergency or non-emergency haying and grazing. Grazing is 

only authorized as a required management activity.

Eligibility Requirements

Because SAFE is part of CRP, certain land and participant 

eligibility rules apply. To begin with, land must be in the 

project area and meet cropping history. CRP participant 

eligibility rules also apply to SAFE.

Payments and Incentives

In exchange for participation in CRP SAFE, the Farm 

Service Agency (FSA) provides participants with annual 

per acre rental payments, cost-share to assist with habitat 

establishment expenses, and in some cases additional 

monetary incentives.

For More Information

This fact sheet is provided for informational purposes only; 

other restrictions or requirements may apply. Consult your 

local FSA office for details. For more information, contact 

your local service center and USDA Farm Service Agency 

office: farmers.gov/service-locator.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. fsa.usda.gov/co

Photo Courtesy: Trevor Balzar, Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
STATE ACRES FOR WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT (SAFE)

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. fsa.usda.gov/co

Colorado Western Slope Grouse Conservation SAFE Project Map

MARCH 2023