Utah Columbian Sharptailed Grouse SAFE

State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE)

Overview

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Pheasants 

Forever of Utah, and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources 

are partners in implementing a State Acres for Wildlife 

Enhancement (SAFE) project to enroll agricultural land 

in three Northern Utah areas, including Box Elder, Rich 

and Cache Counties. The purpose of the Utah Columbian 

Sharp-tailed Grouse SAFE is to increase quality grassland, 

shrub steppe, mountain brush, and riparian habitat for the 

Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse.

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 Utah Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse SAFE 

project is to provide habitat for the Columbian Sharptailed Grouse. The Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse is 

important to Utah because it will enhance CRP habitat in 

the areas of Northern Utah by improving on and adding to 

the existing habitat that CRP currently provides.

AUGUST 2023 UTAH

Habitat

Landowners and agricultural producers participating in 

Utah Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse 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 Utah Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse. The 

habitat being established is bunchgrass prairie and shrub/

bunchgrass rangelands in good–excellent condition with a 

small percentage of the landscape in tall, deciduous shrub 

thickets provided by shrubby riparian zones, mountain 

shrub patches, and aspen stands. After the habitat is 

established, it will need to be maintained and managed by 

grazing (outside the primary nesting season), seeding of 

forb plots (during the primary nesting season), mechanical 

and chemical work must occur outside of the primary 

nesting season. A second application is only allowed if 

initial seed bed prep was sufficient to dissuade birds from 

nesting in seeding area. Proper habitat establishment, 

maintenance, and management will maximize benefits for 

Columbian Sharp-tail Grouse.
STATE ACRES FOR WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT (SAFE) 2

Project Location

The Utah Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse project location is 

partially located in Box Elder, Cache, and Rich counties.

Eligible CRP Practices

This SAFE project uses the following CRP practices:

 CP38C-3, SAFE Tree Planting

 CP38C-3A, SAFE Hardwood Tree Planting

 CP38E-2, SAFE Establishment of Permanent Native 

Grasses and Forbs

 CP38E-4D, SAFE Permanent Wildlife Habitat

Haying and Grazing

Grazing is allowed under all non-emergency provisions 

of CRP policy. Grazing is prohibited under emergency 

provisions according to CRP policy. Haying of SAFE acres is 

not allowed.

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

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.
STATE ACRES FOR WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT (SAFE)

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

Utah Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse SAFE Project Map

AUGUST 2023