Recreational Activity/Human Disturbance Sample Clauses

Recreational Activity/Human Disturbance. ‌ Recreational wildlife-watching of the Covered Species is strictly managed by the Ranch Wildlife Manager to minimize any negative impacts to the Covered Species. The small number of wildlife enthusiasts permitted to access the Ranch to view the Covered Species and other wildlife species are led by professional birders and are not permitted to disturb the Covered Species. A primary recreational activity on the Ranch is pioneer handcart treks by The Church of Xxxxx Xxxxxx of Latter-day Saints (Church). Begun on the Ranch in 1998, treks are re-enactment events in which groups of people replicate the expeditions of pioneers who pulled handcarts in the 1850s from Iowa across Nebraska and Wyoming into Utah to establish their headquarters and settlements there. There are about 9,000 to 12,000 participants annually, with treks beginning in late May and continuing through about mid-August. The treks are coordinated and led by volunteer Church missionary couples. All trek participants are accompanied by Church missionary couples. Participants are typically on the Ranch for three to five days and engage in camping in designated camping areas and in pulling handcarts on designated trails. Treks currently occur on the private land on the southern one-third of the mid-elevation area of the Ranch. Treks occur within GSG nesting, early and late brood-rearing habitat in the southern mid- elevation area of the Ranch. Trek activities may potentially result in occasional disturbance, displacement or incidental take of GSG; primarily disturbance of hens, nests and broods. The conservation measures employed to minimize negative impacts on GSG are to: • educate the trek missionary leaders and participants regarding GSG life history, habitat use, avoidance areas (e.g., lek locations), and potential negative effects from treks; • minimize the trek footprint on the Ranch by concentrating activities on designated roads, trails and camping areas; and, • situate trails and campgrounds to avoid lekking, nesting and brood-rearing habitat during critical times. The Ranch manager, assisted by the Ranch wildlife manager, approves all trek routes and campsites. Although these activities do not occur during the GSG lekking season, routes and campsites are carefully routed to avoid lek locations. Trek leaders and participants are trained to be watchful for nesting and brood rearing GSG. Trek leaders will adjust routes and camping areas to avoid locations where GSG are engaged in those activi...