The Baker County Board of Commissioners approved two grant agreements on Aug. 25 to support sage‑grouse habitat work and spatial mapping of raven subsidy sites.

Caitlin Harrold, the county’s Sage‑Grouse Local Implementation Team coordinator, told the commission the first agreement is a three‑year site‑specific grant with Pheasants Forever totaling $145,894.80 to fund her position through June 30, 2028. Harrold said the award is intended to bridge a funding gap between federal Farm Bill (FIP) cycles and provide match for current FIP work while supporting coordination among agencies, stakeholders and landowners.

County staff confirmed federal grant certifications were reviewed and that the county has a SAM registration and is subject to single‑audit requirements. Staff said additional certifications required by the grant will be signed and submitted before the agreement proceeds.

The commissioners then approved an Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) grant of $18,802.50 to hire a contractor to classify raven subsidy locations across the county in ArcGIS. Harrold said the county applied in the spring and the project will provide a geographic inventory for planning.

Nut graf: The grants aim to maintain the county’s on‑the‑ground sage‑grouse coordination and to supply GIS data that county and partner agencies can use for habitat conservation and management.

Ending: Both motions passed with unanimous verbal aye votes; staff said further ratified paperwork and certification forms would follow as funding is finalized.