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Sagebrush habitat fuels $1B in recreation spending

By WTOP Staff

SCOTT SONNER
Associated Press

RENO, Nev. (AP) — Visitors to federal rangelands with significant tracts of sagebrush pumped about $1 billion into the economy in 11 Western states last year, according to a study released Tuesday by advocates of protecting sage grouse across the region.

The study is the first of its kind to examine the direct and indirect economic impacts of recreation spending tied to U.S. Bureau of Land Management property with habitat for sagebrush-dependent species, according to the Pew Charitable Trusts.

Hunters, campers, fishermen and others spent more than $623 million directly within 50 miles of Bureau of Land Management property in sagebrush ecosystems across more than 61 million acres, said the report by ECONorthwest, an economic consulting firm founded in Oregon in 1974.

The most money was spent directly in Idaho with $126 million, the report said, followed by Nevada, $88 million; Wyoming, $87 million; Oregon, $75 million; Colorado, $50 million; and Utah, $39 million.

The ripple effect of that spending in the form of indirect and induced investments produced a total economic output of $1.06 billion, including $172 million in Idaho, $152 million in Montana, $119 million in Nevada, $108 million in Wyoming and $103 million in Oregon, the report said.

Pew commissioned the study with the Western Values Project, a nonprofit group that advocates a balance between energy development and conservation. “Protecting greater sage-grouse habitat is not just wise conservation policy, but also sound economic policy for the West,” said Ken Rait, director of Pew’s U.S. public lands project.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering listing the greater sage grouse as a threatened or endangered species, a move critics fear could have a negative economic impact in the form of restrictions on oil and gas exploration and livestock grazing on public lands.

Officials for the Washington D.C.-based Public Lands Council, which works with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and other livestock groups, said the study demonstrates the economic importance of access to public lands but that its focus is too narrow.

“Ranchers are the year-round drivers in the West when it comes to wildlife conservation and in particular, sage grouse conservation,” said Dustin Van Liew, the council’s executive director. “The biggest threats to the bird and its habitat are wildfire, land fragmentation and development — and all of these are diminished by keeping livestock on public lands and ensuring ranchers have the ability to stay in business.”

Biologists consider the greater sage grouse to be an indicator species whose population numbers signify the health of the entire sagebrush ecosystem that supports a wide array of wildlife.

The researchers used the Bureau of Land Management’s 2013 visitation data for areas with at least 10 percent sagebrush cover and plugged them into a formula similar to one the Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Research Station used last year to calculate visitor spending averages at national forests.

The estimated 67.8 million visitor days to the bureau’s sagebrush lands included 27 million primarily for camping and picnicking, 7.9 million for off-highway travel, 7.1 million for non-motorized travel, 5.7 million for hunting, 4.4 million for special events and activities and 4 million for viewing public land resources, the report said.

Nevada Department of Wildlife spokesman Chris Healy said sage grouse live on the same lands where Nevadans hunt mule deer, elk and chukars. “A lot of those hunters live in urban areas, so they load up their trucks and buy gas and rent motel rooms and buy meals,” Healy said.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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