THREATENED SPECIES --  Federal officials have announced public meetings in Idaho to amend the 2015 sage grouse conservation plan that was accomplished in 2015 after more than 10 years of collaborative effort.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management in a news release Wednesday says meetings are set for Nov. 2 in Twin Falls, Nov. 6 in Idaho Falls, and Nov. 7 in Marsing.

The Interior Department last week announced plans to amend the 2015 sage grouse plan that has been unpopular with Idaho officials, although other states such as Montana support the plan to keep the once prolific prairie grouse from being listed as an endangered species.

Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter has been critical of the plan that he says is too restrictive and ignores Idaho conservation efforts.

BLM State Director Tim Murphy says Idaho has a large proportion of the nation’s sage-steppe rangeland and the public meetings are an opportunity to offer suggestions on how the BLM manages that land for sage grouse.