The Montana Sage Grouse Oversight Team (MSGOT) on Sept. 18 approved $3.4 million of sage grouse habitat program funding to conserve over 46,000 acres of key sage grouse habitat in central and southwest Montana. MSGOT approved funding for two Montana Land Reliance projects and one The Nature Conservancy in Montana project. Jessie Wiese, MLR Southwest Manager and Brad Hansen, MLR Eastern Manager; and Jim Berkey, TNC High Divide Headwaters Director, presented sage grouse habitat conservation projects to MSGOT and received program approval. MSGOT also approved three sage grouse term leases, a first for the program.