The long road toward a new plan for the beloved Bridger-Teton is finally underway. Add your voice today to ensure the process gets off to a good start!
A few weeks ago, the Bridger-Teton National Forest released its draft assessment report. Though not a decision-making document, this report spells out the forest’s current social, ecological, cultural, and economic conditions.
This is the first of many steps toward a plan that will guide management of the Bridger-Teton for decades to come — so it’s critical we start with a comprehensive assessment. (Forest planning is a little like cooking dinner: You wouldn’t plan what to make without first seeing what ingredients you have in your pantry, right?)
As our team has parsed through the draft assessment, we’ve noticed some gaps that we think the Forest Service needs to address. We’ve laid those out in detail below.
Will you speak up for the future of the Bridger-Teton?
Deadline: August 24, 2025
Writing a public comment is easy and only takes a few minutes. We’ve included a few suggested talking points below, but please personalize your comment and share any important corrections you think the draft assessment needs.
Suggested talking points:
- Ungulate Migrations: The Assessment does not include a full inventory of big game migration data, including for the iconic Wyoming Range mule deer herd. Although it includes the three state-recognized migration corridors that overlap the Forest, it fails to recognize all the peer-reviewed research for elk, mule deer, pronghorn, and moose migrations. The Forest should include all big game migration data in the Final Assessment, including all the migration data published by USGS.
- Wild and Scenic Rivers and Wilderness: The Assessment should include current trends regarding the successes and challenges of managing Designated and Eligible Wild and Scenic River Segments and Wilderness to help inform future management. The Forest should likewise work to finish the Wild and Scenic Rivers Eligibility, and Wilderness Inventory and Evaluation promptly and provide meaningful opportunities for the public to weigh in on the analyses and relevant recommendations that might be incorporated into the draft forest plan.
- Tribal Engagement & Areas of Tribal Importance: The Forest should continue formal consultations with tribes who maintain connections to the BTNF as their ancestral homeland and migratory territories, and provide intentional opportunities for tribal communities and individual voices to be heard.
- Recreation: Recreation on the Bridger-Teton has increased dramatically since 1990. The Forest should include any and all relevant data and information on recreational use, to ensure that a new forest plan appropriately mitigates wildlife conflicts and ensures sustainable recreation management. or shared our open citizens sign-on letter.
- Potential Species of Conservation Concern: The common loon, Yellowstone cutthroat trout, and Bonneville cutthroat trout should be included on the list of potential species of conservation concern, given their unique populations and ongoing threats to their persistence.lp protect the best things about Wyoming.
The Bridger-Teton is one of Wyoming’s most cherished places. Now is the time to speak up to ensure the forest planning process starts with the most complete information possible.
Thank you for supporting Wyoming’s largest forest. If you’d like to learn more and speak directly with Forest Staff, consider attending an open house near you!
August 12 — Wilson, Old Wilson Schoolhouse, 5–7 p.m.
August 19 — Cokeville, Cokeville Town Hall, 5–6:30 p.m.
August 20 — Bondurant, St. Hubert the Hunter Church, 5–6:30 p.m.
August 21 — Alpine, Alpine Civic Center, 5–7 p.m.
Image: © Scott Copeland Images