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Kristen Gunther

Kristen Gunther grew up with a passion for public lands, beginning with the state park and waterways that surrounded her family’s home in Harford County, Maryland. After she finished her undergraduate study at Bowdoin College in Maine (with one detour to Tanzania), she moved to Wyoming as an AmeriCorps volunteer and fell in love with the state’s wild places. She completed an MFA in creative writing at the University of Wyoming in 2012, followed by a PhD in UW’s Program in Ecology in 2017. Her doctoral research focused on improving science communication for ecosystem managers who apply technical concepts on the ground. In 2017, she became the March for Science’s director of strategy. At MFS, she worked to unite hundreds of partner organizations and more than a million marchers worldwide under one nonpartisan mission as well as to create tools for local activists, develop a permanent network structure and strategy, and mobilize supporters. Kristen lives in Lander with her husband, Rusty, and their melodramatic bird dog, Gus.

The 2021 Wyoming Conservation Vote Report

Posted on by Kristen Gunther

THE 2021 WYOMING CONSERVATION VOTE REPORT

In this year’s general session the Wyoming Legislature considered more than 440 bills, and the Wyoming Outdoor Council tracked more than 50 that were related to wildlife, clean air and water, revenue generation, renewable energy, public lands, and transitions for Wyoming’s energy workforce.

READ THE REPORT

In our 2021 Conservation Vote Report, we broke down eight bills that were of high importance to us (and that received floor votes in the House and/or Senate) to identify how state legislators voted on key conservation issues.

Of course, the interim is already underway and committees are studying topics that may yield new legislation in next year’s session. We’ll continue to keep you informed on key issues that arise and let you know when there are opportunities to get involved.

Upcoming public meetings on chronic wasting disease in southeast Wyoming

Posted on by Kristen Gunther

Upcoming public meetings on chronic wasting disease in southeast Wyoming

Since the first chronic wasting disease cases were identified in Wyoming in the mid-1980s, herds in the southeast portion of the state have borne the brunt of this always-fatal disease. The Laramie Mountains mule deer herd, which covers hunt areas 59, 60, and 64, has one of the highest rates of CWD in Wyoming. In recent years, sampling conducted by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department has found CWD in around 26 percent of hunter-harvested bucks.

In the coming weeks, state wildlife managers will be holding a series of local public meetings to discuss CWD impacts and management strategies for the Laramie Mountains herd. If you have a connection to deer in this part of the state — as a hunter, landowner, or wildlife lover — we strongly encourage you to come out and learn about what Game and Fish is doing to address herd health and the long-term outlook of our big game populations.

June 14, Wheatland, First State Bank Conference Center
June 15, Laramie, WGFD regional office
June 16, Cheyenne, WGFD state office
June 28, Sybille Canyon, Tom Thorne/Beth Williams Wildlife Research Center
June 29, Glendo, Town Hall

All meetings start at 6 pm. There is also an option to join the June 16 meeting via Zoom by registering at this link.

The Outdoor Council is a strong supporter of the Game and Fish Department’s CWD management plan, which was the result of a collaborative process that drew from the best available science on this challenging issue. Public input is key to developing and implementing management strategies that benefit wildlife while also meeting the needs of local communities: If you’re able, please take this opportunity to learn more about the science of CWD, ask questions, and share your thoughts.

If you can’t attend a meeting, you can email martin.hicks@wyo.gov with questions or comments. And if you have questions, would like some more resources or reading material, or are looking for ways to get involved, please reach out to kristen@wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org.

Conservation bills to watch at the Wyoming Legislature

Posted on by Kristen Gunther

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The Wyoming Legislature has reached a long-awaited milestone: the official start of the four-week, in-person session in Cheyenne. (However, because most of us can’t safely participate in person at the Capitol, the legislature will continue offering options for participating remotely.) 

Now that we’re heading into the heart of the session, we wanted to share some updates on what’s coming up at the legislature and how you can be prepared to get involved.

ROOFTOP SOLAR: STILL IN DANGER

When you last heard from us about SF 16, New net metering systems, we shared that thanks to your participation and the massive public interest in (and opposition to) this bill, it had been bumped to the March session. Though this created additional time to conduct important outreach to legislators and stakeholders statewide, the bill is still alive and we could see it in committee in the coming days.

Sign up for our email alerts, because we’ll let you know the moment we know when we expect to see this bill in House Corporations. This committee meeting will be the last opportunity for legislators to hear testimony directly from Wyomingites about their strong support for rooftop solar and energy independence. We know we’ve already asked a lot, but rest assured that your involvement is making a massive difference. We need your support in this final push to help protect rooftop solar!

PROTECTING PUBLIC LANDS AND WILDLIFE

This week, HB 141, Transfer of federal lands, was officially received for introduction. This marks the upteenth time that a group of Wyoming legislators, flying in the face of public opinion and the will of Wyoming people, has tried to advance the idea of unconstitutionally seizing federal public lands in Wyoming. As in past years, we’ll show up strong — and keep you posted on ways you can raise your voice to oppose this perennial, terrible idea.

We’re also tracking HB 101, Elk feedground closings-requirements. This bill creates a politicized process that the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission would have to follow before being able to close an elk feedground. We’ll be watching and talking to legislators to ensure that Game and Fish is not hindered from making science-based decisions in the best interest of Wyoming wildlife and communities.

The earlier part of the session, by contrast, saw some good news, as funding to support wildlife crossings infrastructure passed in HB 66, Large project funding.

REVENUE, THE BUDGET, AND WYOMING’S ECONOMY 

As the state faces a historic structural shortfall in its budget, the question becomes: Who pays our bills, and how do we cover costs when our traditional revenue sources fall short?

Unfortunately, there is a real reluctance on the part of our legislature to consider sustainable revenue solutions. Though we supported innovative revenue measures over the interim, such as the implementation of a real estate transfer tax on high-dollar properties, to date the legislature has been reluctant to advance new tax proposals. Instead, we’re seeing efforts to double down on our mineral economy in spite of global market trends, as legislators seek to give more tax breaks to oil and gas and oppose the current federal administration’s pause on oil and gas leasing.

Where legislators are considering revenue proposals, they seem to be embraced in a somewhat punitive manner, encouraging raising or levying new taxes on renewable energy. Despite robust economic analyses that show raising these kinds of taxes can actually drive renewable projects to other states rather than generating new revenue, we’ve seen three bills so far embracing this concept (HB 28, HB 94, HB 108). The Wyoming Outdoor Council opposes these proposals; while we aren’t blanket supporters of industrial scale renewables, we also don’t support the state excluding thoughtfully-sited and well-managed renewables projects from our future economy.

We’ll continue advocating strategically for revenue proposals that have the capacity to help us transform and stabilize our state economy for the future — look for more information in the coming weeks. It’s also important to remember that with a budget shortfall come budget cuts. Over the session, we’ll keep our eye on potential budget cuts that could affect Wyoming’s environmental quality and wildlife, in particular programs that protect our right to clean air and water.

STAYING PLUGGED IN THROUGH A CHAOTIC SESSION

Your legislators will be working hard and processing a tremendous volume of information during the fast-paced session, and your perspective is key to helping them make the best decisions possible. In future updates, we’ll highlight important upcoming opportunities for you to get engaged.

And if you have a question or concern about a bill, email us! We are always happy to help and provide the best information we can to ensure you can make your voice heard with our decision makers. That’s what we’re here for!

Thanks for your constant engagement and support, and we’re looking forward to working together throughout the session!

 

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Plug in to the People’s House

Posted on by Kristen Gunther

Each winter, members of the Wyoming Legislature gather in Cheyenne. The halls and side rooms of the (now newly-remodeled) Capitol buzz with conversations between legislators, lobbyists, staff, citizens, and journalists. Committee meetings are often standing room only, and people pack the public galleries above the House and Senate floors. 

Each winter, that is, but this one. Almost a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, Wyoming still has a challenge left to tackle: how to conduct the 66th Wyoming Legislature’s 2021 general session.

The reality that citizens will be able (or, at times, required) to attend the session virtually brings some complications. Some are unique, such as roadblocks to public participation for people without reliable high-speed internet. Other ongoing issues, like the challenging pace of tracking bills, will be magnified. But there are also new opportunities: Virtual legislative meetings have given citizens the opportunity to participate in a meaningful way without having to miss work or drive across the state. And the state is installing video equipment in the Capitol’s legislative meeting rooms, so we hope that the public will have improved access to important committee deliberations.

This year at the legislature, we at the Wyoming Outdoor Council will be continuing our 54-year history of advocacy for public lands, wildlife, clean air and water, and quality of life. And we invite you to do the same! No matter how different this legislative session is, one thing remains unchanged: Your voice matters. 

A HYBRID APPROACH TO THE SESSION

In early January, we finally learned details about the 2021 session. The legislature briefly gaveled in on January 12, just as Frontline was going to press. Committees met the week of January 18, and the full legislature will consider bills that pass out of those committees during an 8-day virtual session January 27 to February 5. Additional committee meetings will be held the week of February 22 and, if COVID-19 restrictions allow, the legislature will reconvene in person for the month of March.

There are only a handful of conservation bills that we know about right now. The most important is a bill sponsored by the Corporations Committee, SF 16, New Net Metering Systems. This bill would effectively kill the small-scale renewable energy sector in Wyoming, including rooftop solar. We will work to oppose this legislation and you can count on us to provide you with more details and action alerts on this topic in the coming weeks. We’re sure we’ll see more wildlife, energy, and environmental quality-related bills arise during the session and will keep you updated. 

Here’s what you should know about testifying to legislative committees online, based on how it worked during the interim. The good news is that, regardless of whether you’re at the Capitol or on your couch, you can be a voice for conservation in Wyoming by following the same basic approach.

SIGN UP. Committee meeting schedules are available at www.wyoleg.gov. To sign up, click the “Testify” button next to the scheduled meeting.  The button will take you to a form to register for that specific committee and meeting date. 

GET INSTRUCTIONS FROM LSO. You’ll receive an email from the Legislative Service Office with information about how to join the meeting. 

PREPARE YOUR TESTIMONY. Outdoor Council staff are always happy to offer advice if you aren’t sure where to start. More on this below!

LISTEN IN. When the meeting starts, you can join using the link provided by the LSO. You’ll enter the meeting as a webinar attendee.  It’s always good to show up early so that you are aware of the committee’s discussion prior to the public comment opportunity. When public comment is announced, you will have the option to indicate you wish to make a comment. And when it is your turn to speak, you will be able to turn your camera and audio on so that the committee can see and hear you. Make sure your Zoom profile displays your full name. 

BE STRATEGIC WITH SIGN UPS. If there’s a topic of interest to you that you may want to weigh in on, go ahead and sign up to testify. You can always decide not to comment. 

TIPS FOR TESTIFYING

GET COMFORTABLE WITH THE PROCESS. If you’re able, attend or listen to committee meetings before your bill is discussed to get a feel for the members and their priorities. Most importantly, sitting in will help you feel more confident when it’s your turn.

IT HELPS IF YOU CAN BRING SOMETHING NEW TO THE TABLE. Your case will be more compelling if you introduce a new perspective or find a new way to make a point instead of repeating comments that have already been made. Explain how you, or values important to you, will be impacted. 

HAVE AN ELEVATOR PITCH. You might be asked to limit your testimony if there are a large number of people speaking. Be prepared to make your point in under three minutes. 

IT’S OK TO BE NERVOUS! Citizen speakers have far more clout with legislators than paid lobbyists. These elected officials see the professionals often, but authentic citizen voices can be rare, so you’ll get special attention. Remember, however, to always be respectful in your demeanor and comments.

TIPS FOR WRITING AN EFFECTIVE EMAIL

Sending an email to your legislator only takes a minute or two and can be a meaningful way to connect. But make sure it’s personal: If a group provides you with a pre-written form email, ignore it and write your own message. 

During the interim, legislators may benefit from a detailed letter or email to help them understand your position on an issue. That’s not the case during the session — there simply aren’t enough hours in the day and legislators get hundreds of emails. To ensure your message gets read, keep it brief, straightforward, and respectful.

We suggest this three-sentence formula:

Introduce yourself and make a connection. (This is important to legislators who will read the first line and possibly discard the message if they think it’s a form email.)

State the position you want them to take (i.e. to oppose or support the legislation) and provide the title or subject of the bill as well as the bill number.

Explain why. Cite your personal experience or values. 

Example:
“Hi Rep. Jones, I live in Sheridan and recently installed solar panels on my shop. I’m writing to ask you to please vote no on SF 16, the net metering bill. This bill would unfairly raise my utility costs and punish hard-working people like me who have invested in rooftop solar.” 

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Your legislators work long and hard on behalf of their constituents, but they can’t represent your values if they don’t hear from you. Whether you email your senator, testify to a committee, or offer to meet your representative for a cup of coffee once you’re able to do so safely, you can help give them the information and insight they need to be effective. 

If you haven’t already done so, please take a moment to register for Outdoor Council email alerts by visiting www.wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org/signup. Like always, we’ll send timely updates about the legislature and let you know when you need to take action on a particular bill. And please reach out to our staff if you’d like any help preparing testimony or have questions:

Steff Kessler
stephanie@wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org
Kristen Gunther
kristen@wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org

See you at the legislature!

What’s next for Wyoming’s big game?

Posted on by Kristen Gunther

This winter, Gov. Mark Gordon signed an executive order detailing how mule deer and pronghorn migration corridors will be identified and managed in the state. The Wyoming Outdoor Council was heavily involved in the advocacy, collaboration, and negotiations that led to this order, and we were pleased the governor took this important step. But what does this new policy mean? It means now the real work begins.

The governor’s order affirmed the designation of three corridors that had gone through the Game and Fish Department’s analysis and public process: the Sublette mule deer corridor (also known as the Red Desert to Hoback) and the Baggs and Platte Valley mule deer corridors. While the Sublette corridor has already gone through a risk assessment to evaluate landscape-level challenges affecting this herd and habitat, neither the Baggs nor the Platte Valley have. 

We anticipate new information on these assessments in the near future, and have communicated with Game and Fish staff about our suggestions for best conducting these analyses. When these assessments are completed, they will be released as drafts for public feedback and discussed in public meetings before being finalized. After designation, the executive order prescribes the formation of local working groups for each corridor to discuss ongoing management challenges and opportunities.

When the executive order was signed, two corridors were in draft status (i.e. not yet formally designated): the Sublette antelope corridor (the Path of the Pronghorn) and the Wyoming Range mule deer corridor. These corridors will be the first to move through the entirety of the new designation process. We anticipate seeing the Path of the Pronghorn discussed at a Game and Fish Commission meeting later this year, and will continue to advocate for designation. 

The Game and Fish Department will also continue to identify other migration corridors around the state. Though the governor’s order only applies to mule deer and pronghorn, the department will continue its work to identify and manage elk migration corridors. We will continue to advocate for a formal corridor designation process for other ungulate species. Stay tuned for new developments.  

While the governor’s order puts the weight of law behind the value of wildlife migration corridors, the future of our big game herds depends on us. Advocacy from Wyoming people about the value of our large, migratory herds was critical in getting us to this point, and will continue to be necessary in the long term.

Please watch for updates about the next opportunities to be involved in corridor advocacy, and reach out to us if you have interest in any of the specific migration corridors currently being studied.  

Conservation advocacy in a time of quarantine: we’re going remote!

Posted on by Kristen Gunther

The current COVID-19 pandemic is dramatically reshaping everything about how we live, work, recreate, and spend time with our families. At the Wyoming Outdoor Council, much of our work involves traveling to communities around the state and ensuring that you have the tools and information necessary to be an informed, engaged citizen and conservation advocate. Over the last few weeks, we’ve been challenging ourselves to think about how we can continue to do this work and we’re excited to offer the below new events and resources. We encourage you to stay tuned as we’ll be reaching out to you in new ways, too! 

We’re also taking this opportunity to announce a new way that we’ll be talking about our community engagement work. From now on, you can find information about conservation leadership training, volunteer and internship opportunities, public events, citizen workshops, and more, under a brand new page we’re calling FIELD — Fostering Impact through Environmental Leadership Development.

To learn how you can take action “in the field” with our citizen engagement programs, check out the new FIELD page. 


Virtual community engagement events 

This week, we’re holding our first-ever, all-online Beers & Bills! This Friday, join us at 3:30 p.m. for a “happy hour” Beers & Bills (it’s BYOB this time!) where we’ll recap the 2020 Wyoming Legislative Session, follow up on bills that we worked on throughout session, and answer your questions about what happened as well as what’s next. 

We’ll continue hosting “drop-in” events and brown bag lunches, too — they’ll just be online! Keep your eyes on your inbox for special invites to roundtable, conversational events where we discuss some of the most pressing conservation issues in your community.


NEW! Live from the FIELD: Lessons for K-12 Wyoming students

Are you a parent looking for engaging educational content for your kid? Are you a student curious about conservation issues and science in the state? Join us for online lessons about topics ranging from mule deer to climate change to wildlife disease! We’re kicking things off next week with two lessons about mule deer with two Wyoming migration scientists, one for elementary schoolers and one for high schoolers. Visit our FIELD page for more information and to RSVP.


Conservation leadership training goes online!

In 2018, the Outdoor Council conducted our first 8-week conservation leadership training in Lander. In 2020, we will be offering this course again … now online, and open to a statewide audience! If you’re interested in learning the nuts and bolts of policymaking, developing a toolbox of organizing and advocacy skills, and getting field-tested advice from Wyoming organizers and leaders, watch your inbox for information on how to apply in the coming weeks. If you have questions in the meantime, drop me a line.


Remote public comment opportunities

While much of our normal lives has slowed or stopped, some important state and federal processes affecting our natural resources continue to move forward  — meaning that it’s just as important as ever that you raise your voice for Wyoming conservation values. We’ll work to provide resources online and by mail to help you weigh-in to ensure that wildlife, public lands, and clean air and water in Wyoming receive the robust protections that Wyomingites favor. Make sure we have your contact information correct and up-to-date here!

Have an idea? A lesson for K-12 you’d like our help with or that your kids are interested in? A topic or issue you’d like us to address with some remote programming? Email me and let me know — we want to know how we can best help you! 

While we’re all wrestling with the big changes that COVID-19 has brought to our lives, the Outdoor Council is committed to doing all that we can to bring resources to Wyoming communities. We’ll continue working daily to protect Wyoming conservation values. Thank you for standing alongside us through this uniquely challenging time — your support and membership makes our continued advocacy possible.

Wrapping up the 2020 budget session and preparing for what’s ahead

Posted on by Kristen Gunther

In the days since the Wyoming Legislature adjourned at the close of the 2020 budget session, the political and social reality of our state has shifted drastically, as we all face the public health and economic threats posed by COVID-19.

At times like these, we remind ourselves why we do our work: because we are proud of Wyoming as a community and the values we share — and because those values include helping our neighbors and pitching in to do the hard work when it’s most critical. As the Code of the West says, we must all “live each day with courage.” We are honored to represent you, and will continue working hard to advocate for our shared convictions about what makes Wyoming special and strong. 

In that spirit, this is our final legislative update of 2020, an accounting of the end of the session. Thank you again for working alongside us to protect the future of our state. We have mostly good news to share, and many legislators to thank (stay tuned for an email next week!) but there’s no doubt that the work will continue — especially the work to define the future of our state as we wrestle with challenging economic realities.

BILLS THAT LIVED AND DIED IN THE LAST WEEK

Our first good news of the week arrived March 9, as the House Minerals committee voted 5-4 against SF 110, a bill that would have evaluated the property tax equivalency of federal public lands and which was supported by many anti-public lands interests. In addition to our concerns with treating public lands as if they were private, we were not convinced spending $500,000 on such a study would provide any meaningful or economical benefits. A strong and diverse group of interests opposed this bill — and many of you voiced your concerns with your legislators. Thank you for your input, and thanks to the House Minerals committee for their thoughtful deliberation and decision not to move this bill forward. 

Meanwhile, another problematic bill — SF 75, Instream flow application process — died in the House without being heard for a first reading vote. This bill would have hampered the Game and Fish Department’s authority to make decisions about fisheries habitat, and inappropriately handed important decisions based strictly on biology to the Wyoming Water Development Commission. With the death of this bill, the balance between agencies making instream flow decisions remains intact. 

An important conservation bill passed muster in the Senate at the deadline: HB 13, Sage grouse mitigation credits. This bill codifies an important aspect of our state sage-grouse strategy that is not currently backed by federal policy. We were very glad to see this collaboratively built, extensively worked bill pass into law! 

Unfortunately, HB 200, Reliable and dispatchable low carbon energy standards, passed its third reading vote in the Senate despite several senators voicing their unease during floor debate. The bill requires utilities to invest in expensive carbon capture technologies that have yet to be made efficient at scale — an investment the companies will be legally entitled to pay for through hiking rates on Wyoming citizens. We anticipate extensive discussion on the implementation as there will be a lengthy rulemaking period, and will keep you informed. 

Some other major votes in the final week: 

  • After substantial floor debate and significant amendments, HB 159, Monthly payment of ad valorem tax on mineral production passed in the Senate. This bill will help ensure counties receive tax payments that fund vital services, including schools and special districts, in a timely fashion. 
  • The last day of the session involved extensive negotiation over mirror bills HB 249 and SF 138, which sought to authorize the purchase of one million acres from Occidental Petroleum in the checkerboard lands of southern Wyoming. SF 138 was the final version of the bill, and includes improvements to public process and transparency as well as a limit on how much money the state can take from the rainy day fund if the purchase is approved.

These bills are only a fraction of those that we tracked at the session related to Wyoming’s natural resources and communities. Thank you for staying with us and springing into action when your voice was most needed!

THE BUDGET AND VETOES

In the final week, legislators and advocates alike awaited the return of the final budget bill from the governor’s desk. When the budget was returned to legislators, it contained 19 line item vetoes, including two that were good decisions for conservation:

  • Gov. Mark Gordon vetoed an amendment that was inserted in the Senate, sponsored by Sen. Cheri Steinmetz, as a backstop to SF 110. In a letter explaining his veto, Gov. Gordon noted that it was inappropriate to include an amendment that mirrored a bill that did not pass, and that he shared the concerns of many legislators that the $500k investment would not provide a return. 
  • Gov. Gordon also vetoed a confusing budget amendment, run by Sen. Eli Bebout, which sought to codify that any “bottlenecks” created by wildlife crossing projects cannot be managed as migration corridors. Though this amendment was unlikely to have any impact on crossings projects or migration corridor management, it represented another concerning attempt from the legislature to micromanage wildlife habitat.

We are grateful to the governor for his leadership on these two vetoes.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Revenue and budget questions still loom large in the state. The downturn in global markets in early March cast a long shadow on the final days of negotiations, and we anticipate that the questions our legislators wrestled with are not going away anytime soon. 

What does this mean for the Wyoming Outdoor Council? It means that your engagement, and our shared efforts to create forward-looking opportunities for the future of this state, are more important than ever. 

Increasingly, revenue is a conservation issue. Without new ideas about how to fund our government, we will continue to see bills that attempt to insulate our extractive industries from changing markets and a shrinking demand for coal. This approach not only undervalues the natural resources that power our tourism and outdoor recreation sectors and fuel the heart of our communities — it jeopardizes them. For more on how the Outdoor Council and our members are thinking about the future of our state and its economy, check out our most recent Frontline. 

We’re trying to do our part by encouraging the legislature to take up several forward-looking topics in the upcoming interim. In the final committee meetings, we advocated that the legislature consider new revenue streams that can stably support wildlife, outdoor recreation, and schools; proactively work to create a statewide siting plan for renewable energy development; and consider how collaborative improvements to outdoor recreation access could enhance and strengthen communities around the state.

Most of the issues we face do not have short-term fixes, but we made some important first steps this session and look forward to continuing this work throughout 2020. Our legislators have large tasks ahead of them as they work to define our shared future, and with your support, the Outdoor Council will be there to lend a hand and continue advocating for a future that protects our state’s conservation heritage. 

Stay tuned. Next week, we’ll be sending around one of our most important legislative emails: our thank you email. Conservation successes in Cheyenne are only possible because of the hard work and dedication to public service embodied by so many of our legislators. We want to be sure to express our gratitude — and hope you’ll join us. 

And thank you. We know that in this time of uncertainty, it’s easy to feel disconnected and uneasy about our shared future. But we remain hopeful about the future of Wyoming thanks to you. We value your support and engagement more than we can say, and feel lucky and proud to count you as a member of our community.

As always, feel free to email me with any questions.

We’re working for a strong executive order to protect migration corridors — you can help

Posted on by Kristen Gunther

In late December, Gov. Mark Gordon released a draft executive order that would dictate how Wyoming designates and manages big game migration corridors. 

While the draft is an important first step and brings us closer to a long-awaited solution, it still needs revision to ensure it will include the kind of protections our migrating herds require. We’ve asked the governor to include strong, clear language protecting the most critical corridor habitat — stopover and high use corridor segments — from risky development plans, and underscore the authority of the Game and Fish Department to manage all wildlife based on science, not politics. We’ve also provided many suggestions intended to help make the implementation of the order both efficient and effective in conserving corridor habitats. 

Together with several partners, we submitted comments to the governor’s office on how the final version of the executive order could be strengthened. Other conservation groups are weighing in as well, and nearly 300 Wyomingites signed a citizen’s letter thanking Gov. Gordon for his leadership and asking for strong language protecting wildlife. 

YOUR OPINION MATTERS

There are still opportunities for you to speak up, too. The governor’s office recently announced a four-stop “listening tour” on Saturday, February 1, to discuss the executive order and answer your questions. 

  • RAWLINS | 7:30–8:30 a.m. | Carbon County Higher Ed. Center, 1650 Harshman St.
  • PINEDALE | 10–11 a.m. | Sublette BOCES, 665 N. Tyler Ave.
  • KEMMERER | 12:30–1:30 p.m. | Kemmerer Event Center, 215 Wyoming Hwy 233
  • ROCK SPRINGS | 3:15–4:15 p.m. | White Mountain Library, 2935 Sweetwater Dr.

If you get an opportunity to attend and voice your thoughts, we hope you’ll share the following:

  • Thank the governor for taking important steps to protect migration corridors. Gov. Gordon’s forthcoming executive order will mark an important step forward, and his staff and the citizens who advised him worked hard to find balance and protect critical habitat while also allowing for responsibly-sited industrial development. 
  • Express the value of big game herds and the importance of protecting their habitat. Share why you personally value your local big game herds, and what value they bring to your community. Emphasize the world-class quality of our wildlife, and the importance of conserving it for future generations. 
  • Emphasize that Wyoming people and science are in agreement: We can protect critical habitat while also developing energy resources. Gov. Gordon’s executive order will allow us to make smart decisions about where to site industrial infrastructure. By prioritizing the siting of infrastructure outside these narrow and vital corridors, we can ensure that animals can move between winter and summer range and that we protect critical habitat without diminishing the energy economy.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Research has shown us that migrating mule deer follow the same route each year, and pass on this migration knowledge from mother to fawn. Research has also shown that human development along these routes can cause disruptions, particularly at stopover points where animals pause to rest, eat, and gain strength for their long journey. Over the past three decades, we’ve seen mule deer populations decline in Wyoming by more than 30 percent, and failure to preserve the migration corridors that mule deer and other ungulates depend on as a seasonal lifeline would have lasting effects on these species. 

The future of our wildlife depends on our actions today. It’s vital that we keep working together to help establish meaningful protections for corridor habitat, because we only have one chance to get this right. That’s why we’ll keep engaging with the governor’s office until we’re satisfied the executive order offers adequate corridor protections. And we’ll fight a misguided effort in the Wyoming Legislature to undermine the entire process. 

LEGISLATIVE OVERREACH INTO WILDLIFE HABITAT 

House Bill 29, brought by the Select Federal Natural Resource Management committee, would sacrifice corridor habitat for oil and gas development, strip Game and Fish of the ability to responsibly manage big game based on science, and torpedo extensive collaborative work by stakeholders — the energy industry included.

The bill would give county commissioners, who have no authority over wildlife or the appropriate scientific expertise, the responsibility of creating migration corridor working groups. The groups would be required to consult with the Office of State Lands and Investments, the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, and the Department of Revenue, among other agencies, but not the Game and Fish Department. The biologists and other experts who are responsible for managing our wildlife would be completely removed from the equation to create a process more friendly to oil and gas. Local working groups would even be empowered to amend the scientifically-defined boundaries of wildlife corridors!

If HB 29 is passed, not only will it undermine all the good faith work that stakeholders have invested in the governor’s executive order process, it will also virtually guarantee that no migration corridor can be designated in the future. That’s why we’ll be working hard during this year’s legislative session to defeat this toxic bill. And we need your help! 

CONCERNED ABOUT THE BILL? HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Attend one of our upcoming Beers & Bills events to learn more about this bill and other conservation legislation as we approach the Legislature’s 2020 budget session. 

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Big wins in the legislative interim — but we’ve still got work to do

Posted on by Kristen Gunther

DECEMBER 2019 UPDATE: Bills for the Wyoming State Legislature’s 2020 budget session are being prepared for introduction. In the coming weeks, we’ll begin our pre-session planning — stay tuned for more details about the bills we’ll expect to see. We’re excited to support the formation of a Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund account, and we’ll continue tracking efforts around Greater sage-grouse mitigation and new channels to fund wildlife crossings from the Joint Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Committee. Along with those details, we’ll be keeping you posted about the best ways to engage with ongoing budget negotiations, and how to speak up against legislative attempts to interfere with big game migration corridors.

Last month, we shared an update with you about the chaos and lack of transparency that has riddled this legislative interim. We highlighted four problematic bills that would have explicitly undermined our shared Wyoming conservation values: two that would have essentially killed rooftop solar in the state; one that would have opened the door to making Wyoming the nation’s dump for nuclear waste; and another that would jeopardize big game migration corridors, undermine science-based wildlife management, and strip authority from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

You responded in force. Because of your dedicated engagement — writing to and calling legislators, showing up at committee meetings, and spreading the word about the importance of fighting these bad bills — we have some great news to report. 

Anti-solar and pro-nuclear waste bills defeated

When the legislature’s Joint Corporations Committee considered gutting the state’s net-metering law — the statute that enables homeowners and small businesses to connect rooftop solar panels to the grid — the response from the public was swift. We’ve been in touch with hundreds of you who are passionate about protecting renewable energy options for Wyoming consumers, and supporting the small but growing in-state solar industry. After hundreds of messages were sent to the committee (more messages than the committee has received on any other topic this interim); after citizens gathered around the state to discuss these bills; and after four hours of public testimony in a packed meeting room, the committee voted not to advance either anti-solar bill forward. The Wyoming people spoke up, and the committee took the time to listen — that’s right, Wyoming people won. 

Strong, spirited public opposition was also a factor in defeating a proposal to store the nation’s high-level radioactive waste in Wyoming. This “zombie” bill reflected an idea has been considered repeatedly by decision-makers in the last several decades, and defeated each time — it’s been rejected by two different governors. Analysis also quickly revealed it would bring in only a few million dollars, while posing risks to Wyoming lands and people. Once again, Wyomingites of all stripes reached out to decision-makers and to their friends and neighbors, making it clear that the Wyoming public won’t allow our state to be turned into a nuclear waste dump. And at the Joint Minerals Committee meeting earlier in November, it was clear that the public response against this bill had been heard loud and clear: the bill’s original proponent withdrew the bill wholesale. 

We are grateful to the legislators on these committees for taking the time to listen — and then respond positively to — strong, unified public input against both proposals. The successful outcomes on these bills reflect the power of Wyoming citizen voices and input: when we say that your voice matters and makes a difference, this is why. 

Still on the horizon: legislative takeover of wildlife migration management 

Unfortunately, not everything we have to share is good news. Despite strong public opposition against a Select Federal Natural Resource Management Committee bill that would derail conservation of wildlife migration corridors, the committee elected to move this bad bill forward. Stakeholders ranging from agriculture and county governments to sportsmen and conservation groups weighed in to raise concerns — both in advance and in the meeting room. A Game and Fish Commissioner objected to the idea that anyone but the Game and Fish has the authority to designate habitat, while the governor’s policy advisor said the timing for the legislation was problematic given the pending migration corridor executive order that Gov. Gordon will issue. But the committee refused to take a step back. 

That said, the public continued to make a big impression: the committee readily acknowledged that Wyoming people are incredibly invested in protecting wildlife and the landscapes that support them, and referenced the immense amount of contact they’ve received on this issue. Though the committee made some attempts to make the bill look more palatable, it remains a dangerous, anti-wildlife, and anti-science proposition. We’ll need your help to make sure this bill doesn’t move forward in Cheyenne in 2020, and that the Governor’s executive order is strong and will be successfully implemented. 

As always, thank you for all that you do to fight for good conservation policy for Wyoming. Your voice is critical — and it matters. Please stay tuned as we move toward this year’s session … we’ll need your help again! 

This chaotic and rogue legislative interim requires citizen voices!

Posted on by Kristen Gunther
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Over the last several months, we’ve been hearing from many of you who are frustrated that the Legislature has been unusually difficult to keep up with. We hear you. Here at the Wyoming Outdoor Council, we, too, have been struggling to deal with legislative committees’ lack of transparency, last-minute additions to meeting agendas, information gaps, and problematic interventions into other branches of government. We will be advocating for increased transparency and accountability in the coming months.

The chaos of this interim demands, more than usual, a high level of public attention and participation. That means that you’ll be hearing from us frequently in the coming weeks as we work to combat a few very bad ideas with major ramifications for Wyoming.

Here’s an overview of some of the upcoming bad draft bills we need to defeat:

Political interference in wildlife migration corridor management

Over the summer, the Outdoor Council tracked and provided feedback to the governor’s Wildlife Migration Advisory Group. All stakeholders were at the table, including the oil and gas industry. The group’s hard work, collaboration, and good-faith negotiation resulted in full stakeholder consensus on a proposed state-level solution that will protect Wyoming’s most critical wildlife habitat, create balance among uses, and support the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. On the recommendation of this group, the governor will be drafting an executive order concerning migration corridors, an important step for protecting the future of our big game herds.

This should have been the beginning of a new chapter for wildlife migrations, with big game corridor management now guided by a citizen-backed state process designed to meet all needs. 

Instead, seemingly out of the blue, the Select Federal Natural Resource Management committee suddenly decided to take on the topic of big game migration. They’ve now drafted a bill that undermines science, the authority of the Game and Fish, and the entire North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. Most importantly, it poses a direct threat to the vital habitat that keeps our big game populations alive. 

Why did this happen? How was a process started by the governor suddenly undercut by the Legislature? The oil and gas industry presented its point of view to the governor’s advisory group multiple times — and received everything it asked for — but apparently, the industry wants more. Specifically, it’s clear that they don’t want to be required to mitigate their impacts to migration corridors. So rather than work in good faith with the rest of the stakeholders, industry voices have ignored recommendations that their representatives agreed to and asked the Legislature to intervene. 

Unfortunately, lawmakers are listening. The resulting bill would let oil and gas call the shots and would undo years of important collaborative work on migration corridor identification and protections. Rather than let science and thoughtful public input guide wildlife management, this disastrous bill would cede wildlife authority to inappropriate agencies (e.g. the Department of Revenue) and undermine the governor’s commitment to sensible, compromise solutions. It’s an egregious overreach, and it’s just plain wrong. 

Simply put, it’s the job of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department — not politicians — to interpret the science and manage our wildlife. We need to let this committee know that. 
If you have an interest in supporting migration corridors, please watch your inbox. The committee will meet on Wednesday, October 23 in Casper, and members of the public are encouraged to attend and comment.

Zombie nuclear waste proposals return to Wyoming

Nuclear waste was another topic not publicly vetted for the interim. But sometimes, bad ideas take on a life of their own (or rise from the dead). If you were surprised to see this issue resurface after being vetoed by Wyomingites repeatedly over the decades…well, we were, too.

As many of you have read, a special subcommittee of the Joint Minerals committee met last month to discuss whether Wyoming should consider storing spent fuel rods (high-level radioactive waste) in our state. This is an idea that has been proposed and shot down more than once; two different Wyoming governors have vetoed it. Storing nuclear waste poses many practical and logistical threats to Wyoming, and wouldn’t even generate the amount of money legislators hoped. We find it unacceptable that the Legislature chose to consider such a controversial topic without proper public vetting. 

For more details, check out our fact sheet on nuclear waste storage — and learn why it’s (still) a terrible idea for Wyoming. The Minerals committee will consider this topic at their upcoming meeting on November 5 in Casper, and we’ll send an alert to our members to remind you of this opportunity for public comment.

Killing off rooftop solar in Wyoming?

Last year, Wyoming’s House of Representatives passed a bill that the Outdoor Council (alongside partner organization Powder River Basin Resource Council) worked to advance, which would have supported expanded opportunities for rooftop solar arrays. Unfortunately, the bill hit a brick wall in the Senate, where it was considered a threat to coal-fired power plants. However, the Legislature decided to take on rooftop solar as an interim topic.

The Corporations committee’s work on this issue took a destructive turn when opponents of small solar used the discussion as an opportunity to make our current laws more hostile toward solar. The committee is now considering two draft bills that would effectively gut solar opportunities in Wyoming — damaging a growing industry, killing jobs, and reducing the ability of consumers to choose how they want to power their homes. 

We’ll be reaching out to you prior to the final Corporations meeting, which is scheduled for November 18–19 in Cheyenne, to let you know how you can speak up for renewable energy choices for Wyoming consumers. 

Final thoughts

These are only three of the many issues that citizens have struggled with during the legislative interim. Overall, many of us have been dismayed at the flood of last-minute decisions and lack of transparency we’ve seen, including left-field attacks on local conservation and community planning efforts, changes in meeting locations and topics, and sometimes late circulation of meeting materials. 

But we’ll continue working hard to bring you the information that you need to stay informed and engaged. The Outdoor Council is committed to advocating that our state legislature work in the public eye and for the public interest of Wyomingites. We believe that together we can achieve important policy victories that secure a strong, conservation-focused future for Wyoming — and defeat bad ideas that threaten our shared heritage and love of the outdoors. 

Thank you for being an important partner in this work, and stay tuned to learn more about opportunities to ensure we can move forward together, instead of doubling down on the bad ideas of the past. 

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