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Lands

Good news for Francs Peak, Wood River, and the Dunoir

Posted on by Lisa McGee

We have great news on the Shoshone National Forest! As a result of a national-level review, the United States Forest Service has issued instructions that the Shoshone manage Francs Peak, Wood River, and the Dunoir areas to retain their wild, backcountry characteristics.

Earlier this year we objected to last-minute changes to the Shoshone’s new revised forest plan, which would have allowed motorized use in Francs Peak and Wood River and would have weakened protections for the Dunoir. The Forest Service itself identified these three areas as having the very highest wilderness potential on the forest, and while none has yet been recommended for wilderness, all will now be managed to safeguard their values, which include some of the finest wildlife habitat and recreational landscapes in Wyoming.

Francs peak is considered one of the highest ranked potential wilderness areas by the Shoshone National Forest.
Francs peak and the surrounding land is considered one of the highest ranked potential wilderness areas by the Shoshone National Forest. Photo: Brian Sybert

As many of you know, the existing forest plan was finalized in 1986 and the process to revise it has been a long one. The Wyoming Outdoor Council has been at the table from the start and with the support of our members we have worked hard to ensure that the Shoshone’s backcountry character is protected.

Much of our focus during this plan revision has been to ensure strong safeguards are in place to avoid impacts from oil and gas surface development. We were extremely pleased that in the final draft plan the vast majority of the Shoshone has been deemed “unsuitable” for this use. We anticipate these good revisions will remain.

We are grateful the Forest Service listened to our concerns about Francs Peak, Wood River and the Dunoir and are excited that these protections will be incorporated into the final forest plan. We will be sure to update you when we know more.

Happy holidays,

Lisa McGee, program director

Big Game Migrations and Wilderness: See Their Connection in This New Video From Wyoming Migration Initiative

Posted on by Julia Stuble

Today, the Wyoming Migration Initiative has demonstrated the vital connection between healthy big game populations and protected wilderness with the release of a new short film chock-full of amazing video footage. Don’t miss it, and be sure to share it with your friends.

Wyoming Big Game Migrations and 50 Years of Wilderness combines extraordinary imagery of big game migrations and interactive mapping to demonstrate how these species and herds move between winter and summer ranges—and why their summer foraging in wilderness areas is vital for their long-term sustainability.

In Wyoming, wild places and wildlife go hand in hand—many of our species need undisturbed habitats and connected ecosystems. Our big game herds, for example, rely on migratory corridors between high mountain meadows and sagebrush basins.

What we do not always realize is that many of these herds also need designated wilderness. Throughout western Wyoming, elk, bighorn sheep, mule deer, and even pronghorn herds spend their summers feasting in landscapes that are protected under the Wilderness Act of 1964. Wilderness is necessary for the viability of these herds—a haven of sorts after they have negotiated challenges in their winter ranges and, often, in their migration corridors.

At the Wyoming Outdoor Council, we know this is especially true given the complexity of land management and puzzle-piece protections in low-elevation sagebrush country. A holistic look at landscape-level planning on public lands would not only benefit the herds but would also help protect our Wyoming values.

These migratory species are a striking reminder of the big picture of ecosystem connectivity. This big picture should inform all of the work we do as we strive to tackle the most challenging issues that cross management jurisdictions, encompass different land-use planning processes, and include multiple communities and diverse stakeholders.