This month, the Bureau of Management unveiled its new plan for Greater sage-grouse. With the plan comes a ray of hope — both for the imperiled bird and the ever-diminishing sagebrush steppe ecosystem it depends on. Since the BLM manages more sage-grouse habitat than any other entity, actions taken on these public lands will have […]
FIELD NOTES
November is Native American Heritage Month
At the Wyoming Outdoor Council, we recognize that Native Americans’ enduring stewardship of Wyoming’s lands, waters, and wildlife is essential for lasting conservation. Each November, Native American Heritage Month provides extra cause to honor, celebrate, and amplify the contributions of Native Americans. Below, Sandy Whitehair, WOC’s Tribal conservation director, shares her perspective on this special […]
Q&A: What’s going on with nuclear waste storage and mining permit exemptions?
Lawmakers from around the state won’t flock to Cheyenne for the 2025 General Session until January. But many of their priorities are set well in advance, shaped during committee meetings during the months between sessions, or the interim. It pays to keep a close eye on interim committee meetings. That’s because when the session begins, […]
Get to know Gabby Yates, WOC’s public lands program manager
From sprawling desertscapes to vast, forested ranges, the public lands that cover more than half of Wyoming are incredibly varied — and wildly important. Public lands support thriving wildlife populations, host incredible opportunities for recreation and solitude, and are home to uncountable cultural resources. Advocating conservation of the extensive and irreplaceable public lands in Wyoming […]
THE WESTERN SOLAR PLAN IS FINALIZED. WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR WYOMING?
Where we site large-scale solar matters — and with the final draft of the Bureau of Land Management’s Western Solar Plan, we now have a useful template for proactively deciding where solar projects should (and should not!) be built on federal lands. Back in April, we asked our supporters to engage in the public comment […]
Wyoming Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Just Compensation for Solar Owners
Powder River Basin Resource Council & Wyoming Outdoor Council welcome the opportunity for more energy freedom in Wyoming In a precedent-setting decision issued last week, the Wyoming Supreme Court struck down High Plains Power’s policy to cut by approximately 80 percent the compensation paid to rooftop solar owners for the power they produce and share […]
BREAKING: Governor’s task force recommendations shape improved public lands management in newly released Rock Springs plan
August 22, 2024 – Today, the Bureau of Land Management released its proposed Rock Springs Resource Management Plan, outlining management direction for almost 3.6 million acres of public lands in southwest Wyoming. The proposed plan clearly reflects and incorporates feedback from tens of thousands of public comments and input from local stakeholders, including the task […]
Story Behind the Photo: ROSE FRY
WOC’s 2025 Calendar Contest is live! Join Rose and other photographers by submitting your photos of Wyoming’s lands, wildlife, and people. You can enter your photos via Instagram or email. To submit your photo(s) via Instagram, you must have a public Instagram account so that we’re able to view your submission. Upload your photo(s) and […]
VOICE YOUR SUPPORT FOR WIND RIVER MULE DEER MIGRATION
Wyoming is renowned for its wide-ranging ungulates and boasts the most extensive migration corridors left in the Lower 48. However, maintaining connectivity in these corridors requires maps of animals’ seasonal movements — it’s darn near impossible to protect critical habitat if you don’t know where it is! Thankfully, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department is […]
ROOFTOP SOLAR IS UNDER ATTACK (YET AGAIN)
A bad bill that tried to end net metering in the 2023 legislative session is back — and we need your help to stop it. Over the years, you’ve told the Senate, the Corporations Committee, and the Travel Committee how important net metering is to Wyomingites. Those efforts paid off, but now we need you […]