PUBLIC LANDS IN WYOMING

Half of Wyoming’s lands are federally managed as national parks, monuments, forests, recreation areas, wildlife refuges, or public land. These include some of the most iconic places in the nation and they help support healthy ecosystems and wildlife populations.

Public Lands

Wyoming’s public lands offer extraordinary opportunities like hunting, fishing, outdoor recreation, solitude in remote places, and abundant wildlife. At the Wyoming Outdoor Council, we advocate for balanced management of public lands that respects multiple use. And as we look ahead, we’re mindful of working against the backdrop of Wyoming’s changing economy. Our state relies heavily on oil, gas, and coal revenues to fund local government. But the boom-bust nature of resource extraction can create uncertainty and instability. Meanwhile, instead of taking the long view, some lawmakers push short-term agendas — seeking state management or even sale of our public lands. We’ve been successful in defeating these attempts by providing leadership within the Keep it Public, Wyoming coalition, and we continue to support keeping public lands in public hands, robust public participation in resource management, and transparency in decisionmaking.

Many of our public lands in Wyoming are leased or already developed for industrial uses such as oil and gas drilling, hard rock and coal mining, and industrial-scale wind generation. Where development is appropriate on public lands, we advocate for “doing it right,” developing in a way that avoids or minimizes impacts to other resources.

At the same time, there are places in Wyoming that are too special to drill. We advocate for conservation of important values like big game migration corridors, opportunities for back country recreation, and the highest Greater sage-grouse density areas on earth. The opportunity to access wild, open spaces on our public lands contributes to an unparalleled quality of life for Wyoming residents. Visited by millions of people each year, these lands also add significantly to our state’s economy.

THE LATEST FIELD NOTES, News & Action

Get to know Gabby Yates, WOC’s public lands program manager

Max Owens

September 25, 2024

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 […] READ MORE >
THE WESTERN SOLAR PLAN IS FINALIZED. WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR WYOMING?

John Burrows

September 18, 2024

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 […] READ MORE >
BREAKING: Governor’s task force recommendations shape improved public lands management in newly released Rock Springs plan

Max Owens

August 22, 2024

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 […] READ MORE >