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Wyoming

“Pronghorn are a great avenue to amaze and inspire people.”

Posted on by Helen Lewis

A conversation with Jackson naturalist Kevin Taylor, pondering pronghorn in Jackson Hole, ‘nature inheritance,’ and hope for the next generation

Twice a year, Sublette Pronghorn embark on one of the longest land migrations in the lower 48 states — an epic journey stretching 165 miles from I-80 to Grand Teton National Park. Their ancient migration pathways crisscross highways and meander through ranches, communities, and the backyards of people who call this part of Wyoming home.

Kevin Taylor of Jackson is one such person. Kevin moved to Jackson over 20 years ago as a naturalist and guide in the ecotourism industry. He has spent years observing wildlife and studying the ecology of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, devoting time and effort to understanding and appreciating the place he lives and the animals that also call it home.  

As a continuation of our series on people connected to this magnificent migration, Kevin was kind enough to share his story with us on a visit to where the Gros Ventre River flows out of the mountains north of Kelly, Wyoming. Like the river, pronghorn stream out of the Gros Ventre range and into Jackson Hole, following the path of least resistance at the end of their spring migration in May. 

It was March, and snow was falling with increasing intensity as Kevin and I drove north. Though we walked just off the road for our conversation, we donned snowshoes to avoid sinking to our knees, and only the tips of the tallest sagebrush and bitterbrush were exposed above the snow. Overlooking the river with the Tetons in the distance, there were no pronghorn to be found. The Sublette Pronghorn herd will be here in a few short months, however, passing by on their way to the greener pastures of their summer range in Grand Teton National Park. 

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. 

Image: Elizabeth Boehm

WOC: Can you share a bit about your background in the area and your profession? 

Kevin: In the late 1990s, I worked on a master’s degree at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. Right after I finished my master’s, I met my wife, and I was offered a position in Jackson Hole in ecotourism to guide educational programs in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks.

If you twisted my arm and asked for my specialty, it would actually be botany. I have a master’s in botany from the University of Wyoming. One of the things that keeps me from going on to a Ph.D. are [my interests] in so many different facets of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. I see my niche as a generalist … to bridge the gap between science and primary literature and the public. 

WOC: How has your career as a wildlife guide and naturalist influenced how you see pronghorn antelope? 

Kevin: Personally, I really enjoy teaching people about pronghorn in Grand Teton National Park … I want people to be amazed by this place. I want people to be inspired so that then they can take that inspiration home with them and get excited about getting to know their [own] places, spending more time outside, and developing a deeper relationship with home. Pronghorn are a great avenue to amaze and inspire people.

WOC: What stands out to people when you’re viewing pronghorn with them? 

Kevin: In places outside of Wyoming, we teach about animals when we find an antler, a rub on a tree, or a track. I think what’s so remarkable about this area is that we can teach about these animals as we’re watching them. Viewing or finding pronghorn is not real difficult because they’re active all day long. All of the animal species that were here prior to settlement are still here, and that’s really remarkable. There are not a lot of places in the lower 48 that can say that. To be able to talk about these amazing aspects of pronghorn anatomy, physiology, and history while watching them behave is really amazing for visitors.

[The movements of wildlife in the valley] are a part of how we mark our calendars. Wildlife watching is such an important part of the culture here and the timing of when animals do what they do, when they migrate, when they return, when they’re breeding, when they’re having their young — it’s what we talk about. When you look at the local newspaper here, the Jackson Hole News & Guide, we open the paper and either on the front page or the second page, there’s almost always a wildlife-related article. When people get off the airplane and they walk towards the gate to come into the airport, they walk through an antler arch. There’s these elk antler arches on each of the four corners of the town square. To me, that’s so symbolic of how important wildlife is to Jackson Hole, to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and, of course, to the culture of Wyoming.

I think what’s so remarkable about this area is that we can teach about these animals as we’re watching them. Viewing or finding pronghorn is not real difficult because they’re active all day long. All of the animal species that were here prior to settlement are still here, and that’s really remarkable. There are not a lot of places in the lower 48 that can say that. To be able to talk about these amazing aspects of pronghorn anatomy, physiology, and history while watching them behave is really amazing for visitors. 

— Kevin Taylor

WOC: Why is wildlife important to you specifically?

Kevin: When I think of the top five reasons why I have lived the second half of my life in Wyoming, one of those, without question, is wildlife. It’s the fact that all the wildlife species that were here prior to settlement are still here. I also hunt … that can be a real foreign concept that you can actually love an animal and hunt it. [Hunting] is such a big part of my relationship with this landscape. I very much like and ‘live’ the idea of participating in nature. So not just watching it — not just observing it — but also participating in it.

I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, where meat came from a styrofoam container. For me to have the opportunity to show and to model to my daughter where our food comes from is very significant. If you are what you eat, my daughter and my family are partially elk. To say that eating that meat all year is important is an understatement. It’s sacred — it’s just a part of who we are and what we do. We all know that hunting is such an important part of Wyoming culture, and I hope it never, ever goes away.

WOC: Why does the Sublette Pronghorn migration corridor matter?

Kevin: Let’s [take] a hummingbird. You know, we can do a wonderful job of protecting hummingbird habitat here and [a wonderful job of protecting their habitat] in South American countries where they winter. But it’s all for naught if we don’t protect the travel corridor along the way.

We can easily apply that to pronghorn as well. The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem has incredible wildlife habitat — a lot of very intact habitat. The Red Desert has incredible habitat down there, but if we don’t protect that corridor in between, it’s all for naught. For me, there’s a lot of things that we can’t control. Here in Wyoming, [we can’t control] harsh weather, like [what we saw] two winters ago when so many pronghorn died across the state. We have a hard time controlling disease, too. That can come about in animals, which was also an issue two years ago. I am a big fan of controlling the things we can control, and we have the ability to protect this pathway so that my daughter’s kids … can anticipate pronghorn [moving through this area]. We have control of being able to make that decision.

I am a big fan of controlling the things we can control, and we have the ability to protect this pathway so that my daughter’s kids … can anticipate pronghorn [moving through this area]. We have control of being able to make that decision. 

— Kevin Taylor

WOC: What are your hopes for the future when it comes to the ability of animals like Sublette Pronghorn to migrate from I-80 to Grand Teton National Park?

Kevin: About 25 years ago, I remember driving behind an RV, and on the back of the RV there was a bumper sticker that read: “We are out spending our kids’ inheritance.” I remember thinking hard about that, and I sort of changed the context of the bumper sticker. When the bumper sticker said ‘inheritance,’ I thought about the idea of ‘nature inheritance.’ We are out spending our kids’ ‘nature inheritance.’ That’s something I’ve held on to ever since. 

My hope is that my great, great granddaughter can stand [here] and in early May, she may see pronghorn migrating … coming back out of the Gros Ventre River [drainage] and into Jackson Hole to spend the summer. To me, that’s a symbol of the idea of ‘looking bigger’ and thinking about the legacy we leave behind. It’s that idea of ‘nature inheritance.’

When I became a father, almost 19 years ago now, I signed up for hope. I get choked up — what greater symbol of hope is there than bringing children into the world? [I hope] we use our ability to make decisions to pass on our ‘nature inheritance’ to our kids, [which means doing] things like setting aside the Path of the Pronghorn.

Image: Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven

From Green River to Cora to Jackson, our Pronghorn & People series features the stories of folks who share their backyards with migrating Sublette Pronghorn — and who are hopeful this migration receives the protection it needs to endure.

Keep an eye on our blog for more. In the meantime, learn more about this migration corridor and how you can help protect these incredible animals on our Sublette Pronghorn page.

Defending your public lands at our nation’s capital

Posted on by Gabby Yates

For Wyomingites, it can be hard to picture the hustle and bustle that occurs in Washington D.C., the seat of our nation’s government, where all our laws and policies are formed. Even more difficult can be tracking these intricate workings as Congress works to pass laws that will support their current political agenda. 

Politics and processes aside, most Wyomingites can agree that our vast public lands are the reason that many of us live here (and not in D.C.) — and that any efforts to threaten future access are an affront to our way of life. Last week, I had the privilege of traveling to our nation’s capital to advocate for protecting our public lands from these threats to defund and dismantle our public lands. 

In February, we witnessed major staffing cuts to the federal agencies tasked with managing our public lands, forests, and national parks. In the face of a growing recreation and tourism industry, and decades of budget cuts to several vital agencies, these short-sighted reductions in force have many of us wondering just how our public lands will be appropriately managed. 

Luckily, Wyomingites of all walks of life spoke up and I was proud to hand-deliver a printed letter to Wyoming’s Congressional delegation that over 1,200 citizens signed, opposing these mass federal agency layoffs. The message was well received, but our work to see our public lands stewarded for future generations is far from over. 

In addition to the risks caused by our land management agencies being under-staffed and under-funded, a larger threat looms in the form of some members of Congress being dead set on selling our federal public lands, calling the sale of public lands a “great idea.” 

In response to the threat, U.S. Senators voted on an amendment brought by Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico) late on Friday, April 4, that would have prevented the sell-off of lands from being included in Congress’ upcoming budget reconciliation. 

Our lawmakers had the opportunity to protect our public lands from being sold off to pay for future tax cuts — and, unfortunately, they failed to do so.  The amendment died on a 48–52 vote, leaving the threat of land sell-off on the table. Even more unfortunate was the fact that both Wyoming Senators John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis voted against the amendment.

To put it bluntly, the threats to our public lands have never been greater. With the potential sale of federal lands being included in this upcoming budget package and more federal agency layoffs right around the corner, we need Wyomingites to keep speaking up on these issues so that our delegation hears them. Now more than ever, those of us who love our public lands need to fight to ensure they remain and are well stewarded. 

If you haven’t signed or shared our open citizens sign-on letter defending our public lands stewards, please sign below, or consider contacting your Congressional representatives today to let them know that you value our public lands far too much for them to be sold off. Some things just aren’t for sale. As always, thanks for speaking up and stay tuned for more ways that you can help protect the best things about Wyoming.

SIGN THE LETTER!

“It’s never going to be easier to protect migration corridors than right now.”

Posted on by Helen Lewis

A conversation with Bill Ames, longtime Green River resident, about coexisting with migrating pronghorn

Twice a year, Sublette Pronghorn embark on one of the longest land migrations in the lower 48 states — an epic journey stretching 165 miles from I-80 to Grand Teton National Park. Their ancient migration pathways crisscross highways and meander through ranches, communities, and the backyards of people who call this part of Wyoming home.

Bill Ames of Green River is one such person. Bill moved to Green River more than 40 years ago for a land surveyor role, and his career and hunting interests have made him a keen observer of the land and the critters that call it home, including the Sublette Pronghorn herd.

As a part of our series on people connected to this magnificent migration, Bill was kind enough to share his story with us during a trip outside of town in search of pronghorn on their winter range. 

We hopped into Bill’s truck and drove up Highway 372 onto the sagebrush plateau. Sure enough — near a large solar project, trona mine, and numerous gravel pits — we encountered several bands of wary pronghorn that moved away swiftly as the truck’s tires ground to a stop.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. 

WOC: Can you share a bit about your background, and what you love about this area? 

Bill: I was a land surveyor by trade, and I worked mostly pipelines and power lines. I was in the desert all the time, and had boots on the ground most days of the year. I was exposed to the vastness, the public access, and the diversity of wildlife constantly. Before moving, I had no idea something like this existed. I was like a kid at Christmas when I found out [about the West]. 

WOC: Why is this area relevant to the Sublette pronghorn herd? 

Bill: We’re standing along Highway 372, and it’s a migration corridor for antelope. We’re real close to the solar project that was on Highway 372, and there are a lot of gravel pits right around here. There is a lot of industrial activity and the habitat has changed. The antelope keep coming because this is what they know. This is home. Other than the highway mortality — which we’ve seen quite a bit of since I’ve been here — I really haven’t seen a lot of winter mortality up on this plateau that Highway 372 runs down. It’s a pretty good spot for the critters to make a living.

WOC: What changes have you seen over the course of your life here watching pronghorn antelope in this area and interacting with them? 

Bill: We don’t have quite as many antelope as we did when I moved here. You can tell they’re seasonal critters. I mean, there are antelope that live here all year round, but there are definitely more antelope that show up here in the winter time.

WOC: What are some of the specific ways you’ve noticed people enjoy wildlife on the landscape? 

Bill: Antelope are easily accessed, readily available, and you can go out and see them. You can see them with their fawns, and you can see them in the winter. The community as a whole — we just enjoy them.

In Green River, there [are fewer] deer and elk on the landscape — nothing like antelope. For the hunting public, hunting antelope is perfect for kids. It’s a great opportunity for them, and I just wish we had more on the landscape so they could draw a license a little easier. 

WOC: What’s the value in protecting the Sublette Pronghorn migration corridor?

Bill: I don’t think we would have any antelope if we didn’t have the migrations. They have to follow the habitat. They have to follow the green-up — the vegetation for raising their fawns — and follow less-snowy habitat to make it through the winter. It takes miles. From the Teton Park down here to Rock Springs — there’s antelope that have been documented traveling 165 miles. 

The mountain men trappers were here 1780 to 1830 — that’s only 200 years ago. The railroad came in 1866, and the barbed wire fence came in around 1880, and Wyoming wasn’t a state until 1890. That’s 135 years ago. That’s like yesterday. These antelope have been here for centuries before that with no man-made obstructions. When you look [at] what man has put on the landscape to make it more difficult for this wildlife, you ask “where are we going to be in 20, 40, 50 years?”

It’s never going to be easier to protect these migration corridors than right now, and I think industry can live with it. I know the people of Wyoming would support that. If we could just preserve some of these wildlife corridors so that future generations can enjoy what we’ve enjoyed, and allow these antelope to reach their full habitats as they’ve done for centuries. It is just something we can’t afford to lose. Once it’s gone, I don’t know if you could get it back. 

It isn’t like you can put signs up telling the antelope where to go if they don’t know how to get there. The corridor is lost and we can’t afford to go down that path. 

I know industry and oil and gas. It’s all money, but the value of wildlife and their corridors are only going to increase. [A corridor is very valuable today], but in 50 years, migration corridors are going to be so priceless. I would hope our future generations would be very appreciative of that. It’s worth a lot.

It’s never going to be easier to protect these migration corridors than right now, and I think industry can live with it. I know the people of Wyoming would support that … It is just something we can’t afford to lose. Once it’s gone, I don’t know if you could get it back. 

— Bill Ames

WOC: What are your hopes for the future, when it comes to the ability of these animals to migrate? 

Bill: I hope that we’re able to coexist with these migration corridors. We need industry, we need oil and gas, we need right-of-ways for power lines and pipelines, but you know, we can work together. My whole life was in the oil and gas industry, and technology has changed. We have the ability to horizontal drill if we have to, and we can preserve these migration patterns to allow the animals to get where they need to survive the year, prosper, and keep their populations up. 

Still, man can develop the resources that it takes to maintain our lifestyles. It isn’t like these wildlife corridors are going to take up the whole country. It’s just a little sliver that they need to maintain their historic values. And I hope we can achieve that for them.

It’s just a little sliver that they need to maintain their historic values. And I hope we can achieve that for them.

— Bill Ames

WOC: You’ve done amazing work to preserve these corridors yourself, by getting out onto the landscape and installing gates of your own creation. What has that process looked like and where have you drawn inspiration?

Bill: Working in oil and gas from Baggs to Pinedale to Big Piney to Evanston, I saw the struggles wildlife have with fences. Fences are necessary, [especially in the agricultural industry], but are there smarter ways we can do it? Can we get these animals to cross these fences without burning a lot of extra calories pacing up and down? 

I felt fences were one of the main issues in wildlife’s struggle trying to make it through a year. ‘Drop-down fences’ with drop-down wires exist — and those are fantastic, but they’re a little labor-intensive. So I worked with the agricultural producers, and I tried to create a structure that would be acceptable to them that they could operate and have installed in their fences without much time to allow critters to cross more easily. 

I came up with a pipe design for a fence that allows an 18-inch crossing underneath, and a 27-inch-high crossbar for them to get across in the winter time, when the gate is open. We’ve installed about 20 of them so far, and this year we’re going to get a lot more installed. Hopefully we can get the volunteers to come help.

From Green River to Cora to Jackson, our Pronghorn & People series features the stories of folks who share their backyards with migrating Sublette Pronghorn — and who are hopeful this migration receives the protection it needs to endure.

Keep an eye on our blog for more. In the meantime, learn more about this migration corridor and how you can help protect these incredible animals on our Sublette Pronghorn page.

BREAKING: Game & Fish Department moves forward with Sublette Pronghorn migration corridor designation

Posted on by Max Owens

Press Release

LANDER, WYOMING (March 4, 2025) — Yesterday, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department announced a new phase in the process to designate the Sublette Pronghorn migration corridor, releasing a comprehensive Biological Risk and Opportunity Assessment. This report outlines specific threats to migration and opportunities for conservation along 10 discrete segments of the migration corridor. This marks an important step in the process to officially designate the migration corridor, initiating a formal public comment period that runs through May 2.

In response, the Wyoming Outdoor Council issued the following statement:

“We at the Wyoming Outdoor Council congratulate Department biologists on their thorough analysis of the Sublette Pronghorn migration. The Biological Risk and Opportunity Assessment clearly demonstrates the need to designate this migration corridor,” Meghan Riley, wildlife program manager for WOC, said. “The level of detail, not to mention the years of data and work, that went into this assessment are truly astounding.”

After the harsh winter of 2022–23 drastically reduced the Sublette herd’s population, alleviating pressure from development in key migratory habitat is imperative for its recovery. Animals that were able to migrate further south experienced higher survival rates than pronghorn that overwintered to the north, clearly demonstrating the need to protect connectivity between seasonal ranges.

“This population took a huge hit, especially in the north of the herd’s range. Recovery is slow-going and precarious, given existing and anticipated threats to corridor functionality,” Riley said. “With widespread public support for conserving this herd’s migratory habitat, it is our hope that the Game and Fish Commission heeds the call to protect this storied herd of pronghorn for current and future generations to enjoy.”

Following an analysis of public comments, Game and Fish will present its case for designation to the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission at their July meeting. At this time, commissioners will vote on whether or not to recommend designation of the Sublette Pronghorn migration corridor to the governor.

A Message from the Director: Federal firings will impact Wyoming’s lands, waters, wildlife, and communities

Posted on by Carl Fisher

The public lands that define Wyoming and contribute significantly to our quality of life are under unprecedented and nuanced attacks. State legislative efforts to transfer our public lands to the state compounded by federal efforts to sell them off to seed a sovereign wealth fund are suddenly on the table. Of course, there have been thoughtless and drastic cuts to the federal workforce that will affect wildfire response, road and campground openings, trail work and delay important landscape health and public access projects. The Wyoming Outdoor Council is shocked and dismayed by the firings of so many public servants, and these losses will have very real consequences for the land, water, air, and wildlife we were founded to protect. Beyond these impacts, we are very concerned about how these losses will affect our fellow Wyomingites. It’s easy to paint with a broad brush the federal worker, but it is important to note that these civil servants are our neighbors, the parents of our kids’ friends, the people we talk to at the grocery store. We find it particularly abhorrent to celebrate how these people’s lives have been impacted.

There’s no question that there are inefficiencies and disagreements between people, organizations, businesses, tribes, and governments (to name a few) about how the government functions. But as an organization, we work to separate those differences in policy, management, funding, and decision-making from the individual persons tasked with those duties. To be clear, firing the federal workforce does little, if anything, to address concerns of fraud, waste, and abuse. With approximately 350 million people living in this country, there’s certainly a lot that differentiates us: hopes, dreams, and the lived experiences that form who we are as we all try to do the best we can with what we have and for who is in our orbit. At WOC, we believe our land, air, water, wildlife, and grappling with the realities of climate, unite us. Some of our best memories with family, friends, or by our lonesome took place in the Wyoming landscape.

It is for these values and every person in Wyoming that the WOC team shows up every day, works to engage agencies, leaders, and the people of Wyoming in pursuit of doing and being better. We care about your jobs, about your hardships, about the obstacles and opportunities life presents you with — it doesn’t matter if it is in the public or private sector, or what that job or passion is. In our efforts to understand, we help the rest of Wyoming understand, too. The WOC community, our staff, board, members, partners, and volunteers are not a monolith —nor are federal, state, or industry workers. When divergent ideas and experiences come together, we see it as a strength, not a weakness — and it is hard work and we’re here for it. Join or engage with us to build our collective strength for what truly matters in Wyoming.

Stay tuned for important updates and actions on this and many other matters. Thank you for your attention, compassion, and support – onward!

– Carl Fisher, Executive Director

Image: Meghan Riley

BREAKING: Supreme Court rejects Utah’s land grab suit

Posted on by Max Owens

Press Release | January 13, 2025

(Lander, Wyoming) – Today, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) rejected the State of Utah’s lawsuit that argued for the disposal of 18.5 million acres of public land in Utah. The case could have paved the way for the disposal of all public lands in the United States, including Wyoming.

“The Supreme Court’s rejection of this land grab is further evidence that Utah’s efforts to rid America of its public lands is a misguided effort. This attempted lawsuit not only ignored more than a century of legal precedent, but the will of the American people who time and time again have shown their support for public lands,” Gabby Yates, Public Lands Program Manager for the Wyoming Outdoor Council, said. “Wyomingites have such a strong connection to the landscapes, wildlife, and cultural heritage in our backyard because of the access and opportunity that public lands allow. We applaud the court’s decision to deny Utah’s case. In doing so, the public’s ability to enjoy public lands, now and for future generations, remains protected.”

Late last year, the State of Wyoming, various state legislators, and Rep. Harriett Hageman filed briefs in support of the State of Utah’s now-rejected lawsuit. Additionally, numerous Wyoming state legislators have already introduced SJ0002, a resolution which demands the U.S. Congress dispose of all public lands to the state. With Yellowstone National Park as the resolution’s sole exception, federal public lands including iconic grasslands, forests, Bureau of Land Management rangelands, and even Grand Teton National Park are all implicated.

“It’s deeply troubling that this idea of transferring our public lands keeps rearing its ugly head. Much like the nation’s highest court, public land users have rejected these short-sighted efforts again and again, because we know that America’s public lands are our birthright,” Alec Underwood, program director for WOC, said. “Regardless of SCOTUS’ decision today, we fully expect state lawmakers to keep pushing this agenda, wasting taxpayer dollars and diverting time away from truly critical legislative priorities. Wyoming citizens deserve better than this. We’re glad to see the U.S. Supreme Court concur that this culture war against the public trust should end.”

Want to help maintain access and protect Wyoming’s public lands? Sign the petition to keep public lands in public hands!

SIGN THE PETITION

    Image: Rich Brame

    Why we’re concerned about nuclear waste storage in Wyoming: A deeper dive

    Posted on by John Burrows

    When the 2025 General Session kicks off next week, the debate over nuclear waste storage is set to become a hot (dare we say radioactive?) topic. In preparation, we wanted to share the latest information about the current proposal to store the country’s nuclear waste in Wyoming — and why we plan to oppose it.

    Wyoming has stood firm against nuclear waste storage for decades, and for many good reasons. We’re concerned about the current proposal because the consequences of transporting and storing high-level radioactive waste in Wyoming would be significant, multi-generational, and perhaps even permanent.

    Concerned about nuclear waste storage in Wyoming? Join our list to stay informed as this bill moves through the legislature.

    SIGN UP FOR ALERTS

    The draft bill, which has been received for introduction as House Bill 16 – Used nuclear fuel storage-amendments, could move quickly into the house Minerals Committee. If it does, we’ll need your voice to help stop it. So without further ado, let’s dive into the bill and our key reasons for opposing this effort to site nuclear waste in Wyoming.

    • This bill has moved forward with remarkably little opportunity for public engagement for such a significant and consequential issue. Initial public review of the draft bill wasn’t available until less than two weeks before its first and only discussion in the October 2024 Minerals Committee meeting. Opening the door to invite nuclear waste to Wyoming should not be a legislative afterthought and last-minute committee sponsored bill. We believe this is a topic that should require many discussions and seek robust public participation similar to what we saw in the early 1990s.
    • We need to be realistic that once nuclear waste is here temporarily, it will be here to stay. It has become clear to us based on the failings of federal policies, that a “temporary” facility would become a de facto permanent repository, as no legal, political, or financial mechanisms exist to ensure its removal. Despite decades of efforts from the federal government, the fact remains that there is still no permanent disposal solution for this waste. In fact, creating temporary storage for this waste in Wyoming could undermine the political will needed to pursue a safe permanent solution to this issue.
    • The history of nuclear waste storage in our country is fraught with broken promises by our federal government to both states and tribes. When we consider a half-century of missed timelines, changing scientific guidelines, and disregard of state and tribal sovereignty that has plagued the full supply chain of nuclear energy from cradle to grave, we can find very few reasons to trust the federal government that it has the best interest of Wyoming and the Wind River Reservation in mind. In 1992, this was one of Gov. Sullivan’s key points when rejecting further study of a Department of Energy proposed monitored retrievable nuclear storage site in Wyoming. In a letter, he stated,

    “I am absolutely unpersuaded that Wyoming can rely on the assurances we receive from the federal government. Even granting the personal integrity and sincerity of the individuals currently speaking for the federal government, there can be no guarantees or even assurances that the federal government’s attitudes or policies will be the same one, five, ten or 50 years from now.”

    • A rush to designate Wyoming as the country’s nuclear waste storage capital could have both real and perceived consequences to other industries and the state’s broader economic diversification efforts. Numerous states have rejected advances by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to store nuclear waste, citing concerns around their reputation and damage to other economic sectors. In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbot raised concerns over a facility because of potential risks it could pose to the state’s oil and gas development in the Permian Basin. (The Nuclear Regulatory Commission permitted this over his objections anyway.) In other states such as Tennessee, New Mexico, and Nevada, studies have confirmed negative impacts to other economic sectors like agriculture, outdoor recreation, tourism, and resident property values. If Wyoming legislators want to take the title of being the country’s nuclear waste dump, we need to be clear-eyed about how this could negatively impact our reputation and other economic sectors.
    • The risks of transporting and storing nuclear waste from around the country amount to an unprecedented, unnecessary national experiment. Nuclear waste is currently stored safely at reactor sites, where it is generated, as required by federal law. This would also be true for any nuclear facility built in Wyoming. This is the right place for this waste to remain until a permanent solution can be found. It does not make sense to transport and move this hazardous material twice across thousands of miles of interstate highways, city and county roads, and railways.

    If you share our concerns, we could use your help. Tell your legislators that you oppose nuclear dumps in Wyoming, and sign up here to be notified with alerts as this bill moves through the legislature.

    Looking for more information? Check out our nuclear waste storage fact sheet, and don’t hesitate to reach out to us for a conversation.

    Image: ShinRyu Forgers | Wikimedia Commons CC

    INVITING NUCLEAR WASTE RISKS FEDERAL OVERREACH AND ENVIRONMENTAL HARM

    Posted on by John Burrows

    Some bad ideas refuse to die — and the recent legislative push to make Wyoming a temporary location for the nation’s high-level radioactive waste is definitely one of them.

    Over the last three decades, the Wyoming Legislature has discussed rolling out the red carpet for nuclear waste several times. Now, that discussion promises to rear its head once again when the 2025 General Session begins in January.

    Just as we have in the past, WOC opposes this latest proposal, which would make it easier to store high-level radioactive waste in Wyoming. It’s not a position we take lightly: As an independent, statewide organization, we understand the challenges associated with diversifying our economy and the need for solutions that address complex energy and environmental challenges, which are often at odds with one another.

    As one of the most regulated materials known to humankind, inviting high-level nuclear waste to Wyoming would also invite an unprecedented level of federal oversight and regulation not seen before in Wyoming. For this reason and others discussed here, we strongly believe that inviting this waste to Wyoming would be a poor decision that could jeopardize our environment, communities, state sovereignty, and future hopes of broader economic diversification.

    Concerned about nuclear waste storage in Wyoming? Join our list to stay informed as this bill moves through the legislature.

    SIGN UP FOR ALERTS

    Wyoming has held the line against nuclear waste storage for decades. Before we get to the current proposal, let’s take a look at some highlights from Wyoming’s long and proud history of rejecting nuclear waste dumps.

    • 1991: The U.S. Department of Energy proposes a “Monitored Retrievable Storage” nuclear waste facility in Wyoming. Gov. Mike Sullivan ended the project a year later, citing numerous concerns around transportation safety, the failures of the federal government as a trusted partner, and potential damage to other industries.
    • 1994: A University of Wyoming poll shows that more than 80 percent of residents opposed nuclear waste storage in Wyoming.
    • 1995: The Wyoming legislature passes laws regulating private and federal nuclear waste storage facilities. Importantly, they include safeguards to ensure Wyoming does not become a de facto permanent repository site.
    • 1998: Gov. Jim Geringer shuts down a proposal for a private nuclear waste storage facility.
    • 2010: The decades-long effort by the federal government to create a permanent nuclear disposal facility for high level nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain Nevada ended, mainly for political reasons.
    • 2019: The Wyoming legislature’s Spent Fuel Rods Subcommittee studies the revenue opportunity for waste storage. Because of restrictions and limited funds provided in the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, they abandon the effort.

    The current attempt to bring nuclear waste to Wyoming comes from a bill sponsored by the Joint Minerals Committee that changes the definition of “high-level nuclear waste” to exclude “spent nuclear fuel.” This definition change would create a loophole to circumvent our existing laws that require extensive environmental protections and requirements for public comment and legislative approval for the storage of high-level radioactive waste.

    Call it what you like — but if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it’s probably a duck. Legislators can change the definition of “high level nuclear waste,” but spent nuclear fuel is still high level nuclear waste, and “spent” does not equal safe. The definition change is out of sync with the definition held by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, setting the stage for conflict with the federal agency created to regulate high-level radioactive waste — do we really want to invite more uncertainty in management, jeopardizing land, water, wildlife and communities?

    If you share our concerns, we could use your help. Tell your legislators that you oppose nuclear dumps in Wyoming, and sign up here to be notified with alerts as this bill moves through the legislature.

    Looking for more information? Check out our nuclear waste storage fact sheet. Finally, don’t hesitate to reach out to us for a conversation.

    Inside the new plan for Greater sage-grouse

    Posted on by Meghan Riley

    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 massive impacts across the West. The BLM’s final Greater Sage-Grouse Resource Management Plan Amendments serve as a new blueprint for how the agency will manage sagebrush habitat on behalf of sage-grouse, other wildlife, and a slew of other uses. What remains to be seen is if we can muster the political will to make this plan a reality and address the very real challenges facing an ecosystem in distress.

    As the process leading up to this final plan has shown, there will always be competing voices saying that the BLM is using too heavy a hand, and those saying that the agency isn’t doing enough for sage-grouse. But what’s needed right now isn’t ongoing disagreement, nor delays. Research shows we’re hemorrhaging more than 1 million acres of functioning sagebrush habitat a year. Sage-grouse numbers are a sliver of what they were sixty years ago. To stem declines and retain this species on Wyoming’s wide-open landscapes, what’s needed right now is action.

    With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the plan — how we got here, what the plan does, and what we can expect looking ahead.

    The long path towards a sage-grouse plan

    Sage-grouse and the sagebrush steppe that sustains them are in trouble. Both have experienced steep losses, with populations of sage-grouse down 80 percent from 1965. Sage-grouse act as a bellwether for the overall health of the sagebrush ecosystem and their decline sounds the alarm for the future of these lands and the communities that depend on them. Without decisive action from the BLM to address growing threats, the bird’s habitat will be further compromised, resulting in rangewide sage-grouse population losses.

    Here in Wyoming, we have been fortunate compared to other range states. Between Wyoming’s executive order that’s helped protect sage-grouse habitat with bipartisan support since 2008, climatic conditions that favor sagebrush, and a small human population, Wyoming’s sage-grouse populations have been more resilient than those in neighboring states. Nevertheless, Wyoming is not immune to the habitat loss and degradation laying siege to the Intermountain West and continued long-term declines in Wyoming are a concern. A comprehensive, West-wide sage-grouse plan from the BLM is wholly necessary and overdue.

    The BLM has been trying to tackle this problem for going on 10 years. First petitioned for listing in 1999, the US Fish and Wildlife Service determined that Endangered Species Act protection for the Greater sage-grouse was warranted in 2010. This kicked off a massive effort between states and federal agencies — an effort in which Wyoming played a leading role — to create robust plans for protective management. The BLM’s first range-wide sage-grouse management plans rolled out in 2015 with strong bipartisan support from Western governors. In response to conservation measures in these 2015 plans, the USFWS determined the species no longer needed federal protection under the ESA. Unfortunately, these plans were never fully implemented as intended before the first Trump administration carried out revisions that weakened habitat protections to better favor industry. That revised plan was finalized in 2019, but was quickly blocked following litigation. Now, once again, the BLM is on the cusp of finalizing a plan for managing sage-grouse habitat. By building off the 2015 and 2019 plans, clarifying points of confusion, incorporating the latest science, and weighing input from varied stakeholders, the BLM has put forward a balanced approach to sage-grouse habitat management that honors the agency’s multiple-use mandate.

    Greater sage-grouse populations across the bird’s range have declined precipitously since the 1960s.

    What the plan means for Wyoming

    This sage-grouse plan is truly staggering in its scope and detail, as you would expect for a document that amends land use plans for over 70 BLM field offices across 10 states. For Wyoming specifically, the plan introduces some significant new protections for the bird’s habitat to ensure development and industrial uses don’t come at the expense of sage-grouse. With about 97 percent of BLM lands in Wyoming classified as sage-grouse habitat — and almost half of that considered “priority habitat” — this is a big deal! Below are some of the standout provisions that would apply to sage-grouse habitat in Wyoming under the final sage-grouse plan.

    Sage-grouse habitat designations used by BLM in the final Greater Sage-Grouse Resource Management Plan Amendments. These designations are based on maps provided by the state of Wyoming and mirror general habitat and core area classifications recognized by the state.

    Priority Habitat Management Areas

    This is the best of the best sage-grouse habitat and overlaps what the state of Wyoming has identified as sage-grouse “core area”. Just under half of the land BLM manages in Wyoming is classified as PHMA, at about 8.6 million acres. Under BLM’s latest plan, these are just some of the management guidelines that would apply in priority habitat:

    • Utility-Scale Solar: excluded; some exceptions
    • Utility-Scale Wind: excluded; some exceptions
    • Oil and Gas Leasing: no surface occupancy; some exceptions/modifications/waivers
    • Major Right of Ways: avoidance area unless specific conditions met

    Priority Habitat Management Areas with Limited Exceptions

    In reviewing the best available science, along with copious public comment, the BLM determined that select areas of priority habitat are of such exceptional quality and importance to sage-grouse that they warrant the highest level of protection. These are classified as “Priority Habitat Management Areas with Limited Exceptions”. One such area covering roughly 273,000 acres was identified in southwest Wyoming — the so-called “Golden Triangle,” which is home to the densest population of sage-grouse on Earth. This area overlaps the South Wind River Area of Critical Environmental Concern, or ACEC, included in the new Rock Springs Resource Management Plan, underscoring how irreplaceable this region of Wyoming is to a wide range of wildlife. The following noteworthy management guidelines would apply here:

    • Utility-Scale Solar: excluded; no exceptions
    • Utility-Scale Wind: excluded; no exceptions
    • Oil and Gas Leasing – no surface occupancy; no exceptions, modifications, or waivers
    • Major Right of Ways – excluded; some exceptions

    Of note, the BLM considered designating this area and three others in Wyoming as ACECs in light of their significance for sage-grouse. However, partly in response to concerns voiced by Gov. Gordon, the BLM eliminated all ACECs from the latest proposed management approach we have before us.

    Adaptive Management

    The BLM is taking steps to standardize how it adapts management approaches when habitat and population measures dip too much, too quickly. The monitoring methods identified to inform this adaptive management, such as the Habitat Assessment Framework and Targeted Annual Warning System, are intended to create a consistent, rangewide system that catches problems before they snowball out of control. Engagement by the states in this process — especially through the free sharing of data — is critical. As the wildlife professionals responsible for sage-grouse management, each state game and fish agency oversees lek counts in the spring to gauge population levels. Having Wyoming and other states participate meaningfully is for the collective benefit of understanding how the bird is doing across its range and will allow closer examination of circumstances on the ground when areas of concern are flagged.

    Where do we go from here?

    Additional review of the plan is required between now and January, when a “Record of Decision” could be issued and the plan can take effect. This includes a 30-day protest period for the public and a 60-day consistency review carried out by Governors in affected range states. The BLM has signaled its commitment to getting this plan finalized expeditiously, but time is in very short supply.

    Overview of the NEPA process with star denoting where the BLM’s new sage-grouse plan currently stands.

    After years of setbacks, it is tantalizing to see so many positive conservation measures enshrined in BLM’s new proposed sage-grouse plan. As sagebrush country faces growing threats — including a quick-moving onslaught of invasive annual grasses that cause more frequent, larger, and hotter wildfires — the time for inaction is gone. Here in Wyoming, where the health of private and public lands are intertwined and vital to the future of our communities, the benefits of smart, protective management on our public lands are far-reaching.

    Unfortunately, as is the case for several actions taken in these final months of the Biden Administration, Trump’s ascendency in Washington threatens to undo a lot of this good work. Whether we see attempts to scrap the plan outright, aggressive lawsuits from multiple corners, or yet another plan rewrite, we can be sure of attacks on what the BLM has put forward. We will do all we can to push for science-based solutions and support sage-grouse conservation in the coming storm and seek allies anywhere we can find them. Neither these birds, nor the hundreds of other species they share the sagebrush biome with, have the luxury or capacity to despair in the face of mounting threats and dwindling habitat. They merely soldier on with an inextinguishable will to survive. It is up to us to do right by them and keep fighting on their behalf.

    Banner image: Bob Wick, BLM

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

    Posted on by Max Owens

    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 is a core part of what we do here at WOC. That’s why we’re so excited to welcome Gabby Yates, our new public lands program manager, who will be largely focused on protecting Wyoming’s remarkable lands.

    We sat down with Gabby to talk about cultivating a love for landscapes, her background, and what she’s most excited about as she moves into her new role.

    Can you share a little about your background?

    I grew up in central New York, outside of Syracuse. After high school, I attended Colgate University and earned a degree in Geography. I didn’t want to jump straight into a 9–5 job after graduating, so I applied to horsepacking jobs — and soon found myself stepping off a plane in Wyoming. From that first week, I knew I wanted to make the state home.

    During that first week, what was it about Wyoming that drew you in?

    I started to feel how the openness of the landscapes affects people, even if I couldn’t yet put that into words. By “openness,” I mean both the beauty and vastness of the Wyoming skyline as well as the access folks have to it. I remember leaving the Riverton airport that first day and driving south. My new colleague pointed to the snow-capped Winds River Range and said, “You’ll be living up there.” The more folks I met here, the more I saw how a relationship with the land carries over into all aspects of life, and how it was becoming intrinsic to my own life.

    Was there a particular moment or experience that sparked your interest in public lands advocacy?

    There wasn’t a specific moment, but rather the realization that public lands are the reason I love Wyoming. I’ve spent the better part of the last six years working on, living in, and exploring Wyoming public lands — from caring for cattle in the Red Desert to leading horsepacking trips in the Absarokas and Wind River Mountains. Public lands management here is a sea change from the way the landscape is managed where I grew up.

    That’s interesting — can you elaborate on that? What makes public lands management in Wyoming so unique?

    Half of Wyoming is public land. And that’s public land that is fairly well dispersed throughout the state, with large tracts of intact, wild ecosystems, and working landscapes, too. That doesn’t exist in most of the world, and it means that living here, people can and often do have a much closer, albeit nuanced, relationship to so much of their “backyard.” It also means that they have a voice in how that landscape is managed, and a responsibility to use that voice. 

    As a horsepacking guide, you had the chance to share wild lands with people who aren’t at all familiar with them. What was it like to watch them form their own relationships with the land?

    It is easy for people to be awed by the beauty of Wyoming’s mountains and wildlife, and it never gets old to share something you love with other folks. What’s really fun, though, is just what you mentioned — people starting to form relationships with the land. You can see it in the conversations you have while riding, from discussing the nuances of wildlife management, land use, or local history, to simply learning to name wildflowers, to feeling more and more oriented to the landscape. I think having a taste for the complexity of these wild lands helps build a foundation so that when folks go home, they don’t just remember a pretty place, or how cold it was at night, for example.

    What excites you most about joining WOC as the public lands program manager?

    There are so many opinions out there about what happens on public lands, but that means that so many people care about public lands. I am most excited to have conversations and learn from folks that are passionate about these places, to hopefully inch toward common ground, so that future generations can experience the landscapes and wildlife that we enjoy today.

    What are some of the things you’re bringing with you from previous roles, as you begin this one?

    The time I’ve spent on the ground in public lands through ranching and outfitting has shaped my understanding of public lands and the relationship that folks have with these landscapes. I think that puts me in a place to better find common ground and solutions. Likewise, my background in human geography has trained me to look for ways to find and address nuance in human-environmental relationships. That’s a necessity in looking toward finding solutions for Wyoming’s public lands.

    When you’re not in the office, what do you enjoy doing in your free time?

    I enjoy exploring new places on horseback, hiking with my dog, hunting, reading, and trying out New York Times recipes. I am planning on planting a garden next year, and am very excited about that prospect.

    Do you have a favorite outdoor activity or place to visit on public lands?

    I’d say camping somewhere up high in the Shoshone National Forest, drinking coffee, ideally on a frosty morning in early fall.