County hears federal partner updates

Sweetwater County works together with a number of federal partners throughout the year, particularly when it comes to managing land and resources in the county. Several of these partners provide an annual update to the county in order to give an overview of what they've been working on and project coming up in the future.

The Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners heard an update from representatives of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Ashley National Forest (ANF), and the Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge during the April 16 commissioner meeting.

Bureau of Land Management

Kimberlee Foster, the Manager for the BLM Rock Springs Field Office, spoke to the commissioners to provide an update on not just the Rock Springs Field Office but the entire High Desert District.

"We do have a multiple use mission," Foster said. "We're the land managers, but we have all kinds of health, diversity, productivity [projects], from oil and gas to renewable to grazing, wild horses, you name it."

Foster gave an overview of current projects going on within the BLM High Desert District, including oil and gas implementation, CO2 sequestration, renewable energy, solid minerals development with trona as well as uranium and lithium and infrastructure development. Specific projects that are in varying stages of development that Foster noted included Jackalope Wind, Dry Creek Trona and Project West, Gateway West and the Transwest Express. Foster also gave an update on wild horse management and fire management in the district.

"Land use planning has been a hot topic," Foster added, bringing up the Rock Springs Field Office Resource Management Plan (RMP) draft.

The BLM received over 35,000 comments on the RMP draft, according to Foster, which they have been going through. She noted they have identified about 4,000 "individual, unique, substantive comments."

"We'll be addressing those comments in the EIS document, and it is still our plan to release the final Environmental Impact Statement in the summer of this year," Foster said. She added that releasing the final EIS will kick off a 60-day protest period and 60-day Governor's consistency review, which will be followed with a final record of decision.

Commissioner Taylor Jones asked Foster if she could give any indication of what alternative the BLM is leaning toward. She responded that it's very unlikely for any presented alternative to be chosen in its entirety. Commissioner Mary Thoman asked if cooperators will see a copy of the administrative draft before it goes public. Foster said that is the plan, and noted that even though the BLM is under a lot of pressure to make progress on the document, they plan to share a copy with cooperators and have a meeting to go through it. Commissioner Thoman also asked for confirmation on whether the final decision on the RMP comes from the local level.

"I am the recommending official, and then the state director will be the signing official," Foster confirmed, adding "But we don't exactly operate in a vacuum."

Ashley National Forest

Brian Wilson, the District Ranger for the Flaming Gorge Recreation Area, spoke to the commissioners to give an update on the Ashely National Forest. He noted that they are gearing up for the summer, and are working on projects and improvements for a number of things including water systems and docs.

At the end of the month the ANF will be sending out a draft plan and Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Flaming Gorge NRA plan, according to Wilson. It will be released to cooperators first, and then the public.

The ANF is also working on plans for funding from the Great American Outdoors Act. Wilson said there are project selected that are moving forward, including $3.7 million to work on water systems for the Buckboard Recreation Facility and the Hideout.

"We're very excited about that," Wilson said.

Wilson explained that the forest service helps manage things like restrooms, floating restroom pump docks, and campgrounds at the Buckboard Rec Facility.

"For the last 50 years, we've needed a new water system for that recreation facility," Wilson explained. "Currently it's a seasonal system that we have in place, and currently it has a lot of problems... Our vision is to improve recreation opportunities, to create more winter recreation for the Wyoming rec users, and so a year-round water system is what we're in the process of putting in there."

Commissioner Robb Slaughter asked if there were any updates on the proposed boundary reassignment at Buckboard, noting it had been a hot topic. Wilson agreed that it got a lot of attention and comments when it was initially released, and said the forest service is currently working through alternatives to find a better resolution. He also indicated that more information will be released in the fall so there can be further discussion of the issue with the public.

The ANF also applied for the Wyoming Outdoor Rec Grant, and received letters of support from Green River and the county, according to Wilson. Those funds could help with projects including pavilions and fish cleaners in locations including Buckboard.

Wilson also noted that the ANF was able to secure an office in Green River and is working to get more staff in that location, but they are currently available on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The forest service is also working on other ways to stay involved in the community, including planning a special summer reading story time with the Sweetwater County Library for June 11, which will feature special guests like Smokey the Bear and Woodsy Owl.

Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge

Katie Theule, who has been the Refuge Manager at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge for 12 years, also spoke with the commissioners to give an update on the refuge.

She noted that Seedskadee is "one piece of the puzzle" in a complex consisting of multiple refuges. Their primary purposes include habitat mitigation for the Fontenelle and Flaming Gorge Dams, conserving and managing fisheries and wildlife resources, protecting scenery and cultural resources, and providing for wildlife dependent public users.

Some of the habitat mitigation projects the refuge has been working on include addressing cottonwood and willow regeneration with different planting methods, clearing away ice jams and flows that plug side channels, increasing pollinator habitats, stabilizing banks, managing wetlands, and addressing invasive species like cheatgrass. One of the "fun" projects Theule highlighted was the refuge staff working with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and Wyoming Wetlands Society for GPS collaring of trumpeter swans to study their migrating. She noted that the refuge was a key piece in helping re-establish trumpeter swans in the area, adding that they have five to nine nesting pairs and produce 12-18 young each year, and the winter population swells to around 300.

Seedskadee also partners with school groups for field trips, having 200-700 students come through. The refuge also partnered with Sweetwater County Travel and Tourism to be included as a destination for the county. Theule pointed out the scenery and wildlife people can enjoy on the refuge, the connections to historical information, and the many recreation opportunities, such as kayaking, fishing, photography, and more.

"People can find adventures out here," Theule said.