Wyoming Public Lands Initiative in Carbon County

Transcription

1 Wyoming Public Lands Initiative in Carbon County THE CARBON COUNTY WPLI ADVISORY COMMIT TEE WANTS YOUR INPUT

2 Wilderness Study Area: A special designation that applies to lands managed to protect wilderness characteristics until Congress designates the WSA as wilderness or directs the agency to manage the area for other multiple uses.

3 WPLI Goal Develop a locally led, Wyoming-specific legislative lands package to address wilderness designation, release, or other management for WSAs in Wyoming. Wilderness? Released to agency plan? Other Management Designation?

4 WPLI Process County Commissions convene advisory committees. Must represent a diversity of interests o Ag/ranching o Environmental Conservation o Hunting/fishing o Conservation Districts o Energy o General Public o Motorized recreation o Non-motorized recreation Seek, to the maximum extent practicable, consensus-based solutions

5 WPLI Committees Carbon Fremont Fortification Creek Johnson Park Sublette Teton Washakie

6 WPLI Process The Advisory Committee may consider other [geographical] areas of interest within the county for potential inclusion in its recommendation Many management and designation tools are available and can be employed

7 Carbon County WPLI Advisory Committee John Espy, Co-chair Dave Throgmorton, Co-Chair Energy Glen Alameda Leanne Correll Shaleas Harrison John Johnson Joan McGraw Joseph Parsons Pat Rollison Jeff Streeter Connie Wilbert County Commissioner Agriculture/Ranching General Public General Public County Commissioner Motorized Recreation Conservation District Sportsmen Conservation Non-Motorized Recreation

8 WSAs in Carbon County Ferris Mountains Bennett Mountain Encampment River Canyon Prospect Mountain Ferris Mtns. Bennett Mtn. Encampment River Canyon Prospect Mtn.

9 Ferris Mountains WSA 22,245 acres Outstanding opportunities for hunting, hiking, camping and backpacking Historic grazing use Steep and rugged with no marked trails Habitat for elk, bighorn sheep and mule deer Outstanding scenic views

10 Bennett Mountain WSA 6,003 acres High plateau with numerous draws and rocky outcrops Historic grazing uses Outstanding opportunities for hunting, hiking, trapping, camping Vegetation is primarily grasses, sagebrush with pockets of pine, aspen, & willows

11 Encampment River Canyon WSA 4,547 acres Access to Encampment River and Miner Creek Historic grazing uses Recreational opportunities include fishing, hunting, backpacking, hiking, horseback riding Separated from Encampment River Wilderness by other public lands

12 Prospect Mountain WSA 1, 145 acres Abuts the Platte River Wilderness Recreational activities include hunting, fishing, hiking, and camping Historic grazing uses 70% forested with lodgepole pine & aspen Prospect Creek Road borders the northern boundary

13 Carbon WPLI Progress Gathered data and toured WSAs Reviewed options for management and designation of the four WSAs Have begun developing proposals for recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners Final recommendations should be advanced to the Board of County Commissioners by Spring/Summer 2018

14 Designation Options Considered for Each WSA Release WSA to multiple use management under the existing Resource Management Plan Designate as Wilderness Area Designate as other special management area such as National Conservation Area Cooperative Management and Protection Area Outstanding Natural Area Wild and Scenic River Etc. Maintain the WSA as is

15 Management Options Being Considered Recreation Maintain and/or enhance hunting/fishing recreational uses Maintain hunting and fishing access Maintain continued opportunity for quiet recreation opportunities (hunting, hiking, etc.) Grazing and Livestock Management Allow for existing range improvements and maintenance (i.e. water development, fences) Allow for new range improvements, allow for maintenance of existing infrastructure Maintain existing agricultural uses and Best Management Practices Protect existing water rights

16 Management Options Being Considered Motorized/Mechanized Uses and Non-motorized Prohibit mechanized and motorized uses Prohibit motorized uses, but allow mechanized uses Allow for mechanized and motorized recreation Forest Ecology Allow for commercial forest products removal Allow only natural ecological processes to occur Wildlife Maintain and/or enhance existing wildlife habitat

17 Questions? Comments? Do you have questions for the WPLI Advisory Committee? What advice to you have for the WPLI Advisory Committee?