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The Bureau of Land Management released a draft Regional Management Plan (RMP) for stewarding 3.6 million acres of public land in the Rock Springs region of southwest Wyoming, which includes popular recreation destinations, culturally significant sites, and important wildlife corridors. The proposed plan would update outdated management practices in order to better balance conservation, recreation, and oil and gas leasing in the area. It has strong support from local communities and was drafted in consultation with Tribes that have ancestral connections to the area.
The draft RMP proposes 16 new Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs)—a BLM designation that offers special management practices for areas with important natural, cultural, and scenic resources, intact landscapes, habitat connectivity, and ecosystem resilience. It also proposes expanding existing oil and gas closures in the Northern Red Desert and Big Sandy Foothills, areas that have low oil and gas potential.
“Premier wildlife habitats in the Northern Red Desert and Big Sandy Foothills promote population sustainability for big game herds, greater sage-grouse, and other sagebrush-dependent species,” said Tom Christiansen, retired Wyoming Game and Fish Department Sage Grouse Coordinator. “I applaud the foresight these land managers have shown in this draft plan for protecting migration corridors and limiting energy development in important landscapes for a variety of wildlife. This draft plan provides critical tools for managers to continue stewarding these lands.”
The release of the draft RMP kicks off a 90-day comment period where the public can provide input on the proposed plan.
2023 Winning the West poll
Yesterday, the Center for Western Priorities released the latest Winning the West poll. The poll shows that national public lands, parks, and wildlife issues matter to Western voters in Arizona, Colorado, and Nevada. A strong majority of Western voters—across political parties—say a candidate’s support for conservation plays an influential role in how they choose to vote. If you opened yesterday's Look West shortly after it arrived, you might have encountered a broken link. Fortunately, our brief technical issue was resolved, and you can now access the Winning the West website to view the poll results.
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Yes, huge, empty lawns watered with sprinklers may make us feel like we’re on a damp English estate in a Jane Austen novel. But we’re not. We’re in 21st century California—increasingly arid but still paradise if we change our ways to be more in line with what nature offers.”
