Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative An Approach to Landscape Scale Conservation in Southwest Wyoming October 23, 2014

Overview Introduction to WLCI Mission Statement Organization Focus communities Priority Objectives WLCI’s Local Project Development Teams Locales Conservation Action Plan Conclusion

WLCI Mission Statement The WLCI will implement a long-term science-based program to assess and enhance the quality and quantity of aquatic and terrestrial habitats at a landscape scale in Southwest Wyoming, while facilitating responsible development.

Organization 2006 – BLM State Director, Bob Bennett and Terry Cleveland, Wyoming Game and Fish Director were enjoying cocktails after work, and began a discussion on wildlife and their habitats in the face of unprecedented oil and gas exploration and development in Southwest Wyoming – Through these discussions Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative was formed – WLCI received funding through the Healthy Lands Initiative - Began to take projects that were “Off the Shelf” - Began work on the Organization of WLCI -Memorandum of Understanding -Operations Plan -Strategic Plan

Organization Current Partnerships Bureau of Land Management* Bureau of Reclamation Conservation Districts* County Commissioners* Governor’s Office* Jonah Interagency Office Non-Government Organizations National Park Service* Natural Resources Conservation Services* Pinedale Anticline Project Office Private Landowners US Fish &Wildlife Service* US Forest Service* US Geological Survey* Wyoming Department of Agriculture* Wyoming Game & Fish Department* *Executive Committee Members

WLCI Executive Committee WGFDUSFWSWDANRCS BLM USFSUSGSNPS Conservation Districts County Commissioners Science and Technical Advisory Committee USGS USFWSWGFD BLM USFS WDA Monitoring Team WLCI Coordination Team WDAWGFD USFWSUSGS BLM Communication Team Support Subcommittee USGS Science Team Local Project Development Team Organization

Focus Communities Aspen Mountain Shrub Sagebrush

Focus Communities Riparian Aquatic

Focus Communities Concept Landscape Scale Science Based Partner Support & Collaboration Leverage Resources Adaptive Management Central Data Accessibility

Priority Objectives Fragmented Habitat Migration Corridors Emphasis on WLCI identified communities Consequences of development Invasive Species Loss of historic vegetation Loss of critical forage Changes/disturbances in cycles Water Quality & Quantity Livestock and wildlife access Effect of changes on the landscape Indigenous species concerns Water health for fisheries, wildlife and livestock

Local Interaction Local Project Development Teams Local-level project design, input using personnel from multiple agencies incorporating local landowners and stakeholders and other interested groups (e.g., NGOs) to develop and prioritize projects The LPDT are by county boundaries, Carbon, Lincoln and Uinta, Sublette, and Sweetwater. But this does not mean the LPDT can’t cross boundaries.

Local Interaction

Conservation Action Plan “Road map” of our conservation actions during the next 5 years. It is designed to explain: What we plan to achieve or accomplish (i.e. our priorities) Where we are focusing our activities What approaches and tools we plan on using How we will transition from site specific objectives to landscape level accomplishments and benefits How we will integrate science (USGS & partners), with our partner’s areas of interest, management issues, and other entities How we will adjust and know if or when we have met our objectives

Conservation Action Plan

Conclusion WLCI is a BEAST Eight Teams and Committees Over 40 agencies and entities that have ties to WLCI Partnerships and Communication are Vital to the Success Without these, there is no WLCI