December 1, 2007
New Conservation Focus on Wind River Watershed
A new conservation effort has been launched, with Dubois as its home. The Wind River Program has been instituted to focus on conserving important scenic, agricultural and wildlife values in the upper Wind River watershed area. Organized in response to growing interest in the expansion of its work, the Jackson Hole Land Trust kicked off the Wind River Program earlier this winter with the appointment of Pam Dewell as Program Director.

Many in town came to know Dewell, formerly Director of External Affairs for The Nature Conservancy in Wyoming, during her work to transfer title of the mill site from TNC to the Town and the Dubois Assisted Living Group in accordance with the wishes of the Three Spear Ranch family, the initial donor to the project. "I consider myself very fortunate to have met so many wonderful people during the months of the planning process and the subsequent public meetings which led to the transfer of the mill site," Dewell said. "The sense of community and stewardship here in Dubois is so very strong and I am enjoying this new opportunity to learn more about this place, its history and the people who continue to make it what it is."

The Jackson Hole Land Trust was founded in 1980 as a non-profit organization with the sole purpose of preserving the scenic, ranching, and wildlife values in and around Jackson Hole. Since that time, the organization has ensured the permanent protection of over 20,000 acres in that area, and attracted the interest of the wider western Wyoming community. Working only with willing landowners, the organization has helped to protect conservation values ranging from spawning habitat for cutthroat trout to elk migration routes and outstanding vistas on working ranches.

The Jackson Hole Land Trust has worked with area landowners since 1995, when it accepted the gift of a conservation easement on 1,200 acres adjacent to the public lands of the Wind River Mountains. More recently, the Land Trust received the donation of an easement on more than 100 acres along the Wind River east of town. The easement conserves an area of open space along Highway 26, and some of the badlands that border public lands to the north. It also protects wildlife habitat for a number of mammals, including bighorn sheep, which frequent the property and adjacent lands. A pair of osprey have nested and raised their young this past season atop a pole placed on the property for that reason. Scenic values conserved by the easement include an unspoiled panorama of Byrd Draw.

"We are pleased to make the donation of a conservation easement on this property, because we’d like to help ensure the scenic and wildlife values that make this part of Wyoming – indeed this part of the United States – unique," said Michael Rediker, one of the landowners who made the donation. "The conservation easement on our land allows the continuation of agricultural use, which is another important component of the way of life in Fremont County. We enjoy being part of the Dubois community and working to be good stewards of this important riparian area."

Last year, the Land Trust worked with Bob and Kate Lucas to protect 330 acres of the U Lazy U Ranch in South Park, one of the last working ranches in Jackson Hole. Nearly two miles of the Snake River runs through the property and its conservation protects extensive riparian habitat as well as the mouth of Spring Creek, one of the most important cutthroat trout spawning streams in that valley.

An innovative partnership between the Lucases, the Jackson Hole Land Trust and TNC enabled the transfer of title of the former Winchester cow camp, as well as some additional acreage adjacent to it, from TNC -- which had owned and managed it for several years -- to Bob and Kate. As agreed to in the conservation easement, development will be limited and sited away from important biological features, helping to ensure agricultural use of the property and to protect the wildlife habitat it provides into the future.

In addition to donated and purchased conservation easements, the Land Trust utilizes a unique “Conservation Buyer Program” to match sellers of properties with important wildlife habitat or scenic qualities with conservation-minded buyers who wish to assist in its protection. Working closely with realtors, the Jackson Hole Land Trust helps to market properties important to maintaining scenic vistas, agricultural uses or wildlife habitat.

The Land Trust's projects are highly diverse-they range from the preservation of large family ranches, to the creation of public recreational areas for Jackson Hole’s residents and visitors. In 2003 the Jackson Hole Land Trust completed a $25.5-million fundraising effort, the Campaign for Our Valley, which enabled the purchase of development rights from the owners of several critical properties that help to define the unique character of Jackson Hole. More than 670 individuals, businesses and foundations participated in the initiative, and their support helped to secure a $1-million challenge grant from the Kresge Foundation toward the campaign.

What does the Land Trust plan for Dubois? Dewell says that she’d like a big part of her work to be in response to the hearts and minds of others who live in the area. "One phrase in particular keeps surfacing in the many conversations I have had with folks here in Dubois and the Crowheart area – 'this is our backyard'," said Dewell. "There is a tremendous sense of ownership and pride in the natural resources this special place provides. The Wind River Program will be most successful if its priorities are shaped by the community. I am in the process of talking with a broad range of folks who live and work here – landowners, realtors, hunters and anglers, summer residents, and community leaders – to learn how I might be able to offer some new tools to help support land use in the upper Wind River watershed. I welcome everyone’s input!"

Dewell also plans to continue tracking habitat issues and resources statewide. She was asked to facilitate at the Governor’s recent conference, "Building the Wyoming We Want" and is looking forward to this year's legislative session. "Open space seems to be a defining feature of Wyoming and the reason we all choose to live and work here. The wildlife and other natural resources we are blessed with gives us an incredible wealth of assets to celebrate – and manage. Working together, we can pass along these gifts to future generations."