Update (November 7, 2024) --
LANDER (November 6, 2024) -- The State has an agreement on the table for $100 million dollars that will benefit the kids of Wyoming for this 1 mile by 1 mile square of land. Wyoming will not find a better deal than this.
It protects wildlife.
It protects sportsmen's rights and values.
It protects grazing practices.
This deal is both good in dollars and also conserves an iconic space. If we don't close it now, before year end, we risk losing the funds.
Thank you for hanging with us and taking this last extra step - it is critical that we get this vote through.
Please Take Action Before 8am Tomorrow
Action #1: Send a personal email to the elected official below utilizing our talking points provided below.
Action #2: Virtually testify via Zoom. You must register to do so today. Please register for the meeting here. You can live-stream on the Office of State Lands and Investments' YouTube channel.
Action #3: Appear in person at the meeting with a short comment of support. Meeting details: Thursday, November 7th, 8 AM @ Capital Complex Auditorium (200 West 24thStreet, Cheyenne, WY)
Direct your public comments to the emails below:
Superintendent Megan Degenfelder: askthesuperintendent@wyo.gov
Secretary of State: chuck.gray@wyo.gov
State Treasurer: Curt.meier@wyo.gov
Governor: Mark.gordon@wyo.gov
State Auditor: Kristi.racines@wyo.gov
Rita.watson@wyo.gov;
secofstate@wyo.gov
Dawn.williams@wyo.gov
Julia.thompson@wyo.gov
Courtney.kouba@wyo.gov
Saoadmin@wyo.gov
Please keep in mind for all comments, emails, and exchanges to keep the tone concise, resolute and gracious.
Additional Wildlife Relevant Information
∙ Conserving the Kelly Parcel within Grand Teton National Park ensures the future of elk hunting on the parcel.
∙ Protecting the parcel supports pronghorn and mule deer hunting opportunities beyond the park boundaries.
∙ The Path of the Pronghorn migration route passes through the parcel. ∙ Each spring, antelope enter Grand Teton National Park via the parcel after a 100‐mile migration from their winter range in Sublette County.
Wyoming Game & Fish Report ‐ Big Game Crucial Range & High Value Wildlife Habitat
∙ “The Department recommends minimizing loss of big game crucial range and crucial range function to the extent possible and we recommend avoiding ground‐disturbing activities during the winter months to avoid direct impacts to wintering big game. Impacts to elk crucial winter range on the State Parcel would be dependent on the level of development that occurs if the parcel is disposed of.”
∙ Big Game Movements – “The department has ample big game tracking data that highlights the State Parcel’s geographic importance for big game movements in the Jackson area. Pulses of elk, totaling one thousand (1,000) head or more, as well as antelope and deer also traverse the area each spring and fall. Similar to elk crucial winter range, impacts to big game movements would be dependent on the level of development which may occur if the State Parcel is disposed of.”
∙ Greater Sage Grouse –“nearest lek is one mile west of the parcel. Development and activities would require compliance with Wyoming’s Sage‐Grouse Executive Order 2019‐3.”
∙ Wyoming Species of Greatest Conservation Need – 87 Wyoming Species of Greatest Conservation Need (“SGCN”) have distribution that include the state parcel. ∙ Observed species: moose, bald eagle, bighorn sheep, Brewer’s sparrow, American kestrel, western toad, Columbia spotted frogs
∙ “The State Parcel contains high value wildlife habitat that supports a number of big game and sensitive wildlife species. If the State Parcel was disposed of and remained undeveloped, impacts to wildlife habitat would be minimal, although loss of hunting opportunity may occur. If the State Parcel was disposed of and developed, the resulting habitat loss and fragmentation may have substantial impacts to area wildlife.
Federal Funding is Available Now, But Not Forever
∙ Federal funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to permanently protect the Kelly Parcel is a window of opportunity that is open now, but will likely close come January.
