November 10, 2008

PROTECT LITTLE MOUNTAIN'S WILDLIFE

Attend the public meeting in Rock Springs

Wildlife at Risk and Your Dollars Down the Drain

On December 2, the BLM will offer 247,645 acres of oil and gas leases for competitive sale in Wyoming. Included in the auction are 18,050 acres in the Little Mountain Area, just east of Flaming Gorge Reservoir. These acres are being sold as 14 separate parcels of land, ranging in size from 120 to 2,560 acres. Auction block parcels include crucial habitate ranges for elk, mule deer, antelope, and important riparian and watershed areas for Colorado River cutthroat trout.

Greater Little Mountain has become the latest important hunting and fishing area to be included in the rush to lease and develop southwest Wyoming's public lands. These lands are prized for elk and deer hunting, playing a vital role in maintaining the state's outdoor heritage and economic diversity.

This area is one of Sweetwater County's most popular hunting and wildlife viewing areas. A thriving elk herd is found in the Little Mountain area, providing a once in a lifetime opportunity for trophy quality bull elk. Identified by the BLM's resource management plan as a highly significant resource area worthy of protection, the leasing of this area defies the agency's own management designations.

Since 1990, the Greater Little Mountain area has benefited from more than $2 million in riparian habitat restoration projects funded by private groups and state and federal agencies. The Wyoming Game & Fish Department has also spent at least $351,000 on habitat improvement projects. This maybe money down the drain if oil and gas get a firm hold on this area.

How the Public Can Get Involved

There will be a public meeting held on Tuesday, November 11th, at 7:00 p.m. in room 1302 of Western Wyoming Community College, Rock Springs. All are welcome to attend to find out more, such as how to submit a formal protest, requesting that specific parcesl of land get withdrawn from the auction block.

To submit a protest by mail or by fax sent to:

Bureau of Land Management Wyoming State Office
5353 Yellowstone Road
Cheyenne, WY 82009
Fax: 307-775-6203

BLM will not accept protest sent by email. Protests must include reasons to support removing the specified parcel(s) from the December auction. BLM must receive protests no later than 4:00 p.m. on November 17, 2008.