Proposed Rock Springs resource management plan balances conservation and energy development
ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. – Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released a draft resource management plan (RMP) for the Rock Springs Field Office, located in southwest Wyoming. The area is home to the Greater Little Mountain Area, a 500,000-acre region prized by hunters and anglers for native Colorado River cutthroat trout, world-class big game hunting, backcountry and motorized recreation opportunities, and a nearby outdoor oasis for the town of Rock Springs, located 30 miles to the north.
For over a decade, the Greater Little Mountain Coalition – a diverse set of partners with an interest in the future of the area – has advocated a responsible oil and gas leasing plan for the Greater Little Mountain Area. Initially formed in 2008 in response to proposals to lease the area for oil and gas development, the coalition has engaged with the BLM during both Republican and Democratic administrations, advocating a proposal that conserves the area’s hunting, fishing and recreational opportunities for future generations while supporting responsible energy development.
“We are excited for the Rock Springs Field Office to release this draft plan and we look forward to making sure that the Greater Little Mountain Coalition’s vision for balanced multiple use management is carried forward into the final plan,” said Corey Fisher, Trout Unlimited’s Public Lands Policy Director. “This region is unique and home to many species including one of the purest forms of native Colorado River cutthroat trout. Since 1990, conservation groups and agencies have invested more than $6 million dollars to enhance and maintain these resources. A plan that conserves this area is essential to not only protect these investments on the ground, but to make sure that the Greater Little Mountain area remains a special place for generations to come.”
The draft RMP is open for public comment for 90 days and has been developed with input from the public and cooperating agencies, which includes both State and local governments. When finalized, the RMP will guide management of 3.6 million surface acres of public lands and 3.7 million acres of subsurface mineral estate for 15-20 years.
“Energy development and conservation need not be mutually exclusive, but it takes smart planning to strike the right balance and curb speculative leasing that pits conservation against extraction,” continued Fisher. “We thank the Rock Springs Field Office for their work on this RMP and we look forward to continued collaboration to finalize a plan that ensures balanced public land management in southwest Wyoming.”
Learn more about TU’s work on responsible energy development at: Responsible Energy Development – Trout Unlimited
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Trout Unlimited is the nation’s oldest and largest coldwater fisheries conservation organization dedicated to caring for and recovering America’s rivers and streams so our children can experience the joy of wild and native trout and salmon. Across the country, TU brings to bear local, regional and national grassroots organizing, durable partnerships, science-backed policy muscle, and legal firepower on behalf of trout and salmon fisheries, healthy waters and vibrant communities.