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BLM, Seedskadee Refuge and Reclamation report ongoing projects: carbon sequestration, wild horse gathers and reservoir work
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Summary
Federal agency representatives updated the Sweetwater County commission on local projects including carbon sequestration, wild-horse gathers and wetland and side-channel restoration on the Green River.
Representatives from federal land-management agencies briefed the Sweetwater County commission April 1 on ongoing projects and near-term work in the county.
Bureau of Land Management (High Desert District): Kimberly Foster reported continued activity on carbon sequestration leasing (a 600,000-acre Southwest Wyoming exploration project), ongoing oil-and-gas APD work in existing fields, and transmission projects including a Gateway West segment review and a new segment near Rollins to Shirley Basin. Foster said BLM is managing wind-energy EIS work for the Jackalope Wind project (draft EIS expected late summer) and that the agency is addressing wild-horse management work; two Adobe Town and Salt Wells gathers were planned for July but could be contingent on the outcome of pending litigation.
Seedskadee (Seedskadee) National Wildlife Refuge: Refuge wildlife biologist Colin Dauchian showcased recent habitat-restoration work including side-channel reopenings that restored spawning habitat for fish and improved wetland functions. Dauchian described cottonwood restoration, seed-collection efforts to increase native seed availability, virtual-fencing trials with grazing cooperators and refuge recreation and education activities. He also warned of staff reductions that have cut refuge personnel roughly in half over the past decade and said several funding projects remain paused at the federal level pending administrative review.
Bureau of Reclamation: Rick Baxter provided reservoir status updates — Flaming Gorge at roughly 80% capacity, Big Sandy near 55% and Eden around 45% — and said Big Sandy construction is complete with remaining small punch-list items. Baxter said reclamation and BLM are coordinating a land revocation process around Fontenelle that should take about a year to complete and will transfer some lands back to BLM management.
Commissioners and agency staff also discussed BLM’s role in sage-grouse lek counting; Kimberly Foster confirmed the BLM will not participate in lek counts this season and the state Game and Fish results would stand as the basis for planning inputs. Commissioners asked for continued agency coordination on fuels projects and electrical transmission planning.
