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Committee hears briefing on how recreation rules differ between federal and Wyoming state trust lands
Summary
Legislative staff and the Office of State Lands told a committee that federal law (BLM/Forest Service) embeds recreation in multiple-use mandates, while Wyoming state trust lands are managed under a constitutional fiduciary duty to maximize revenue for beneficiaries; casual day use is generally allowed but camping and open fires are restricted unless the board authorizes them.
Clayton Caldwell, a research analyst with LSO, told legislators the BLM and the U.S. Forest Service manage federal public lands under a multiple-use mandate that explicitly includes recreation, while Wyoming’s state board of land commissioners administers state trust lands under a constitutional duty to generate the greatest benefit for trust beneficiaries. "The BLM and forest service are required under federal law to manage their public lands under a multiple use mandate," Caldwell said, adding that the state trust mandate instead focuses on revenue for beneficiaries.
Staca Barry of the Office of State Lands and Investments told the committee state trust parcels total about 3.5 million surface acres and that roughly 2.5 million acres are publicly accessible. She summarized the office’s rules: casual day recreational use on legally accessible state trust lands is a board-granted privilege; "overnight camping is prohibited and open fires are not allowed unless specifically approved by the board," she said. Barry noted state regulation (Chapter 13) formalized recreational privileges and that Chapter 5 governs special use leases such as cabin sites and long-term recreation arrangements.
The office also described enforcement and operational limits. Motor vehicle use is confined to established roads, Barry said, but practical enforcement is limited: the office has five field staff statewide to inspect leases and respond to complaints. For violations (damaging land, off-road vehicle use, fires, camping), state statute (W.S. 36-2-107(b)) provides misdemeanor penalties—up to a $750 fine or six months in jail—but the Office of State Lands and Investments lacks arrest or direct citation power and must rely on local sheriffs or game wardens for enforcement.
The presentation put recreation revenue in fiscal context: last year recreation produced about $295,691.36 for the trust, a small share compared with mineral revenue (about $139 million) and other trust land receipts. Barry said the office offers both long-term special use leases (up to 75 years, five-year rent reviews and escalators) and temporary use permits (up to 30 days, minimum $50/day) to accommodate organized recreation such as trail races, outfitting, or cabin sites. Two of the largest recreation leases she cited were Munger Mountain (Teton County; 2026 rent ~$80,342) and Pilot Hill (Albany County; 2026 rent ~$42,765).
Committee members asked about distinctions between state trust lands and other nonfederal lands managed by different agencies (State Parks, Game & Fish, WYDOT), how cultivated crop land is defined in rule or statute (Barry deferred to regulatory text), and whether motorized and non-motorized uses are treated differently ("if it has a motor, I would consider it motorized," Barry said; the office does not routinely police every motorized user because of limited staff).
The office pointed committee members to an online map viewer showing whether a parcel is leased, restricted, closed, or publicly accessible and reiterated that closures happen for safety or rehabilitation where damage or persistent dumping has occurred. The session closed without formal action; the office said it would provide further definitional and historical detail on request.
