From the 2022 NACD Annual Meeting.
Partnerships are incredibly important in putting conservation on the ground. In this session, you’ll learn about the Ohio Agriculture Conservation Initiative (OACI), a partnership between agriculture, conservation, environmental and research communities that provides the resources and education that farmers need to proactively employ modern, science-based practices on their farms and better demonstrate how those efforts are improving water quality over time. You’ll also hear from the Sublette County Conservation District on how they’ve built a bridge between various stakeholders to restore a degraded watershed.
1. Collaboration to Restoration
in Sublette County, WY
A Conservation District's Role in Helping
Find Balance between Multiple Use,
Multiple Ownership, Multiple Interest in
Western Wyoming
Shari Meeks * Range Program Manager * Pinedale, WY
2. The Road to
Restoration
• Inception of the Range Program
• Attributes of the La Barge
Landscape
• Project-level collaboration
• Insights from partners along the
way
6. What does our
Range Program
do?
The Range Program provides technical
assistance to private landowners and
land management agencies (both federal
and state) throughout the year. Team
members strive to meet the needs of a
community which relies on a multiple use
and a predominantly federally managed
landscape, while also promoting private
property rights. Range staff strive to
create positive, long term, cooperative
relationships between the Conservation
District, Sublette County landowners, and
land management agency personnel.
7.
8. What makes
the area so
unique?
• Natural Resources
• Multiple Use
• Multiple Ownership
• Multiple Interest
15. Federal Regulations
that Impact
Management
• Federal Land Policy & Management Act
• BLM Pinedale Field Office Resource
Management Plan
• BLM Pinedale Field Office Coordinating Activity
Plan
• USFS Land Resource Management Plan
• Sage Grouse Amendments
• Taylor Grazing Act
• WDEQ Water Requirements
• Frail Lands Policy
• Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act of 1974
• Wyoming Office of State Lands & Investments
Policies
18. Unraveling of a Frail Landscape
1700’s
Land
Acquisition
1860’s
Homesteadi
ng the West
1907
First
Drilling
in La
Barge
Area
1920
Mineral
Leasing
Act
1935
Taylor
Grazing
Act
1950’s
Sagebrush
Spraying
1960’s
Range
Surveys
– 1961-
62
NEPA -
1969
1967-72
Grazing
Authorizations
AUM reductions
1976
FLPMA
1988
RMP
1991
Big
Piney-La
Barge
CAP
2008
Update
d RMP
19. The way to
get started is to
quit talking and
begin doing.
Walt Disney
20. Restoration of an Unraveling Landscape
2006
Highway Dept
Replace Culverts
Mule Deer Project
2008
Riparian
Assessments &
Rangeland Health
2009
Grazing NEPA -
remanded
2016
Big
Erosion
Events
2016
Rangeland
Health
Assessment
Grant –
Phase I
2017
Culvert
Inventor
y
Initiated
2018
Ecological
Site
Inventory
2018
Rangeland
Health
Assessment
Grant –
Phase II
2020
Decommissionin
g Wells and
Reclamation
2021
Disturbanc
e Inventory
21. Collaboration = Restoration
Wildlife Habitat
Habitat Inventory (2006)
Wyoming Range Mule Deer Project
Development
Habitat Improvement Projects
(2013-present)
Livestock Grazing
On the landscape since the 1900’s
A lengthy history of management
RHAP Phase I (2016-2018)
RHAP Phase 2 (2019-2021)
Project Implementation and
Adaptive Management (2021 to
future)
Excessive Erosion
C&D Livestock (Spring 2016)
Highway Department Culvert Issues
(Spring 2006, 2016)
BLM & SCCD Culvert Inventory
(2017-2019)
Engineering (2018-2021)
Restoration Project Implementation
(2021-future)
La Barge Platform
Oldest oil and gas field in Wyoming
BLM & SCCD Culvert Inventory
(2017-2019)
Reclamation and Infrastructure
Improvements
Rangeland Health
ID Team Assessed Rangeland
Health for Permit Renewal (2009)
Stream Dynamics Tour (2020)
Ecological Site Inventory (2018-
2021)
Disturbance Inventory (2021-2022)
2006 2022 Present Day
22. Erosion Concerns in the La Barge Platform
Wildlife Habitat
Habitat Inventory (2006?)
Wyoming Range Mule Deer Project
Development (YR)
Habitat Improvement Projects
(2013-present)
Livestock Grazing
On the landscape since the 1900’s
A lengthy history of management
RHAP Phase I (2016-2018)
RHAP Phase 2 (2019-2021)
Project Implementation and
Adaptive Management (2021 to
future)
Excessive Erosion
C&D Livestock (Spring 2016)
Highway Department Culvert Issues
(Spring 2006, 2016)
BLM & SCCD Culvert Inventory
(2017-2019)
Engineering (2018-2021)
Restoration Project Implementation
(2021-future)
La Barge Platform
Oldest oil and gas field in Wyoming
BLM & SCCD Culvert Inventory
(2017-2019)
Reclamation and Infrastructure
Improvements
Rangeland Health
ID Team Assessed Rangeland
Health for Permit Renewal (2009)
Stream Dynamics Tour (2020)
Ecological Site Inventory (2018-
2021)
Disturbance Inventory (2021-2022)
2009 (or whatever early date) 2022 Present Day
30. Big Piney – La
Barge Watershed
Restoration Project
>3000 Culverts
Inventoried
13% Functioning
50% Contributing to
incised channels below
culverts.
31. Erosion Concerns in the La Barge Platform
Partners
• Bureau of Land
Management
• Oil & Gas Operators
• Grazing Permittees
SCCD’S Role
• Resource Expertise
• Assist with Implementation
• ID Team Member
• Grant Acquisition & Management
32. Wildlife Habitat
Wildlife Habitat
Habitat Inventory (2006)
Wyoming Range Mule Deer Project
Development
Habitat Improvement Projects
(2013-present)
Livestock Grazing
On the landscape since the 1900’s
A lengthy history of management
RHAP Phase I (2016-2018)
RHAP Phase 2 (2019-2021)
Project Implementation and
Adaptive Management (2021 to
future)
Excessive Erosion
C&D Livestock (Spring 2016)
Highway Department Culvert Issues
(Spring 2006, 2016)
BLM & SCCD Culvert Inventory
(2017-2019)
Engineering (2018-2021)
Restoration Project Implementation
(2021-future)
La Barge Platform
Oldest oil and gas field in Wyoming
BLM & SCCD Culvert Inventory
(2017-2019)
Reclamation and Infrastructure
Improvements
Rangeland Health
ID Team Assessed Rangeland
Health for Permit Renewal (2009)
Stream Dynamics Tour (2020)
Ecological Site Inventory (2018-
2021)
Disturbance Inventory (2021-2022)
2006 2022 Present Day
36. Wyoming Range Mule Deer Project
Partners
• Teton Science School
• Bureau of Land
Management
• Wyoming Game and Fish
Department
• Natural Resources
Conservation Service
• Livestock Grazing
Permittees
SCCD’S Role
• Resource Expertise
• Manage funds
• Contract riders for project success
• Assist with implementation
37. Rangeland Health
Wildlife Habitat
Habitat Inventory (2006?)
Wyoming Range Mule Deer Project
Development (YR)
Habitat Improvement Projects
(2013-present)
Livestock Grazing
On the landscape since the 1900’s
A lengthy history of management
RHAP Phase I (2016-2018)
RHAP Phase 2 (2019-2021)
Project Implementation and
Adaptive Management (2021 to
future)
Excessive Erosion
C&D Livestock (Spring 2016)
Highway Department Culvert Issues
(Spring 2006, 2016)
BLM & SCCD Culvert Inventory
(2017-2019)
Engineering (2018-2021)
Restoration Project Implementation
(2021-future)
La Barge Platform
Oldest oil and gas field in Wyoming
BLM & SCCD Culvert Inventory
(2017-2019)
Reclamation and Infrastructure
Improvements
Rangeland Health
ID Team Assessed Rangeland
Health for Permit Renewal (2009)
Stream Dynamics Tour (2020)
Ecological Site Inventory (2018-
2021)
Disturbance Inventory (2021-2022)
2009 (or whatever early date) 2022 Present Day
42. Ecological
Site
Inventory
SCCD’S Role
• Hire & Supervise inventory crew
• Collaboration with BLM, NRCS, WGFD,
Permittees
• Manage the finances
• Collect, Compile and QC the data
• Write and Distribute the Final Report
46. Disturbance
Inventory
SCCD’S Role
• Hire & Supervise inventory crew
• Collaboration with BLM, NRCS,
O&G Operators
• Manage the finances
• Collect, Compile and QC the data
• Write and Distribute the Final
Report
47. Livestock Grazing
Wildlife Habitat
Habitat Inventory (2006?)
Wyoming Range Mule Deer Project
Development (YR)
Habitat Improvement Projects
(2013-present)
Livestock Grazing
On the landscape since the 1900’s
A lengthy history of management
RHAP Phase I (2016-2018)
RHAP Phase 2 (2019-2021)
Project Implementation and
Adaptive Management (2021 to
future)
Excessive Erosion
C&D Livestock (Spring 2016)
Highway Department Culvert Issues
(Spring 2006, 2016)
BLM & SCCD Culvert Inventory
(2017-2019)
Engineering (2018-2021)
Restoration Project Implementation
(2021-future)
La Barge Platform
Oldest oil and gas field in Wyoming
BLM & SCCD Culvert Inventory
(2017-2019)
Reclamation and Infrastructure
Improvements
Rangeland Health
ID Team Assessed Rangeland
Health for Permit Renewal (2009)
Stream Dynamics Tour (2020)
Ecological Site Inventory (2018-
2021)
Disturbance Inventory (2021-2022)
2009 (or whatever early date) 2022 Present Day
55. NLBC RHAP – Phase 2
Building a Grazing Plan
• Education! Education! Education!
• Agenda’s and Note Pages
• Create a Folder for Everyone to Keep Documentation
• Distribute Meeting Notes
• Hold People Accountable
• Always Tie Back to the Common Goals and Objectives
• Homework
• “In Meeting” Group Projects
57. Meeting 1
(Establishing
Common
Ground)
Define Common
Values, Goals
and Objectives
among the group.
Make sure we all
understand what
the process is.
Meeting 2 (State
of the Range –
Trend and RIPS)
Review Session
1
Range
Improvement
Inventory
Vegetation Trend
Analysis
Homework
Meeting 3 (State
of the Range ESI
and Treatments)
Turn in
Homework,
Review Session
2
Wildlife Habitat
Resource
Information
Vegetation
Treatments
Ecological Site
Inventory Results
Homework
Meeting 4
(Putting It All
Together)
Turn in
Homework,
Review Session
3
Review
Ecological Site
Concepts
Identify Issues on
the Landscape
Together
A History Review
and
Recommendation
for Moving
Forward
Homework
Meeting 5
(Strategy
Building 1)
Answering
Common
Questions
Among
Stakeholders
Review of Most
Recent
Environmental
Assessment
Review of Most
Recent
Standards and
Guidelines
Review of
Existing AMP
Develop
Livestock
Rotations that
Meet Current
Mgmt. Concerns
Homework
Meeting 6
(Strategy
Building 2)
Review Rotations
Developed at
Last Meeting
Review
Slope/Distance to
Water Analysis
Create a List of
RIPS Needed to
Implement Each
Rotation
Meeting 7
(Strategy
Building 3)
Determine
Rotations and
RIPS that Fall in
Line with Initial
Goals
State Lands
RIPS Information
BLM RIPS
Information
Development
Strategy
(Funding &
Prioritization)
Mini Meetings to
ID Projects for
2021
Meeting 8 (Fall
Grazing Season
& Future
Strategy)
2021 Monitoring
Results &
Grazing Season
Discussion
Wildlife Projects
Update
RHAP Review
and Comments
Grazing Plan
Review
Implementation
Strategy
Next Steps –
Coordinate with
O&G
NLBC RHAP
– Phase 2
Building a
Grazing Plan
61. Livestock Grazing - RHAP
Partners
• 6 Permittees
• United States Forest Service
• Bureau of Land Management
• Natural Resources Conservation Service
• Wyoming Game and Fish Department
• University of Wyoming
• Wyoming Office of State Lands & Investments
SCCD’S Role
• Resource Expertise
• Facilitator
65. Cooperating Agency Status
Defining Cooperating
Agency
Any Federal, State, or Local
agency that has jurisdiction by
law or special expertise
(40CFR 1508.5). Jurisdiction
by law means the agency has
authority to approve a
proposal.
Federal Land
Management Planning
- BLM Resource Management
Plans
- USFS Forest Plans
- Travel Management Plans
- Permit Renewal (grazing,
recreation/special use, etc)
- Watershed Projects
- …and others such as Oil and
Gas Development
Pre- and Post-Decision
Involvement
• NEPA Process Support
through providing data
collection and/or
documentation
• Environmental Assessment
or Environmental Impact
Statement Scoping,
Review & Commenting
• Alternative or Preferred
Action Development
submitted to the Agency
• ID Team Member, Leader
involved in development of
NEPA document
• Protest/Appeal or
Objection of NEPA
document
66.
67. Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Troy Fieseler – Habitat Biologist
Luke Schultz – Fisheries Biologist
Bureau of Land Management
Mark Thonhoff– Wildlife Biologist
Janet Bellis – Hydrogeologist
Kelsey Smith – Natural Resource Specialist
Amber Robbins – Range Specialist
Doug Linn & Travis Chewning - Managers
68. United States Forest Service
Chad Hayward – BTNF Range Program Supervisor
Buck Draney – Range Technician
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Jennifer Hayward – District Conservationist
Karen Clause – Area Range Specialist
Dillon Gray – Soil Survey Lead
Bryan Christensen – Ecological Site Specialist
69. Oil & Gas Operators
Williams
EOG Resources Inc.
Hilcorp Energy Company
Wexpro Company
Exxon
Livestock Grazing
Permittees
Sims Ranch
Mosquito Creek Ranch
JF Ranch
Milleg Ranch
Rockin’ Chair Cattle Co.
C&D Livestock Wyoming State Lands
& Investments
A’Lisa Hoffman - Specialist
70. Project Contractors
DOWL
River Design Group
Jakola Engineering
Range Riders
Teton Science School
University of Wyoming – Facilitation
Mary Jones
Stream Dynamics
Wyoming Dept.
of Agriculture
Justin Caudill – District
Liaison
71. Funding Sources
Jonah Interagency Office – Mitigation Fund
Natural Resources Conservation Service – EQIP, SGI
Livestock Grazing Board
Wyoming State Lands & Investments
Bureau of Land Management
Wyoming Water Development Commission
Wyoming Wildlife Natural Resources Trust
Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative
Permittees
Oil & Gas Industry
72.
73. The Road to
Restoration
• Inception of the Range Program
• Attributes of the La Barge
Landscape
• Project-level collaboration
• Insights from partners along the
way
74. Thank you
Shari Meeks
Range Program Manager
Sublette County Conservation District
Pinedale, WY
smeeks@sublettecd.com
Notas do Editor
So, this is the story about how we got from here, to here.
As we started to look at the area further, we noticed sediment moving everywhere, not just in the alluvial fans, where you would expect it.
These are typical photos of our inventory
Using the BLM Technical Reference for Ecological Site Inventory, we developed Plan and Procedures for consistency. In 2018, SCCD hired 3 technicians and 1 project lead to collect vegetation data on 120 points over the course of 2 years. The points were stratified based on ecological site.
Second, the BLM obtained funding to better understand the ecological integrity of its reclaimed lands. In 2020, SCCD hired 1 technician for project support and completed the data collection on 35 sites. We were then responsible for compiling the data and writing the report.
We designed the project collaboratively with BLM, NRCS, and Oil & Gas companies while also communicating with Permittees. We completed a similar protocol as the Ecological Site Inventory so we could eventually develop relationships between datasets, if possible in the future.
We are still compiling the data and will have the report finalized by the end of this year.
Switching gears now to Livestock grazing. Livestock grazing on this landscape dates back to the early late 1800’s to the early 1900’s when homesteaders started moving out west on the likes of the Oregon Trail. As we learned earlier, settlement was encouraged throughout the West through various acts and provisions made by our young US government.
Over the years, folks have desired to complete permit renewal to improve flexibility of permit holders and to improve range condition. That said, during those processes, there have been many ideas on “how” to improve range condition under grazing. In 2009, SCCD was approached by the BLM to assist them with implementing riparian health assessments and rangeland health assessments, which were intended to inform a subsequent EA and grazing authorization.
Soon after, the EA was out for public comment. Permittees were not happy with the DRAFT EA and neither were the likes of non-profits that didn’t want livestock in the area. Period. This EA quickly got remanded due to the contention.
In 2016, a new Range Specialist for the area asked the SCCD to assist them with developing a monitoring plan and working with the permittees. And here is where our story starts with the graziers.
The State of Wyoming is fortunate to have a legislature that understands the importance of collaboration and rangeland health. Here we get the privilege fo hearing from Justin Caudill, about the Rangeland Health Assessment Program, which has enabled our Range Program to engage in the request from the BLM.
We were funded for what we call Phase 1. Of which we did a lot of inventory! Livestock grazing infrastructure were inventoried so we knew what was on the ground.
We created a monitoring plan – of which we create these “site books”. They indicate the site chosen, its background, correlation to ecological site, and the goals and objectives- and what method was agreed upon to inform those goals and objectives. Then we set up a schedule for monitoring.
On an annual basis, a monitoring report is then created for all partners to help inform them of the conditions that year, utilization on the landscape, and to see where we are in terms of meeting our goals and objectives.
Because resource concerns had been identified on the ladncsape prior to the RHAP- we had set aside some of the funds to bring in an outside opinion or a resource expert. We asked Van Clothier with Stream Dynamics to come and help us understand the landscape better and how we need to make changes to keep water on the landscape.
We then had a foundation built where we could then start developing a grazing plan that was agreeable to all partners. We met several times, I gave out homework and then we had group projects where we interacted at different meetings. They were meant to be dynamic, helpful, and to encourage the group to identify resource concerns and how to address them. Everyone had the opportunity to participate.
We started with identifying values on the landscape – and then the goals and objectives for each value. We kept coming back to this during every meeting, to maintain our trajectory.
We oftentimes had anywhere from 12-20 people engaged at our meetings.
The meetings were progressive. At every meeting there was an education component, a group project, and homework to reflect on what was learned. Each group project and homework assignment actively informed the writing of the final grazing plan.
The final result is a DRAFT grazing and implementation plan. In order to implement deferment or rest on the allotment, water must be reliable. Now we are applying for grants to help write the NEPA in order to drill several strategically placed wells to promote flexibility in livestock grazing for the future.
It took some poking and prodding, but we had two producers that were willing to reflect on the process.
As a non-regulatory agency, so, what was the key to SCCD’s involvement?
The SCCD has been a very pro-active district for many years. Much of that is due to the intertwined land ownership of public and private lands throughout Sublette County. We not only assist with private land management through Conservation Planning with our Sister Agency NRCS, but we have also found that there are many benefits to being involved in the federal NEPA processes with BLM and USFS.
These benefits do not only benefit the District and its mission, but it also has many direct benefits relating to our constituents as I will get to later.
What we have found over the years, and has really become apparent to me in my short time at SCCD, is that there are 2 things that really can catapult your Districts’ ability to be an effective participant in public land management.
Relationships – these can either be pre-existing or as developed through projects or even perhaps community involvement or other interaction –
As relationships are cultivated, it creates an atmosphere of respect where all partner inputs are valued
Relationships built on positive interactions are very helpful in collaboration and projects tend to make exponentially greater progress toward solutions and achievement of boots-on-the-ground
But what if those relationships don’t exist?
I would love to tell you just to go make friends with agency staff and you will be invited to everything they are ever doing…but that’s really not the case either…
Cooperating Agency Status- is the other key to unlocking the door for invitation into the NEPA process with federal agencies. Cooperating Agency Status provides the ability to get your foot in the door even if you don’t know a soul in the room.
Cooperating Agency Status is a benefit of being an entity of local government. The Code of Federal Regulations gives local agencies, such as Conservation Districts, the ability to be on the front lines of Federal land use planning.
Cooperating Agency Status gives you the ability to review documents and decisions before they go to the public comment period for any projects that require NEPA.
2) Districts can be involved at any level they want…from attending scoping meetings, to Cooperating Agency review of DRAFTS to attending more in depth planning meetings and having conversations to participation in alternative development…you may even have the opportunity to go as far as having a seat on the ID Team.
3) The limiting factor is just how much time you can commit to the planning of any one project or multiple projects.
As mentioned before, Cooperating Agency Status, is an opportunity that gives your District a seat at the table prior to any decisions going public. If you are interested, you have to request from the Agency, Status as Cooperating Agency on projects. You can do this on a project by project basis, as well as blanket MOU’s such as requesting Cooperating Agency Status on all grazing permit renewals for a certain field office.
A few parting words from our partners…
While the road is long, its honestly the relationships built along the way that matter the most when on the road to restoration.
Even building this presentation was collaborative! I would be remiss if I didn’t give credit to these ladies right here. The neighboring, Teton Conservation District provided filming equipment and expertise from Phoebe Coburn. Jessica Artz on the left, ensured recording success and provided for the editing of all interviews.