Committee Meeting Information

January 14, 2008

Room 302, Wyoming State Capitol

Cheyenne, Wyoming

 

Committee Members Present

Senator Bruce Burns

Senator Mike Massie
Senator Bob Fecht

Representative Jim Slater

Representative Pat Childers
Representative Bill Thompson

 

Committee Members Absent

None

 

Legislative Service Office Staff

Matt Obrecht, Staff Attorney

 

Others Present at Meeting

Please refer to Appendix 1 to review the Committee Sign-in Sheet
for a list of other individuals who attended the meeting.

 

Executive Summary

 

The Committee met in Cheyenne.  The Committee discussed funding for large projects authorized by the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust Account Board and a bill to amend when the Board needs authorization to allocate additional funds to an existing large project.

 

The Committee voted to sponsor the Natural Resource Funding bill (08LSO-293.C2) as amended and requested LSO Staff draft a bill to require initial legislative approval for every large project and for every additional $200,000 allocated to that project.  The proposed legislation will also clarify that the allocation that moves a small project into a large project (a total of $200,000 allocated or more) requires legislative approval to be voted on by mail ballot.

 

There were no further meeting scheduled this interim.

 

 

Call To Order

Representative Childers called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.  He noted Senator Burns and himself were participating in the meeting by telephone.

 

The following sections summarize the Committee proceedings by topic.  Please refer to Appendix 2 to review the Committee Meeting Agenda.

 

 

 

Natural Resource Commission Large Project Funding

Bob Budd, Executive Director of the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust Account Board ("the Board") gave the Select Committee a presentation on the large projects being proposed for funding in 2008 (Appendix 3).  Mr. Budd first described the leverage formula the Board uses to decide whether a proposed project is receiving a sufficient amount of funding from sources other than the Board.  Mr. Budd stated that ideal leverage for a large project as the Board moves forward  and approves more projects will likely be between 3:1 and 5:1. 

 

The first project Mr. Budd discussed was Bates Creek III, sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.  The project is intended to reduce pine tree encroachment in the drainage and restore aspen stands, with an uneven age distribution.  This is expected to improve the hydrology in the drainage since pine trees use water in the winter months after aspen trees have gone dormant.  It should also improve forage for elk and deer.  The project will be accomplished by physical cuttings and prescribed burns.  The project has been undertaken by the Game and Fish department and other entities since 2004, with certain aspects (such as prescribed burns) being done under contract.  The project is being supported by numerous private and nonprofit organizations both through funding and by cooperation with the efforts by in kind contributions, such as moving livestock and refencing areas.   Total project Cost for the Bates Creek project is projected to be $1,060,750. $200,000 was appropriated in 2007 from the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust (WWNRT) and the Board has approved an additional $100,000 for this year.

 

The next project discussed was Lake DeSmet Grasslands II.  This project, located in Johnson County, will improve habitat not only for sage grouse but also for neotropical songbirds, mule deer, antelope and livestock forage. The project sponsor is Lake DeSmet Conservation District. The project spans over 380,000 acres and involves 14 landowners.  The total cost of the project is estimated to be $2,552,699 and the allocation from the WWNRT is $235,000.

 

Mr. Budd next presented the Wyoming Range Aspen project in Lincoln and Teton counties, co-sponsored by the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.  Mr. Budd related to the Committee that this project was a good example of the ability of the Board to coordinate projects between multiple sponsors.  The Wyoming Range Aspen project will use mechanical thinning and prescribed fire to enhance aspen regeneration. The project will benefit mule deer, moose, elk and fisheries, as well as increasing water production and livestock forage in the Wyoming Range.  The total cost of the project is estimated to be $760,000 and the allocation from the WWNRT is $260,000.

 

The Diamond H Easement is a project sponsored by the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission in Lincoln County.  The easement will prevent further commercial and residential development of crucial habitat for moose, mule deer, antelope, elk, sage grouse, cutthroat trout,  neotropical songbirds and various amphibians between LaBarge and Fontenelle Creeks.  According to Mr. Budd, the easement will also help preserve the Diamond H as a family ranch and show that energy development and wildlife can coexist in certain situations. The project covers 3008 acres, has a total appraised cost of $2,000,000 and the allocation from the WWNRT is $300,000.

 

The Thunder Basin Grassland II project in Converse, Weston and Campbell Counties is cosponsored by the Thunder Basin Grassland Prairie EcoSystem Association and the Converse County Weed And Pest District.  This project will benefit, sage grouse, upland sandpiper, chestnut collared longspur, antelope, swift fox, sharptailed grouse and livestock forage.   Thunder Basin Grassland II spans over 100,000 acres and includes multiple landowners. The total project cost is estimated to be $2,346,952 and the WWNRT allocation is $300,000 with half of that allocation coming from The Nature Conservancy Grassland Initiative.

 

The Carney Ranch Easement is a project on 12,186 acres in Sublette County sponsored by The Conservation Fund.  The Carney Ranch straddles a major migration corridor for antelope, elk, mule deer and moose. The ranch also provides crucial range for sage grouse and trumpeter swans.  This project will link many conservation easements in the Upper Green River Valley.  As with many conservation easements, the owners of the Carney Ranch are donating a large portion of the appraised value of the easement.  The total appraised value of the Carney Ranch Easement is $5,695,000 and the 2008 WWNRT allocation is $200,000.

 

North Laramie Range II, like Bates Creek and Wyoming Range, is an aspen stand regeneration and restoration project sponsored by Wyoming Game and Fish Commission and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.  This project will benefit sage grouse, elk, mule deer and songbirds as well as improving fisheries, water quality and livestock forage.  The project is close to Bates Creek, but is in a different drainage and the Board deemed it to be a separate project.  The total cost of North Laramie Range II is estimated to be $666,940 with a WWNRT allocation of $200,000.

 

Kirby Creek II is a watershed restoration project sponsored by the Hot Springs County Conservation District.  The project seeks to improve water quality and sediment loading in the Big Horn River by improving the streambed and banks of Kirby Creek.  Mr. Budd pointed out that this project will provide an ancillary benefit to many fish and wildlife species, its primary purpose is of to fill the natural resource improvement mandate of the Board.  The total cost of Kirby Creek II is estimated to be $2,216,828 and the WWNRT allocation is $200,000.

 

The Cross Lazy Two Easement is on a ranch in Sublette County.  The easement covers 4,450 acres and is sponsored by the Green River Valley Land Trust. This easement will maintain a family ranch while protecting crucial range for moose, mule deer, antelope, elk, sage grouse, cutthroat trout, neotropical songbirds and amphibians.  The total appraised cost of the easement is $4,525,950 and the WWNRT allocation is $400,000 with $100,000 of that allocation coming from The Nature Conservancy Moose Initiative.

 

Yellowtail Coordinated Resource Management Area (CRM) II in Park County is sponsored by the Shoshone Conservation District.  The project will increase water quality and yield by removing  invasive phreatophytes (water consuming plants) such as salt cedar and Russian olive in a major recreation area by mechanical and chemical treatment.  The project will improve habitat for waterfowl, upland game birds, songbirds and deer as well as fisheries. The total project cost is $944,500 and the WWRNT allocation is $200,000.

 

Ladder Livestock Easement is a project sponsored by the Little Snake River Conservation District.  The project is in Carbon County, close to the Colorado state line in an area that is very desirable for residential development.  The ranch provides crucial range for mule deer, elk and bighorn sheep.  The 1,550 acre easement will preserve 4 miles of stream habitat while maintaining a family ranch.  Total project cost is $3,000,000 with a WWNRT allocation of $300,000.

 

Shirley Basin Grasslands III, sponsored by the Medicine Bow Conservation District, is a project in Carbon County that involves 10 landowners and 800,000 acres.  The project will improve habitat for sage grouse, songbirds, mule deer, antelope, swift fox and blackfooted ferret.  The total project cost for Shirley Basin Grasslands III is $1,008,610 and the WWNRT allocation is $247,420 with half of the allocation coming from The Nature Conservancy Grassland Initiative.

 

The Committee discussed the proposed draft legislation, 08LSO-293.C1 (Amended version Appendix 4).  Senator Massie moved the Committee sponsor the bill in the upcoming session. The motion was seconded by Senator Fecht.  The following amendments were made:

 

Page 10-line 4  Delete "Mechanical treatment" insert "Conservation easement".

 

Page 10-lines 5 through 8        Delete entirely.

 

The Committee voted to sponsor the bill 6-0.  The bill was designated to start in the Senate.

 

The Committee then voted to have LSO staff draft proposed legislation to require initial legislative approval for every large project and for every additional $200,000 allocated to that project.  The proposed legislation will also clarify that the allocation that moves a small project into a large project (a total of $200,000 allocated or more) requires legislative approval. Mr. Budd stated that this change would give the Board the flexibility to allocate funds for an immediate need on a project, rather than waiting for the December meeting, while still assuring legislative oversight of the Board and the WWNRT.  The Committee will vote whether to sponsor the bill by mail ballot.

 

Senator Burns asked Mr. Budd whether the Board reviews projects with an eye towards helping to stabilize wildlife species that are considered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as being threatened.  Mr. Budd said that the Board takes that into consideration when determining whether to sponsor a project, among other things.  Senator Massie asked Mr. Budd for information on a total dollar amount allocated by the Board this year, as well as projects the Board would have sponsored if they had additional funds. Mr. Budd told the Committee that he could give them that information immediately, but Chairman Childers stated the information might have a greater impact at the Senate Travel, Recreation and Wildlife Committee meeting during the session. The Committee agreed.

 

 

Meeting Adjournment

There being no further business, Chairman Childers adjourned the meeting at 10:20 a.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Pat Childers, Chairman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix		Appendix Topic		Appendix Description		Appendix Provider
1		Committee Sign-In Sheet		Lists meeting attendees		Legislative Service Office
2		Committee Meeting Agenda		Provides an outline of the topics the Committee planned to address at meeting		Legislative Service Office
3		January 2008 - Final Project Recommendations Requiring Legislative Approval		Power Point presentation on the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust Board approved large projects for 2008		WWNRT Board/ Budd
4		08LSO-293.C2		Funding bill for 2008 large projects from the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Income Account		Legislative Service Office