WYOMING WILDLIFE AND NATURAL RESOURCE TRUST NAMES MEDICINE BOW CONSERVATION DISTRICT "2023 PARTNER OF THE YEAR"

The Medicine Bow Conservation District was named the 2023 WWNRT "Partner of the Year" at the regular meeting of the WWNRT Board on Tuesday. In making the announcement, Board Chair Steve Meadows said, "the district was singled out for significant accomplishments in river restoration, Greater Sage-grouse habitat improvements, fence modification and water development, and other large, landscape-scale efforts to maintain mule deer, antelope, songbird and other habitats in central Wyoming."

"This is especially noteworthy because this is not a district that has a great deal of financial resources at their disposal," Meadows said. "These folks get a lot done with a little, and they do that by being effective and enthusiastic partners with a lot of other agencies and landowners."

Board member Mike Massie also applauded the choice, saying, "as the board member who has done most of these site visits over the past few years, it is really refreshing to see the commitment to conservation in this very special part of Wyoming."

Pictured with the board are former MBCD Manager Joan McGraw, current MBCD Manager Kristin Tilley, MBCD Chairman Owen Williams and MBCD board member Kay Schrock.

WWNRT Board members met August 15-16, 2023 in Dubois with the Wyoming State Legislature Select Natural Resource Funding Committee.

There was a tour of some projects in the Dubois area that the WWNRT has helped fund over the years. Everyone enjoyed seeing and learning about the impact these projects have had for wildlife and the natural resources in the area. Our partners shared information about future projects that will continue to build on the success of these completed projects.

(L to R) Representative Karlee Provenza, Representative Andrew Byron, Committee Chairman Senator Barry Crago, Senator Ed Cooper, Co-Chairman Senator Bill Landen, Don Schramm (District 3), Esther Wagner (District 7), Representative Sandy Newsome, WWNRT Chairman Steve Meadows (District 9)

Sublette County Cheatgrass Project Video

Sublette County Weed and Pest District has been working with partners to implement a landscape level project across all landownerships, with monitoring and evaluation of their efficacy and native vegetation response to cheatgrass treatments. Using the latest science and tools available to treat over 58,315 acres within Sublette County, these aerial and ground treatments of the annual invasive cheatgrass help protect the agricultural lands and natural landscape of Sublette County including Sage-grouse, mule deer and pronghorn antelope migration routes as well as the sagebrush rangeland. WWNRT is proud to partner with Sublette County Weed and Pest District on this project.

2022 Board of Directors

WWNRT Board members met in Buffalo in August 2021, with the Wyoming State Legislature Select Natural Resource Funding Committee .

(L to R) Christi Haswell (District 4) Vice Chairman Steve Meadows (District 9) Mike Massie (District 2) Pidge Fulton (District 5)

Ken Banister (District 8) Don Schramm (District 3) Chairman Kim Floyd (District 1)

Front Row - Jacelyn Downey (District 6) Esther Wagner (District 7)

Check out our WWNRT Informational Video!

Wyoming is a vast landscape, mysterious, and unique. From jagged peaks rising above verdant valleys, to steamy vapors shared between river and sky, no two places are the same. Wyoming is a place where grasslands give way to sagebrush oceans, where mountains continue to rise, and wildlife thrive. This land is home to some of the greatest herds of large animals - bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, mule deer - and one of the richest assemblages of species in North America. Wyoming is a landscape rich in human heritage, a place where hope rides the range as regularly as the cowboy.

To maintain this legacy, The Wyoming Legislature created the Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust in 2005. Funded by interest earned on a permanent account, donations and legislative appropriation, the purpose of the program is to enhance and conserve wildlife habitat and natural resource values throughout the state. Any project designed to improve wildlife habitat or natural resource values is eligible for funding.

The Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust is an independent state agency governed by a nine-member citizen board appointed by the Governor. Legislative oversight is guided by a select committee of six members, three each from the House and Senate The office located in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

The application form is under the "How to Apply" link or the "Project Application Form"link.

Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust

Hathaway Building, 1st Floor2300 Capitol Avenue, Ste 161DCheyenne, WY 82002307-777-8024

Beginning with the first allocation of project dollars in June 2006, the WWNRT has evaluated approximately 1,200 applications (nearly 90 per year) and funded more than 750 projects in all 23 counties of the state. Nearly $99 million has been allocated from WWNRT funds, with a total project value on the ground in excess of $637 million. Every dollar spent by the WWNRT is matched on average with $6.00 from other sources, and WWNRT projects maintain agricultural operations, conservation businesses, and other job-producing enterprises, including the tourism industry. More than 120 separate entities have received funding from the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust program. The greatest number of projects funded have been sponsored by conservation districts, programs that are guided by local people.

According to former Board Chairman Delaine Roberts, "What we do is pretty simple. We help people do the right things for their own communities. We build the future of Wyoming - one little town, one little creek at a time. We let people dream, and in Wyoming, big dreams make things happen."

Please click 2021 Annual Status Report to view the most recent version of the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust's annual report.