Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative

The WLCI is a long-term science based effort to assess and enhance aquatic and terrestrial habitats at a landscape scale in southwest Wyoming, while facilitating responsible development through local collaboration and partnerships.

Facts & Projects  |  Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) & MOU Attachment A | Management Documents  |  Fiscal Year 2011 Proposed Projects

How We Work

The WLCI is an interagency working group of partners that is beginning the process of establishing a much larger coalition of government and non-government organizations. Local Project Development Teams identify local issues that are important to the landscape and cooperatively create projects to address identified needs for local wildlife, habitat, and other resource issues. Each Local Project Development Team includes local biologists, range managers, conservation districts, landowners, county commissioners, and other interested parties. The WLCI has four teams that are located geographically. [More]

WLCI partners include:

• Department of the Interior
• Bureau of Land Management
• USDA Forest Service
• National Park Service
• Wyoming Department of Agriculture
• Southwest Wyoming Conservation Districts
• Southwest Wyoming County Commissions
• Wyoming Game & Fish Department
• U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
• U.S. Geological Survey
• Bureau of Reclamation
• Natural Resoures Conservation Service
• Great Northern Landscape Conservation Cooperative

What are the roles of the Partners?

• Bureau of Land Management (BLM) - The BLM administers approximately 9.3 million of the 19 million acres in the WLCI area. The BLM works with partners to implement on-the-ground actions that will enhance habitats. The BLM also monitors projects to ensure they meet the stated purposes. The agency houses the Coordination Team (CT) and is represented on the Executive Committee (EC), CT, Science and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC), Data and Information Management Team (DIMT), Communication Team, Monitoring Team and Support Subcommittee.
• U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) - The USGS provides integrated science and methodology to support the WLCI initiative, inform decision-making by all WLCI partners, and advance scientific knowledge and information. The agency provides research in the WLCI area and monitors at the landscape scale. The USGS leads the science effort with the WLCI Science Team and is involved in the EC, CT, STAC, DIMT, Communication Team, and Monitoring Team.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) - The FWS has tools for private landowners to develop conservation measures for wildlife, plants, and habitats on non-Federal lands. The FWS also provides assurances to the landowner for engaging in such efforts. On-the-ground work on private lands occurs through the FWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program. Additionally, the FWS expedites environmental reviews to ensure timely project completion. Seedskadee and Cokeville Meadows National Wildlife Refuges provide two important conservation areas. The FWS is included in the EC, CT, STAC, DIMT, Communication Team, Monitoring Team and Support Subcommittee.
• Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) - The WGFD manages over 250 wildlife species in the WLCI area. By working with private landowners, partnering agencies and other interested groups, the WGFD conducts planning and implementation to put actions on the ground that will conserve habitat and improve land management. The WGFD also inventories and monitors all wildlife in the WLCI area and provides this information to help direct prioritization of conservation actions. The WGFD is represented on the EC, CT, STAC, DIMT, Communication Team, Monitoring Team and Support Subcommittee.
• Wyoming Department of Agriculture (WDA) - The WDA acts as a liaison between the WLCI and the agriculture community for project planning and provides assistance and technical support. The WDA is represented on the EC, CT, STAC, Communication Team and Monitoring Team.
• Southwest Wyoming County Commissions - The Southwest Wyoming County Commissions provide local representation and direction to the WLCI. A county commissioner is included in the Executive Committee and participates with the Support Subcommittee.
• Southwest Wyoming Conservation Districts - The Southwest Wyoming Conservation Districts provide local representation to the WLCI and help with technical expertise and project development at the ground level. A representative from the area’s nine conservation districts sits on the Executive Committee and participates with the Support Subcommittee.
• USDA Forest Service (FS) - The FS administers 2.8 million acres of the 19 million acres in the WLCI area. The FS works with partners to implement on-the-ground actions that enhance habitats and monitors projects to ensure they meet their purpose. The FS is represented on the EC, STAC, Communication Team, Monitoring Team and Support Subcommittee.
• National Park Service (NPS) - The NPS provides technical assistance and support to the WLCI effort, including representation on the EC, STAC, Monitoring Team, and Support Subcommittee.
• Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) - The NRCS provides assistance with project planning and technical support to the initiative. The agency is represented on the Support Subcommittee.
• Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) - The BOR provides assistance with project planning and technical support to the initiative. The agency is represented on the Support Subcommittee.
• University of Wyoming - The University of Wyoming is represented on the DIMT and helps with research in the WLCI area.
• Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) – The DEQ provides technical assistance and is represented on the Monitoring Team.
• Other Supporters - Additional support is being received by agencies and other groups through project planning and technical support. Some of these supporters include the Jonah Interagency Mitigation and Reclamation Office, Pinedale Anticline Project Office, Wyoming State Land Board, and private landowners.