AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

CHAPTER 3

AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

Chapter 3 describes environmental components that influence the resolution of planning issues or that would be 

affected by the management actions presented in Chapter 2. 

Environmental components that would not be affected or that 

are not important to the resolution of planning issues are not 

covered in detail. 

More detailed information about the affected environment 

is available at the Rock Springs Field Office. 

CLIMATE AND AIR QUALITY 

Climate 

The climate of the Jack Morrow Hills area is classified as 

semi-arid or steppe (Brown 1980; Martner 1986). Steppe 

climate is characterized by large seasonal variations in temperature (cold winters and warm summers) and precipitation 

that is slight but still sufficient for the growth of short sparse 

grass. The dryness of the mid-latitude steppe climate of 

southwestern Wyoming is mainly due to the distance from the 

Pacific Ocean, the main source of precipitable water for North 

America. This aridity is further intensified by the Rocky 

Mountains which block the eastward flow of humid coastal 

air. Also, annual rainfall amounts may vary greatly from year 

to year (Trewartha and Horn 1980). 

Mean annual temperatures at weather stations in the planning area range from 37 degrees F in Farson (about 4 miles 

from the planning area) to 44 degrees F in Rock Springs (about 

15 miles from the planning area). Summer highs are usually 

in the 70’s and 80’s, but may reach the high 90’s. Winter lows 

are generally in the minus single digits, but may reach the 

minus 40’s. Figure 2 shows mean monthly temperatures at 

Farson and Rock Springs (Martner 1986). 

Mean annual precipitation is generally 8 to 9 inches. 

Figure 3 shows mean monthly precipitation at Farson and 

Rock Springs (Martner 1986). 

Atmospheric stability is a measure of the atmosphere’s 

capacity to disperse pollutants. Figure 4 shows that mean 

annual stability at Rock Springs is high (leading to low 

dispersive capacity) less than 20 percent of the time, low 

(leading to high dispersive capacity) about 20 percent of the 

time, and neutral (leading to fair dispersive capacity) more 

than 60 percent of the time (BLM 1999c). 

Winds in Rock Springs are relatively strong and are generally from the west and west-southwest. Figure 5 shows wind 

speed and direction at Rock Springs (USDI 1999c). 

Air Quality 

This section describes existing air quality in the Jack 

Morrow Hills region. See Appendix 7 for more detailed 

information. 

Air quality in the planning area is considered excellent; 

however, current and complete ambient air quality data for the 

planning area and the immediate vicinity are not available. 

Concentrations of criteria pollutants (pollutants for which 

Wyoming and/or federal standards have been set) monitored 

in the region are well below 40 percent of the established 

Wyoming and National ambient air quality standards (see 

Chapter 4, Air Impacts). 

In Chapter 4, estimates of background air pollutant concentrations are combined with potential air quality impacts from 

the proposed Jack Morrow Hills projects. These total estimated concentrations can then be compared with applicable 

air quality standards. It is important to note that the background concentration of each pollutant is based on the same 

averaging period as the model predictions and applicable air 

quality standards. 

Pollutants 

Criteria pollutants are those for which national standards of 

concentration have been established. Pollutant concentrations greater than these standards represent a significant risk 

to human health. Criteria pollutants include carbon monoxide 

(CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), sulphur dioxide 

(SO2), particulate matter (TSP, PM-10, PM-2.5), and lead 

(Pb). Other pollutants of concern are hazardous air pollutants 

(HAP), a broad class of several pollutants including benzene, 

toluene, asbestos, beryllium, and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). 

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas formed 

during any combustion process, such as operation of engines, 

fireplaces, furnaces, etc. High concentrations of carbon 

monoxide affect the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood 

and can lead to unconsciousness and asphyxiation. 

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a red-brown gas formed during 

operation of internal combustion engines. Such engines emit 

a mixture of nitrogen gases, collectively called nitrogen 

oxides (NOx). Nitrogen dioxide can contribute to “brown 

cloud” conditions, and can convert to ammonium nitrate 

particles and nitric acid which can cause visibility impairment 

and acid rain. 

Ozone (O3) is a faintly blue gas that is generally not emitted 

directly into the atmosphere, but is formed from NOx and 

volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions. As stated 

above, internal combustion engines are the main source of 

NOx. Sources of VOC include oil vapors and turpine mist. 

The faint acrid smell common after thunderstorms is due to 

ozone formation by lightning. Ozone is a strong oxidizing 

chemical that can burn lungs and eyes, and damage plants. 

Sulphur dioxide (SO2) forms during combustion from trace 

levels of sulphur in coal or diesel fuel, and can convert to 

ammonium sulfate and sulphuric acid which can cause visibility impairment and acid rain. 

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Particulate matter (e.g., soil particles, hair, pollen, etc.) is 

essentially the small particles suspended in the air which settle 

to the ground slowly and may be re-suspended if disturbed. 

Separate allowable concentration levels for particulate matter 

are based on the relative size of the particle: 

total suspended particles (TSP) are all particles small 

enough to be suspended in the air, and are generally less 

that 30 micrometers in diameter (about the size of 

human hair), 

PM-10, particles with diameters less than 10 micrometers, are small enough to be inhaled and can cause 

adverse health effects. 

PM-2.5, particles with diameters less than 2.5 micrometers, are so small that they can be drawn deeply into the 

lungs and cause serious health problems. These particles are also the main cause of visibility impairment. 

Before the wide use of unleaded fuel for automobiles, lead 

particles were emitted from tailpipes. Lead is not considered 

in this EIS because no proposed projects are expected to emit 

lead. 

There are a wide variety of hazardous air pollutants (HAP) 

which have no applicable air quality standards, but are typically evaluated for potential cancer risks from long duration 

exposures. Also, Wyoming maintains a concentration standard for H2S. 

Wyoming and National Ambient Air Quality 

Standards 

Wyoming Ambient Air Quality Standards (WAAQS) and 

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) set the 

absolute upper limits for criteria air pollutant concentrations 

at all locations to which the public has access. The WAAQS 

and NAAQS are legally enforceable standards. Concentrations above the WAAQS and NAAQS represent a significant 

risk to human health. 

The Environmental Protection Agency has developed standards for each criteria pollutant for a specific averaging time. 

Short averaging times (1, 3, and 24 hours) address short-term 

exposure while the annual standards address long-term exposure. Annual standards are set to lower allowable concentrations than are short-term standards to recognize the cumulative effects of long-term exposure. 

Prevention of Significant Deterioration 

The goal of the Prevention of Significant Deterioration 

(PSD) program is to ensure that air quality in areas with clean 

air does not significantly deteriorate, while maintaining a 

margin for future industrial growth. Under PSD, each area in 

the United States is classified by the air quality in that region: 

• PSD Class I Areas: Areas with pristine air quality, such as 

wilderness areas, national parks and Indian reservations, 

are accorded the strictest protection. Only very small 

incremental increases in concentration are allowed in 

order to maintain the very clean air quality in these areas. 

• PSD Class II Areas: Essentially, all areas that are not 

designated Class I are designated Class II. Moderate 

incremental increases in concentration are allowed, although the concentrations are not allowed to reach the 

concentrations set by Wyoming and federal standards 

(WAAQS and NAAQS). 

• PSD Class III Areas: No areas have yet been designated 

Class III. Concentrations would be allowed to increase all 

the way up to the WAAQS and NAAQS. 

In the Jack Morrow Hills region, there are four PSD Class 

I areas (Bridger, Fitzpatrick and Washakie Wilderness Areas, 

and Grand Teton National Park) and two Class II areas (Popo 

Agie Wilderness Area and the Wind River Indian Reservation 

Roadless Area). The Jack Morrow Hills project area is also 

classified as PSD Class II. 

Estimates of concentration increases are compared with 

the PSD increments in each of the five sensitive areas listed 

(Appendix 7). These comparisons, shown in Chapter 4, are 

intended only to evaluate a “threshold of concern” and do not 

represent a regulatory PSD Increment Consumption analysis. 

Consumption analyses are applied to large industrial sources 

and are solely the responsibility of the State and the Environmental Protection Agency. 

Air Quality Related Values: Visibility and 

Acidification of Lakes 

Air Quality Related Values (AQRV), including the potential air pollutant effects on visibility and the acidification of 

lakes and streams, are applied to sensitive areas such as 

wilderness areas. The land management agency responsible 

for the sensitive area sets each Air Quality Related Value as 

the level of acceptable change (LAC). The Air Quality 

Related Values reflect the land management agency’s policy 

and are not treated as legally enforceable standards. 

Visibility can be defined as the distance one can see and the 

ability to perceive color, contrast, and detail. Fine particulate 

matter (PM2.5) is the main cause of visibility impairment. 

Visual range, one of several ways to express visibility, is the 

furthest distance a person can see a landscape feature. If there 

were no humans living on the Earth, visual range in the 

western United States would be about 140 miles. Presently, 

the best visibility in the United States is in the Bridger 

Wilderness Area. Visual range monitoring there shows that 

one can see more than 70 miles 70 percent of the time (USDI 

1999a). Monitoring over the last 10 years shows that the 

visibility on the most impaired days and average days stayed 

the same; however, monitoring also shows an increase in 

impairment on the cleanest days over the last 3 years (Figure 

6). 

The acidification of lakes and streams is caused by atmospheric deposition of pollutants (acid rain). Lake acidification 

is expressed as the change in acid neutralizing capacity 

(ANC), the lake’s capacity to resist acidification from acid 

rain (Appendix 7) (USDI 1999a). 

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CULTURAL 

Only a limited amount of formal cultural resources inventory has been conducted in the planning area. Even so, several 

very significant resources are known in the region, and some 

important patterns of spatial distribution of archaeological 

resources have become apparent. The area also has important 

historical resources including the South Pass National Historic Landmark, portions of four congressionally designated 

historic trails as well as regionally significant Expansion Era 

networks and sites related to early settlement, and agricultural 

and industrial development. A number of localities important 

to Native Americans have also been identified. 

Several legislative mandates require that cultural resources 

be taken into consideration when future development in the 

region is contemplated. These laws include the National 

Historic Preservation Act, the Archaeological Resources Protection Act, the American Indians Religious Freedom Act, the 

Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, and 

the National Trails System Act of 1968, as well as FLPMA 

and NEPA. Executive Order 13007, issued by President 

Clinton on May 25, 1996, requires the Federal government to 

take positive steps to identify and manage places and values 

that are of importance to Native American people for sacred 

and religious reasons. Some tribal representatives refer to 

such locations as “respected places.” Departmental and BLM 

guidance, especially the Programmatic Agreement (PA) among 

the BLM, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and 

the National Council of State Historic Preservation Officers 

and its corollary protocol between the BLM and the Wyoming 

State Historic Preservation Officer (W-SHPO) require that 

certain procedures be followed prior to authorizing Federally 

licensed, funded, or assisted undertakings. 

Procedures required to comply with these Federal mandates include some level of inventory to identify historically, 

archaeologically, and/or culturally significant resources. Federal agencies are also required to assess the potential effects of 

their actions upon these resources. An array of measures may 

be implemented to ameliorate or mitigate adverse effects that 

an undertaking may have upon these resources which generically are referred to as ‘cultural resources.’ 

In some cases, it is appropriate for the BLM to consult with 

Native American traditional elders to identify resources that 

may be important to the people they represent. Management 

of locations important for religious or sacred purposes, or 

“respected places,” identified by traditional elders is a developing process, and specific management prescriptions are not 

well established at present. A dialog is developing between 

several tribal governments (or their designees) and the Rock 

Springs Field Office. The tribes that have been most involved 

in this dialog are the Eastern Shoshone Nation, the UintahOuray bands of the Northern Ute Tribe, the Shoshone-Bannock 

Tribes, and the Northern Arapaho Tribe. In some cases, other 

tribal entities may also be involved in consultation with the 

BLM. 

The limited inventory in the planning area has identified 

about 1,000 cultural resources localities within the region. 

Since only about two percent of the region has been formally 

inventoried, a much larger number of resources should be 

expected in the area. Despite the limited amount of inventory, 

some important patterns of resource, particularly archaeological site, distribution are apparent. 

A region of soil deposition dating back over ten thousand 

years to the end of the Pleistocene Ice Ages, or immediately 

thereafter, occurs in the western portion of the planning area. 

There are some indications that this depositional pattern may 

also extend across the southern edge of the planning area 

along the flanks of the Killpecker sand dune field, as well as 

along the Pacific Creek drainage basin in the northern part of 

the planning area. A number of extremely significant archaeological resources including the Finley and Krmpotich 

sites are within this part of the planning area. Since the soil 

unit occurs across broad regions of the planning area, similar 

sites of great antiquity and tremendous scientific significance 

should be expected where this stable soil regime is preserved. 

Archaeological sites like Finley and Krmpotich are not 

‘typical’ of archaeological sites in this region. They hold 

cultural evidence from some of the earliest inhabitants of the 

North American continent. Furthermore, they are some of the 

most intact manifestations of such archaeological evidence 

known anywhere on the continent (Frison 1998). For this 

reason, data recovery mitigation at sites of this importance 

could be expensive, and more critically very time consuming. 

Many of these sites are deeply buried and have little if any 

surface manifestation. It should be anticipated that the usual 

techniques for discovery, such as surface inventory, will not 

successfully identify these resources. For this reason, an array 

of archaeological methodologies will need to be implemented 

if resources like Finley and Krmpotich are to be located before 

they are impacted by industrial development. Methods that 

may be appropriate include, but are not limited to, extensive 

subsurface testing by hand and mechanical means, remote 

sensing techniques including magnetic resistivity, ground 

penetrating radar and other methods, and perhaps, most importantly more intensive study of the preserved soil deposit 

itself. Unless scientists (geomorphologists and archaeologists) understand the genesis of the Killpecker dune field and 

the broad ancient soil deposit associated with it, they will 

never be able to fully understand its significance, much less 

that of the archaeological material it contains. Predicting the 

location of archaeological remains within these deposits is 

beyond the grasp of science at the moment. Before mineral 

resources exploitation proceeds in areas where these soil 

deposits would be disturbed methodologies should be developed to locate and manage these very important archaeological resources. 

The planning area also has a number of archaeological sites 

that are younger than the PaleoIndian-aged Finley and 

Krmpotich sites. Several ‘archaic’ sites, ranging from 2,000 

to 7,000 years in age are known to occur in the region. The CK 

Adams site is an example. At the CK Adams site a series of 

archaeological manifestations were located both on the surface and buried in stratigraphic contexts. A limited excavation at the site was undertaken to salvage several hearth 

features that were rapidly eroding and to test the area for in 

place buried materials. Since the effort was undertaken in an 

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emergency situation the BLM has not fully studied and 

reported the results of the effort. The State Archaeologist, 

who conducted part of the salvage has reported his results and 

they are due to be published soon (Miller 1998). 

Perhaps the most important information gleaned from the 

CK Adams site is that stratified sites dating from the late 

prehistoric period through the archaic period should be expected in the Pacific Creek drainage basin. This portion of the 

planning area contains buried soils that are being cross-cut by 

modern drainage channels including Pacific Creek. In some 

cases, like at the CK Adams site, archaeological manifestations are being exposed by stream cutting. The stable soil 

deposit in the Pacific Creek basin seems somehow associated 

with the Killpecker dune field, but the nature of that association is not fully understood. However, while sites along 

Pacific Creek do hold archaeological deposits back to about 

7,000 years they do not appear, from present evidence, to have 

PaleoIndian deposits (e.g., from 7,000 to 12,000 years before 

present). Nonetheless, stratified deposits are the best source 

of information about changes in human behavior over long 

periods of time. Thus, sites like the CK Adams site, which are 

to be expected in this portion of the planning area are quite 

significant. Furthermore, previously discussed issues regarding archaeological materials not being evident from observations of the modern surface also apply in this region. 

Yet another kind of archaeological manifestation observed 

in the planning area is represented by the proto-historic EdenFarson site (Frison 1971). This site sits on top of the stable soil 

deposit in the area where the Finley and Krmpotich sites are 

located, rather than being buried within those soils. The EdenFarson site contains archaeological evidence of a large huntergatherer winter encampment including remains of winter 

shelters, pottery, and a wide array of stone tools and bones 

from antelope which were apparently a major portion of the 

people’s winter food supply. 

Radiocarbon dates from the Eden-Farson site indicate that 

the site was probably occupied immediately before EuroAmericans first came into direct contact with Native Americans in this region (about 200 to 300 years ago). No EuroAmerican artifacts were recovered from the Eden-Farson site. 

It is assumed that direct contact between these cultures had not 

occurred, in this region, at the time the Eden-Farson site was 

occupied even though Europeans had been on the North 

American continent for nearly 300 years prior to the dates of 

the site. However, journals (Morgan 1964) from early EuroAmerican traders including William Ashley’s men, especially 

Jedediah Smith, mention the presence of two large Native 

encampments in this region. Smith identifies one camp as 

Crow and the other as Shoshone. 

University of Wyoming archaeologist George Frison (1971) 

postulates that pottery recovered from the Eden-Farson site 

was made by Shoshone people. Whether this is the camp 

described by Jedediah Smith is impossible to say, but we do 

know that several Native American tribes were present in this 

region in the late Eighteenth and early Nineteenth Centuries 

including the Shoshone, Ute, Bannock, Crow, Blackfoot, and 

Arapaho. A few years later numerous tribes from the Northern 

Plains, Great Basin, and Columbia Plateau and European 

Americans participated in fur trade rendezvous throughout 

the central Rocky Mountains. Many rendezvous were held 

along the Green River within a hundred miles of the planning 

area. There is speculation among anthropologists (Wood 

1980) that the Euro-American traders simply ‘tapped into’ a 

vast Native American trade network, one center of which was 

located in what is now southwestern Wyoming. It is also 

likely that other groups including Athapaskan-speaking ancestors of the modern day Navajo and Apache people of the 

Southwest passed through this region only a few hundred 

years before Europeans arrived in North America. 

Archaeological manifestations of any or all of these diverse Native American cultures should be expected in the 

planning area. The White Mountain Petroglyphs site, in the 

southwest corner of the planning area, contains historic and 

prehistoric images carved into rock. Images of human figures 

in several different styles may indicate some time depth to the 

site although all of the rock art is thought to have been drawn 

in the past 500 or so years (Tanner and Vlcek 1995), or during 

what archaeologists call the Firehole Phase. Not surprisingly, 

Native American traditional elders have expressed interest in 

the White Mountain site and several other rock art locations in 

the greater Killpecker Creek area. Some management strategies recommended by traditional elders were incorporated 

into the Green River Resource Management Plan (RMP). 

Administratively, the White Mountain Petroglyphs site 

and surrounding viewshed for 1/4 mile is protected. An 

existing two-track road going beyond the petroglyph site and 

to the top of White Mountain has been closed, although 

attempts to physically effect the closure have not been entirely 

successful. A cultural resource management plan for the site 

is required by the Green River RMP, but has not yet been 

written. 

Traditional elders have also expressed interest in several 

landforms including Steamboat Mountain and Boars Tusk 

within the planning area, and North and South Table Mountains immediately to the south, and Pilot Butte west of the 

planning area. Consultation visits with traditional elders 

indicate that these landmarks, and the landscape vista of 

which they are a part, are associated with the physical remains 

of a number of “respected places” associated with Native 

American religious practices. 

The exact locations of these sites and the religious practices 

they represent are kept confidential at the request of tribal 

elders. However, at least some of the sites are probably 

Traditional Cultural Properties warranting special protective 

measures in compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act, the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, and 

Executive Order 13007. 

During field visits several areas were also identified having 

landscape characteristics that typically are associated with 

respected sites. These areas have been roughly delineated; 

however, no attempt has been made to identify specific sites 

that may be of concern to traditional Native American peoples. 

Planning for development within the identified areas should 

include field inventory involving tribal representatives to 

identify respected sites. Consultation should be initiated with 

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tribal elders in the event any sites important for sacred or 

religious purposes, or “respected places” are identified. 

Tribal representatives have also expressed concern regarding development that would change the landscape encompassing the Killpecker Sand Dunes, Boars Tusk, Steamboat 

Rim, White Mountain Rim, Essex Mountain, and Monument 

Ridge (and much of the region from North Table Mountain to 

the Leucite Hills to the south and outside the planning area). 

For them the unique setting of mountain vistas, volcanic 

cones, and flat-top mesas against a backdrop of white drifting 

sand dunes is a spiritual experience. Their concerns should be 

addressed if development is proposed. 

Another site of concern to traditional elders is an historic 

trail between the Ute Reservation in Utah and the Eastern 

Shoshone Reservation in the Wind River Basin. This trail is 

shown on the 1884 General Land Office plat for the area 

known as Indian Gap. Indeed, the name ‘Indian Gap’ undoubtedly was applied for the presence of this Native American trail which passed through the ‘gap’ between Essex 

Mountain and Steamboat Mountain. The precise antiquity of 

the trail is unknown. It is shown on the 1884 plat, and was 

mentioned by a Native American historian as having been 

used until about 1906. Another informant advised that 

Shoshone traveled the trail to haul coal from Rock Springs to 

their reservation at Fort Washakie in the early years of the 20th 

century. The Indian Gap Trail is a significant historic resource 

and may or may not also be a Traditional Cultural Property. 

To date aerial reconnaissance has revealed a potential route of 

the trail. However, the route has not been verified on the 

ground, nor has it been mapped which should be the next steps 

in managing this important historic resource. 

Historic transportation corridors are also the primary type 

of historical resource known in the planning area. Beginning 

in the winter of 1812-1813, the physical geography of South 

Pass, in the northeastern part of the planning area, “became 

indelibly written in the annals of American history” (Devoto 

1943). The gradual ascent of South Pass from the east along 

the Sweetwater River provided a relatively easy route across 

the towering Rocky Mountains not available at any other 

place on the continent. While not a water route, like the fabled 

Northwest Passage which was the quest of Lewis and Clark, 

South Pass was the singular overland passage that would 

allow hundreds of thousands of emigrants to move from the 

Nation’s eastern seaboard and central prairies to the fertile 

farmlands of western coastal valleys and rich hardrock mining 

bonanzas throughout the west. All these, by now practically 

mythical, images of the American west would not exist were 

it not for South Pass. 

First, South Pass allowed fur traders easy entry into the 

river basins of the central Rocky Mountain regions to trade 

with those Indian tribes mentioned above, and others. Fur 

traders became adept at navigating the vast regions of the 

American west, a skill that would enable many to earn a living 

guiding others from the east to these new regions of the United 

States. Eventually, over a half million people and probably 

five times that many livestock traversed South Pass. 

Beginning in 1838, people moved into Oregon to claim 

fertile farmlands in the Willamette Valley. The drive to settle 

the Pacific Northwest would eventually give the United States 

the upper hand in control of the region also claimed by the 

British Empire. By the mid-1820s, former Spanish possessions in North America came to be controlled by the newly 

independent nation of Mexico. The course of history, including documented meddling in local political affairs by American citizens living in Mexico’s territories of Alta California 

and Texas, led to the independence for those regions. Soon 

both fell under the influence and eventual political domination 

of the United States. By the time gold was discovered near 

Sutter’s Fort in northern California, the region was for all 

intents and purposes an American possession. Nonetheless, 

the swarm of American citizens who ventured to California’s 

gold fields beginning in 1849 insured that California would 

forever be part of the United States. The Oregon Trail and 

California Trail, which are in the same corridor over South 

Pass, and pass through about 20 miles of the planning area, 

were designated by Congress as National Historic Trails in 

1978 and 1992, respectively. 

In 1847, two years before the discovery of gold in California, several hundred pioneers of the Church of Jesus Christ of 

Latter-Day Saints, commonly known as Mormons, traveled 

over South Pass to settle in the valley of the Great Salt Lake, 

in present day Utah. This signaled the eventual migration of 

over a hundred thousand Mormons to what they considered to 

be their “Zion” in the Utah valley. Eventually, Mormons 

came to dominate the economy and politics of what would 

eventually become the states of Utah and Nevada, as well as 

significant portions of present day Idaho, Wyoming, Arizona, 

and even California. At one point, growing Mormon power in 

the region was challenged by the United States during what 

came to be called the “Utah Expedition”, in 1857-1858. It was 

even rumored, with some truth, that Mormon leader and 

governor of Utah Territory, Brigham Young intended to 

secede from the Union and form an independent State of 

Deseret. Although finally settled with almost no bloodshed, 

the dispute was the largest American military operation following the Mexican War and before the Civil War. Today, 

members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 

are the largest, and probably most economically successful 

identifiable cultural group in the intermountain west. The 

pioneer route of the Mormon Trail was designated a National 

Historic Trail by Congress in 1978. 

The Pony Express route was designated a National Historic 

Trail in 1992, in recognition of the significance, but more so 

because of the romance of this short-lived operation to carry 

the United States mail from settlements in the east to the west 

coast during the Civil War, thus helping to preserve political 

control over western regions by the United States government. Across southwestern Wyoming these four National 

Historic trails are in one general corridor, however many 

variants of the trails system developed in this area. One of the 

earliest and most important trail variants was established in 

1859, when Army engineer Frederick Lander was dispatched 

to the west to construct a short cut from South Pass to Fort 

Hall. Although not within the planning area, the Lander Trail 

leaves the main Oregon Trail east of the summit of the Pass at 

Burnt Ranch and traverses the south side of the Wind River 

Mountain before heading westerly near Pinedale, Wyoming 

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to cross over the Western Wyoming Ranges and into Idaho. 

As mentioned, there are several other trail variants, but none 

are within the planning area. 

The National Historic Trails system is administered by the 

National Park Service. However, management of Federal 

lands containing Congressionally recognized trails resources 

is left to those agencies that have jurisdiction over the lands 

upon which the trails occur, in this case the BLM. The BLM 

approved the Oregon/Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trails 

Management Plan in 1986, which governs management of 

these resources in consultation with the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office and the National Park Service. 

The significance of South Pass in the development of the 

United States as a nation was cause for the area’s designation 

in 1959 as a National Historic Landmark. The process of 

recognizing historic American places was in its infancy at that 

time and the National Historic Preservation Act would not be 

implemented for several more years. For that reason no 

attempt was made to designate precise boundaries for the 

South Pass National Historic Landmark for another quarter 

century. 

The National Park Service proposed a boundary encompassing about 5,500 acres, in 1984. The proposed area 

included nearly 1,000 acres of privately owned land. Local 

landowners fearing the preservation mandate of the National 

Park Service protested the proposal which was eventually 

never pursued by that agency. Since all federally owned lands 

in the area are under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land 

Management, it fell to that agency to develop management 

prescriptions designed to protect the South Pass National 

Historic Landmark. 

To ensure that the intent of the Congressional National 

Historic Landmark designation for those lands on the western 

slope of South Pass was not compromised, the BLM developed the South Pass Historic Landscape within the Green 

River RMP (USDI 1997). Management prescriptions for the 

South Pass Historic Landscape ACEC prohibit development 

that would be visible within three miles of the historic trails 

corridor. Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis of 

this area (viewshed) was conducted to determine what lands 

are visible from the historic trails corridor. GIS analysis of the 

vista indicates that within an arbitrary three-mile distance 

from the main National Historic Trail corridor about 24,000 

acres are visible from the trails, while about 26,000 acres are 

shielded from view by topography. The Green River RMP 

sets forth special management prescriptions for the South Pass 

Historic Landscape and concentrates protective management 

upon areas visible from the trails corridor. 

Immediately following the Civil War, a rather significant 

discovery of gold was made in the South Pass region. By 

1869, hundreds of prospectors had converged on the area and 

several small communities had developed. The most important of the settlements was South Pass City which today is a 

State Historical Park. Since the transcontinental railroad had 

just been completed between Omaha, Nebraska and Sacramento, California, commerce with the new gold fields could 

be linked with the larger national economy much more easily 

than the earlier historic trails network. However, this certainly did not mean that wagon roads were obsolete. Indeed, 

a network of roads soon developed to connect railheads on the 

Union Pacific Railroad in southern Wyoming with the South 

Pass region. 

By 1870, roads to the gold fields were started from three 

railheads on the Union Pacific-Point of Rocks, Green River, 

and Bryan. These became the earliest of what are called 

Expansion Era roads that linked communities along the railroad with newly developing mining, agricultural, and military 

settlements in the hinterlands of the central Rocky Mountains. 

Physical evidence of the three “Expansion Era” roads to the 

South Pass region cross the planning area as do roads to 

ranching communities (like New Fork in the upper Green 

River Basin). Expansion Era roads also run through the 

planning area from Rock Springs to military posts established 

to administer the Wind River Indian Reservation. Several 

stage stations and freighter’s camp locations associated with 

these expansion era roads are known including Freighter’s 

Gap, Fourteen Mile, and The Wells within the planning area. 

During this expansion era, the planning area’s namesake, 

Jack Morrow, entered the region. Very little historical information is available about Jack Morrow. However, one quote 

from this limited information may sum up what we know of 

Jack, 

“Morrow started his career on the Plains as a 

common thief but his activities, as he became 

older, carried him into the upper brackets of 

swindling.....In a few years his eccentric ways of 

wasting money and his stupendous drunken sprees 

became legend from Omaha to the mountains and 

the mining towns. Then, after he had killed a man 

in a gun fight, his reputation as a bad man was 

established.” (Miller 1962). 

Soon after the expansion era road network began to develop, cattle ranching became important to the region’s 

economy. Several early ranching related historic sites are 

within the planning area. The best known of these is the old 

Halter and Flick Ranch at Pacific Springs which is on private 

land. Pacific Springs was also an important watering spot on 

the historic trails corridor. The best preserved ranching 

related site on BLM lands is the Crookston Ranch, which 

includes several historic structures. The Green River RMP 

designates this site for special management for the interpretation of the region’s ranching history. Numerous other, less 

impressive sites related to the history of pastoral agriculture 

including small mostly unsuccessful homesteaders sites, sheepherder camps and shearing corrals, horse trapping facilities, 

and irrigation systems to support production of wild grass hay, 

are represented in the planning area. The stone building at 

Rock Cabin Creek, the Chilton and Houghton Ranch sites, the 

Washington Homestead, and Charlie Jameson’s horse trap 

and cabin are examples. However, the most ubiquitous 

agriculture related site is the common sheepherder, or cowboy 

campsite which today consists only of a small scattering of 

historic artifacts across the landscape. 

Although the generalities of the region’s Expansion Era 

history (1870-1940) are known, no contextual study of this 

aspect of local history exists within which historic resources 

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AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

can be assessed for significance. Similarly, while the general 

routes of the Expansion Era roads are known, and some are 

marked on General Land Office plats, the physical integrity 

and historical significance of these resources has generally not 

been evaluated. Thus the development of local documentary 

and oral history is seen as a primary need in the region. 

Without a research framework of this kind, it is difficult for the 

BLM to evaluate the National Register of Historic Places’ 

eligibility of these kinds of resources, and to assess the 

potential effects of Federal undertakings to them. 

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE 

Executive Order 12898, issued February 11, 1994, directs 

each federal agency to identify and address, as appropriate, 

disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of its programs, policies, and activities on 

minority and low-income populations. 

Minority population refers to individuals classified by 

Office of Management and Budget as Black/African American, Hispanic, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian, 

Eskimo, Aleut, or other non-white person. To be affected 

under Environmental Justice, the minority population of the 

affected area must either exceed 50 percent, or the minority 

population percentage of the affected area must be meaningfully greater than the minority population percentage of the 

general population (or other appropriate unit of geographic 

analysis), or if more than one minority group exists and by 

aggregating all minority groups together meets the abovestated thresholds. 

Low-income populations are determined by using two 

tests: Department of Health and Human Services poverty 

guidelines or Department of Housing and Urban Development statutory definition for very low-income for the purposes of housing benefits programs. 

Social-economic analysis area for the JMHCAP includes 

the incorporated and unincorporated communities located 

within Sweetwater, Fremont, and Sublette Counties. There 

are no communities within the JMHCAP analysis area. There 

are no groups of minorities or aggregated group of minorities 

found within the three counties that meet the first criteria 

(exceed 50 percent) minority threshold including the city of 

Riverton, Wyoming. Riverton is within the Wind River 

Indian Reservation and approximately 26 percent of the 

Reservation population, or 5,676 individuals out of a total of 

21,851, are considered minority (American Indian, Eskimo, 

or Aleut) (U.S. Census 1997) which mirrors the minority 

population found in Fremont County (State of Wyoming 

1998a). The number of minority individuals living in Fremont 

County is greater than the minority populations found in the 

general population within the adjacent counties of Sublette 

and Sweetwater. Therefore, portions of Fremont County 

could be considered an Environmental Justice community 

under certain circumstances. However, because that portion 

of Fremont County within the planning area has low potential 

for oil and gas and other mineral activity, and the South Pass 

Historic Landscape Area of Critical Environmental Concern 

places additional restrictions on development within its boundary, we anticipate that any direct, indirect, and cumulative 

health and environmental impacts of management actions on 

the minority population in Fremont County would likewise be 

minor. We conclude therefore, that minority populations 

would not be affected by any alternative identified in the 

JMHCAP in a disproportionately high manner, nor would 

there be high and adverse impacts upon minority populations 

found in the three-county area when compared to the general 

population. 

Determining the number of individuals who meet the 

threshold for qualifying income levels is more difficult to 

ascertain. Based upon information provided by the U.S. 

Census Bureau (Statistical Abstract of the U.S. 1997), shows 

that approximately 12.2 percent of the population in Wyoming in 1995 had incomes at or below the poverty level. The 

percentage of the population that falls within the federal 

criteria for low-income includes approximately three percent 

in Sweetwater Count, five percent in Sublette County, and 

eight percent in Fremont County (determined using data 

provided by Wyoming Department of Family Services at their 

Internet site, see State of Wyoming 1998e). Within the Wind 

River Indian Reservation, approximately 60 percent of the 

households make below $10,000 per year (Moss 1998); many 

would meet the federal income criteria to be considered lowincome. Again, because of the low potential for mineral 

activity in the Fremont County portion of the planning area, 

and the additional restrictions placed on development actions 

within the South Pass Historic Landscape Area of Critical 

Environmental Concern, the direct, indirect, and cumulative 

health and environmental impacts of actions on low-income 

persons within the Wind River Indian Reservation would 

likewise be minor. We conclude that low-income individuals 

would not be disproportionately affected by the alternatives 

identified in the JMHCAP, nor would high and adverse 

impacts upon the low-income population found in the threecounty area be disproportionate when compared to individuals within other income levels. 

FIRE 

The planning area encompasses portions of two geographic fire management areas as described in the Fire Management Implementation Plan for the BLM-administered 

public lands in the State of Wyoming (USDI 1998b). These 

two fire management areas are the Big Sandy and Steamboat 

Mountain area and the Red Desert area. 

The Big Sandy and Steamboat Mountain fire management 

area encompasses the majority of the planning area. The fire 

management planning objectives for this area are to reduce 

conifer and sagebrush encroachment into aspen and mountain 

shrub communities, promote healthy timber regeneration, and 

improve habitat for big game and sage grouse. Other objectives are to improve forage for livestock and wild horses and 

to protect public and private property by reducing hazardous 

fuels in the urban interface and near BLM-administered 

recreation sites and range improvements. Wildland and 

prescribed fire could be used to meet resource management 

objectives. 

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AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

Steamboat Mountain contains unique vegetative communities and high value wildlife habitat. The Steamboat Mountain vegetative communities include associations of sagebrush with Utah snowberry and basin wildrye, bluebunch 

wheatgrass, and lemon scurfpea. In these communities, the 

primary resource management objective is to protect wildlife 

habitat. Generally, wildland fire is not desired in the Steamboat Mountain area, although there may be opportunities for 

the use of prescribed fire. The BLM would attempt to confine 

or contain wildland fires to less than 5 acres in the Steamboat 

Mountain area because of important wildlife habitat. Use of 

prescribed fire would be the preferred method to meet resource management objectives (USDI 1998b). 

Restrictions would be applied to the use of heavy equipment and other minimal impact suppression techniques would 

be followed in ACECs, WSAs, and along historic trails. In 

particular, “light on the land” techniques and restrictions on 

motorized and mechanized equipment may be applied to fire 

activities in WSAs. Restrictions on the use of chemical and 

dye retardants would be followed in the vicinity of petroglyphs. 

Fire frequency in the Big Sandy and Steamboat Mountain 

area has been moderate with 27 fires recorded in 10 years, 

burning about 860 acres. 

The Red Desert fire management area encompasses the 

portion of the Red Desert Watershed that is found within the 

planning area boundary. The resource management objectives for this area are to improve wildlife habitat, improve 

forage for livestock and wild horses, reduce conifer encroachment into aspen and mountain shrub communities, and promote healthy timber regeneration. 

Restrictions on the use of heavy equipment and other 

minimal impact suppression techniques would be followed in 

ACECs and WSAs. Constraints to protect watershed and 

scenic values would apply too. In particular, “light on the 

land” techniques and restrictions on motorized and mechanized equipment may be applied to fire activities in WSAs. 

Fire frequency in the Red Desert area has been low with 

two fires recorded in 10 years burning about 31 acres. 

GROUNDWATER 

The planning area lies within portions of two basins, the 

Great Divide Basin and the Green River Basin. The Wind 

River Range marks the northern boundary of both basins, and 

the Rock Springs Uplift hydrographically separates the two 

within the planning area. In general, groundwater flows from 

the elevated basin periphery (recharge area) to the lower basin 

centers (discharge area) under both unconfined and confined 

groundwater conditions. Where groundwater is overlain by 

permeable material extending upward to the land surface, 

unconfined groundwater conditions exist. However, at depth 

groundwater can be confined by overlying impermeable rock, 

creating confined or artesian conditions. Away from the basin 

periphery, locally elevated areas, such as Steamboat Mountain, and the highly permeable Killpecker Dunes provide the 

right conditions for locally fed seeps and springs to occur. 

Groundwater aquifers are not well defined in either basin 

because of the sporadic nature of occurrence in each geologic 

layer. However, limited information is available from development of water wells for domestic, livestock, and agricultural use and from oil and gas development. On the Green 

River Basin side of the Rock Springs Uplift in the EdenFarson area, a number of water wells have been known to 

produce or still produce from the Tertiary, Laney Member of 

the Green River Formation. South of Eden, a couple of wells 

produce from the Tertiary, Tipton Member of the Green River 

Formation. Farther to the west, in T. 26 N., R. 103 W. and T. 

27 N., R. 101 W., at least two water wells have produced from 

the Tertiary, Wasatch Formation. In the South Pass area, one 

water well is known to have produced from the Tertiary 

Undifferentiated. On the Great Divide Basin side of the Rock 

Springs Uplift, groundwater data indicate usable water in the 

Tertiary, Wasatch Formation and Tertiary, Laney and Tipton 

members of the Green River Formation (Collentine, et al. 

1981). 

Water from the Cretaceous, Almond, and Ericson formations, at shallow depths on the Rock Springs Uplift, is usable 

for livestock, irrigation and/or domestic use. Other stratigraphic units that may have usable groundwater within the 

planning area include the Tertiary, Bridger Formation and, 

where it crops out, the Lewis Formation (Cretaceous). Quaternary sand dune deposits are likely to contain usable water, 

but more importantly may act as a recharge zone for underlying aquifers and produce seeps and springs used by wildlife. 

Quaternary volcanic lava flows may also have springs and 

seeps of usable water. 

Water quality standards for domestic, agricultural, and 

livestock uses can be found in Table 3-1. Very few of the 

constituents in Table 3-1 have been monitored with any 

frequency within the planning area. Available water quality 

data is taken from the Water Resources Research Institute’s 

evaluation of the occurrence and characteristics of groundwater in the Green River and Great Divide Basins (Collentine, et 

al. 1981). 

In general, water quality in both basins decreases away 

from the basin margin and with increased depth. Quality may 

also decrease in heavily faulted areas due to the inability of the 

groundwater to circulate and/or the upward migration and comingling of lower quality water with higher quality water. In 

both basins, the highest quality water would be expected in 

Quaternary deposits of alluvium along major drainages, Quaternary dune fields, Cretaceous and Tertiary sediments along 

the basin margins, and in the fine to medium grain sandstones 

of the Wasatch Formation away from the basin margin. 

On the Green River Basin side of the Rock Springs Uplift, 

the major ion composition in the Wasatch Formation changes 

from calcium bicarbonate to sodium bicarbonate to sodium 

sulfate in a down gradient direction or away from the basin 

margin (Collentine, et al. 1981). The most dramatic change in 

major ion composition occurs where the Wasatch Formation 

intertongues with the Laney member of the Green River 

Formation, which typically has a major ion composition of 

sodium sulfate. On average, the Laney Member aquifer is 

higher in total dissolved solids (TDS-ranging from 2,000-

7,000 mg/l) than the Wasatch Formation (TDS-ranging from 

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AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

100-6,600 mg/l) because of the evaporite deposits formed 

during the existence of ancient Lake Gosuite. Where water 

quality is poorest in the Wasatch Formation, water from the 

Laney Member aquifer is thought to be co-mingling with the 

Wasatch Formation water. Quaternary aquifers generally 

contain the highest quality water, with TDS ranging from 100-

200 mg/l in the headwaters to 700 mg/l along the Green River. 

Within the planning area, it is anticipated TDS levels would be 

on the high end of the range due to local influences of the 

Green River Formation. 

On the Great Divide Basin side of the Rock Springs Uplift, 

groundwater data exists for shallow Tertiary aquifers (maximum depth of about 1,500 feet and generally less than 500 

feet) along the basin margin, with little data available down 

gradient. In general however, available data suggests water 

quality decreases away from the basin margin as it does in the 

Green River Basin. This is especially true for the 

stratigraphically lower aquifer systems, such as those within 

the Cretaceous, Almond, and Ericson formations of the 

Mesaverde Group. Groundwater within these formations 

sharply increases in salinity a short distance from the Rock 

Springs Uplift. Shallow Tertiary aquifers have TDS levels 

ranging from 400-1,800 mg/l. Similar TDS levels could be 

expected in areas closer to the Wind River Range. Major ion 

composition of the Wasatch Formation aquifers is similar to 

that in the Green River Basin, except that changes in major ion 

composition with increased salinity is sporadic and vague. 

The major ion composition in the Laney member is sodium 

sulfate. 

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 

The planning area is not as developed as other oil and gas 

fields. There are no known hazardous materials sites within 

the planning area. Small oil and gas fields exist which could 

contribute hazardous materials to the environment. There 

have been accidental releases of petroleum hydrocarbons and 

produced water over time. They have been cleaned up under 

43 CFR 3160 regulations. Under the Resource Conservation 

and Recovery Act of 1976, the products involved in these 

events are exempt from federal hazardous materials rules. 

A few old abandoned pits remain scattered throughout the 

area. They are in various stages of natural revegetation. These 

pits have not been tested for hazardous materials. The 

Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality does not 

have any hazardous material (hazmat) situations in the area. 

LANDS 

The majority of the planning area (surface and mineral) is 

comprised of solid blocked public lands owned by the federal 

government. Principal non-federal landowners are the State 

of Wyoming and private landowners. 

No communities are located within the area. The City of 

Rock Springs and the Town of Superior are the nearest 

incorporated cities and Eden-Farson is the nearest unincorporated populated area. 

Rights-of-Way 

No utility corridors have been designated in the planning 

area. However, an east-west window for underground utility 

lines is located along the southern border. 

The majority of rights-of-way are for county and BLM 

roads and pipelines. There is an abandoned railroad line, a 

communication line, and a power line which cross the width 

of the planning area. There are also two communication sites 

located on public lands. There has been a minor interest in 

film permits. 

Avoidance and exclusion areas were established in the 

Green River RMP (USDI 1997) (see Table 2-9). Avoidance 

areas are those areas on public lands where future rights-ofway may be granted only when no feasible alternative route or 

designated right-of-way corridor is available. Exclusion 

areas are those areas on public lands where future rights-ofway may be granted only when mandated by law. 

Exchanges 

The following exchanges are proposed: 

a. Acquire 1,920 acres of State inholdings in the Sand 

Dunes WSA. 

b. Acquire 640 acres of State lands in the Greater Sand 

Dunes ACEC. 

c. Acquire 2,072 acres of State lands on Steamboat Mountain. 

Withdrawals 

Withdrawals are used to preserve sensitive environmental 

values, protect major federal investments in facilities, support 

national security, and provide for public health and safety. 

They segregate a portion of public lands and suspend certain 

operations of the public land laws such as disposals or mineral 

location. It is now federal policy to restrict all withdrawals to 

the minimum time required to serve the public interest; 

maximize the use of withdrawn lands consistent with their 

primary purpose; and eliminate all withdrawals that are no 

longer needed. 

Existing Withdrawals 

a. Oil Shale Withdrawal: recommended for revocation. 

This withdrawal has been modified to allow conveyance under FLPMA and the R&PP Act. 

b. Oregon Trail/Parting of the Ways: 480-acre parcel 

(secs.4 and 5, T. 27 N., R. 101 W.) 

c. White Mountain Petroglyphs: 20 acres (secs. 11 and 12, 

T. 22 N., R. 105 W.) 

d. Classification Withdrawal: recommended for revocation. 

e. Coal Withdrawal: recommended for revocation. 

f. Public Water Reserves: 4,130 acres 

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AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

Proposed Withdrawals 

The Green River RMP (USDI 1997) decided that the 

following withdrawals be processed: 

a. Greater Sand Dunes ACEC: 23,870 acres 

b. South Pass Historic Landscape: 4,790 acres (actual 

acreage to be determined upon consultation with other 

parties of interest). 

c. Steamboat Mountain Area: (actual acreage to be determined upon completion of site specific management 

plans). 

d. Tri-Territory Marker: 10 acres 

e. Special Status Plants: 2,680 acres 

f. Crookston Ranch: 40 acres 

g. Public Water Reserves: 5,900 acres 

Access/Transportation 

Several unpaved county roads crisscross the area providing access to recreational areas and private landholdings. 

The BLM transportation system serves resource programs. 

BLM-maintained roads provide access to range improvements, recreation areas, community pits, etc. 

Access needs: Bush Rim (sec. 36, T. 24 N., R. 102 W.) and 

White Mountain Petroglyphs (sec. 19, T. 22 N., R. 104 W., and 

sec. 13, T. 22 N., R. 105 W.). 

LIVESTOCK GRAZING 

Livestock grazing is authorized in 16 grazing allotments 

(see Table 3-2) on approximately 574,800 acres of BLMadministered public lands, 15,830 acres of private, and 29,720 

acres of State lands in the planning area. There are 35 

livestock operators permitted to graze livestock within this 

planning area. Most allotments contain some lands unsuitable 

for livestock grazing and areas suitable only for certain classes 

of livestock. The allotments within the planning area, either 

partially or wholly are: 4th of July, Pacific Springs, Johnson 

Place, Crookston Ranch, Hay Meadow, Pacific Creek, Bar X, 

Continental Peak, Red Desert, Bush Rim, Steamboat Mountain, Sands, Rock Springs, Middle Hay, Chilton Place, and 

Houghton Ranch (Map 41). 

Livestock grazing on BLM-managed public land in the 

planning area is authorized under section 3 of the Taylor 

Grazing Act of 1934. “Section 3” permits authorize grazing 

on lands inside of grazing district boundaries. The current 

authorized preference within the Jack Morrow Hills planning 

area is 22,767 cattle AUMs and 3,265 sheep AUMs (see Table 

3-3). 

Due to changes in available forage, environmental conditions, business decisions by operators, and livestock prices, 

livestock grazing in the Jack Morrow Hills area has varied 

over time. Total permitted use for the area was 26,032 AUMs 

(22,767 cattle and 3,265 sheep). Yet the actual use for the last 

five years (1993-97) averaged 9,851 AUMs (8,861 cattle and 

990 sheep). However, grazing use has trended up since 1997 

with actual use for the baseline year of 1998 at 13,038 AUMs 

(11,991 cattle and 1,047 sheep) (see Table 3-4). 

Congress has enacted a yearly fee allowing grazing on 

public lands (43 CFR 4130.8-1). This amount changes with 

the economic cost of producing livestock. It is based on the 

value of livestock, the base economic value of grazing on 

public rangeland established by the 1966 Western Livestock 

Grazing Survey, livestock production costs, and the average 

costs of grazing on private lands. The 1998 grazing fee is set 

at $1.35 per AUM. 

Surcharge rates are rates charged a non-permittee for 

livestock grazing on public lands (43 CFR 4130.8-3(d)). This 

means that if a livestock operator doesn’t have a valid permit, 

he or she may enter into an agreement with another operator 

who has a grazing permit. The cost for this surcharge in 1998 

was $3.73 plus the grazing fee of $1.35 for a total of $5.08 per 

AUM. 

The rangeland program in the planning area emphasizes 

multiple use management of forage for livestock and wild 

horses, and incorporates needs for wildlife habitat and protection of riparian and watershed values. The specific goals and 

objectives of the program have and are being accomplished 

through careful planning at the activity level, with attention 

given to proper placement of rangeland improvements, distribution of livestock, kind and class of livestock, season of use, 

suitable grazing systems, plant and animal requirements, and 

vegetative land treatments. 

A number of range improvement projects have been constructed both for the enhancement and protection of watershed 

and wildlife values and for the management of domestic 

livestock grazing. These projects consist of; water developments, vegetative manipulations, windmills, and fences. Map 

42 displays all of the range improvement projects in the 

planning area. All projects have been authorized under 

cooperative agreements or permits, depending on overall 

benefits and objectives and private investment levels. The 

construction of range improvement projects in conjunction 

with a suitable grazing system began and has continued 

primarily in high priority allotments. 

Since the creation of the Green River Resource Area in 

1986 (now called the Rock Springs Field Office), rangeland 

monitoring efforts under way in the Big Sandy and Salt Wells 

Resource Areas have continued. Appendix 9-5 of the Green 

River RMP reflects the type of monitoring information that 

has been collected in each allotment. In the Sandy EIS area, 

which encompasses the planning area, a majority of the 

monitoring studies were established between 1981 and 1984, 

primarily in allotments with completed Allotment Management Plans (AMPs). These studies included actual use, 

vegetative utilization, rangeland condition and trend, and 

precipitation. 

The rangeland monitoring effort for the Salt Wells-Pilot 

Butte EIS area began during the 1984 field season. The high 

priority allotments were given first attention, followed by the 

lower priority allotments. 

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AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

Appendix 9-1 of the Green River RMP shows the allotment 

monitoring and categories for the Rock Springs Field Office 

area. More trend studies have been added in other allotments 

and many have also had data collected on riparian area 

condition and trend. 

Rangeland monitoring information has been analyzed for 

all of the allotments in the planning area. Appendix 9-7 in the 

Green River RMP contains a description of the current allotment situations according to this analysis. In addition, range 

specialists, in conjunction with resource specialists in other 

programs, have identified specific conflicts or problems that 

currently exist or have potential to exist in each allotment. 

Appendix 9-6 in the Green River RMP contains a list of these 

conflicts and problems. Specific descriptions of uses and 

conflicts are on file in the Rock Springs Field Office. 

Twenty-four reservoirs are identified within the planning 

area for either cleaning out or reconstruction. The locations of 

these reservoirs are as follows: 7 located in the core area, 9 are 

located in calving areas and 7 are located outside the core area. 

These reservoirs are located mostly in the Pacific Creek 

Allotment. There area probably numerous other reservoirs or 

pits located throughout the planning area which are not 

addressed in this document. By cleaning out these reservoirs 

or pits, proper distribution could take place augmenting their 

operations by increasing distribution, reducing over-utilization of riparian areas and improving both upland and riparian 

vegetation through the use of expanded watering sources to 

keep livestock in areas that have not been used for some time. 

The following allotments within the Jack Morrow Hills 

Activity Plan were evaluated in FY 99 for Standards for 

Healthy Rangelands and Guidelines for livestock grazing 

management. Table 3-5 shows standards are met, not met, or 

are unknown (Appendix 8). 

The following allotments within the JMHCAP have not 

been evaluated under Standards and Guidelines criteria: 

Chilton Place, Crookston Ranch, Hay Meadow Pasture, 

Houghton Ranch, Johnson Place, Middle Hay Place, and 

Pacific Springs. 

MINERALS AND GEOLOGY 

The planning area falls within a broad region of subdued 

relief that has been termed the Wyoming Basin physiographic 

province (Fenneman 1931). The Greater Green River Basin 

lies within this province, and the planning area lies in the north 

central part of this basin (Figure 7). The planning area lies 

across the north end of the Rock Springs Uplift, extending east 

into the Great Divide Basin, west into the main part of the 

Green River Basin, and northward across the thrust fault that 

bounds the southern end of the Wind River Range. Surface 

features reflect erosion by wind and water in an arid, coldtemperature environment. Parts of the planning area have 

been modified by sand movement, faulting, and volcanic 

activity. 

Historical Geology 

Figure 8 lists formations present in the planning area and 

gives a brief lithologic description of each unit. 

Precambrian 

The Precambrian era is evidenced in outcrops of granitic 

rock in the Wind River Range (dated at 2.6 billion years) and 

metamorphic rocks that may be more than 3 billion years old. 

Precambrian rocks are the deepest buried rocks in the planning area and are also found near the surface in the area to the 

north of the thrust fault bounding the Wind River Range. 

Paleozoic 

For most of the Paleozoic era, the planning area was 

situated just east of a marine basin located close to the equator. 

It was frequently covered by warm shallow seas and was 

mainly the site of carbonate deposition with a high percentage 

of clastic sediment. Depositional sequences were interrupted 

by several withdrawals of the sea, followed by erosional 

periods. The boundary between marine basin and shallow 

water parallels the present arcuate trend of the Thrust Belt 

(Figure 7). 

Mesozoic 

During the Mesozoic era, the North American continent 

gradually drifted to northern latitudes. Most of the Mesozoic 

rocks within the planning area, therefore, were deposited in a 

northern subtropical region. Sea level fluctuated during this 

period due to periods of eastward faulting in the Thrust Belt 

and mountain building events. Deposition of sediment took 

place in alternating marine and non-marine environments. At 

the end of the Mesozoic era, mountain building caused the 

complete withdrawal of the sea, and the North American 

continent was approaching its present-day latitudes. 

Cenozoic 

At the onset of the Cenozoic era, the Thrust Belt was in a 

late stage of development and the ancestral structures of the 

Uinta Mountains, Wind River Range, Sierra Madre Range, 

and Granite Mountains had formed on the margins of the 

Green River, Great Divide, and Washakie Basins (Figure 7). 

These basinal areas were then largely filled with river and lake 

deposits nearly burying these mountain ranges. Volcanism to 

the north contributed large amounts of volcanic sediment to 

these basins. Climate started out warm-humid to arid-subtropical but gradually cooled. During late Tertiary time major 

uplift of the Rocky Mountains stopped deposition. With 

uplift, streams that had been flowing southward across the 

plain-like surfaces began to cut downward. Gradually, our 

modern landscape began to develop as the older structures 

were exposed below the sediment cover. 

Quaternary 

During the Quaternary period, final touches were made to 

the landscape of the region. The surrounding mountains were 

exhumed and the basins re-excavated to their present form. 

The high mountains were glaciated several times during the 

Ice Ages. Some of the glaciers may have reached the edge of 

the basin and deposited sediment around its margin. Local 

volcanic centers developed, as well as the Killpecker Dune 

Field. 

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AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

General Geology 

The main part of the Green River Basin is a large structural 

and topographic basin (Figure 7) drained by the Green River 

and its tributaries. The floor of the basin lies between 6,000 

and 8,000 feet (1,820 to 2,430 meters) above sea level, and is 

primarily a flat to gently rolling plain. The outer margin of the 

Green River Basin is defined by a series of escarpments 

formed by tilted beds of the Green River and Wasatch formations (Bradley 1964). North of the town of Green River, the 

main escarpment forms a conspicuous bluff, known as White 

Mountain, that extends northward into the western part of the 

planning area. 

Three watersheds are represented in the planning area 

(Map 43). The main drainages in the western part of the 

planning area are Killpecker Creek, Jack Morrow Creek, and 

Pacific Creek. All are part of the Green River watershed, 

which is part of the Colorado River Basin. Small streams on 

the north edge are part of the Sweetwater River watershed, 

which is part of the Missouri River Basin. That area of the 

planning area south and east of the continental divide lies in 

the Great Divide Watershed. This watershed is part of the 

Great Divide Basin which has internal drainage due to splitting of the continental drainage divide around this basin. Most 

streams flow east toward the center of the basin and no 

precipitation leaves as surface runoff. 

The widespread erosion that has shaped the planning area 

has resulted in the development of considerable areas of 

badlands. The main area of badlands is within the Honeycomb 

Buttes and Oregon Buttes WSAs. Badlands are best developed in soft, weak, mudstones , which are relatively impervious and preclude infiltration of rain water. As a result, runoff 

erodes intricate networks of rills and gullies. As the gullies 

deepen, the ground surface becomes highly dissected. 

The vast majority of surface rocks in the planning area are 

uncut by faults. The Continental Fault is approximately 55 

miles (88.5 kilometers) long (Bradley 1964) and roughly 

parallels the buried thrust fault (Wind River thrust fault) at the 

north edge of the planning area (Figure 7). It begins east of the 

Field Office area and passes between South Pass City and 

Oregon Buttes. 

The Rock Springs Uplift (Figure 7) is a broad, elliptical 

anticline that began to form after the Lance Formation was 

deposited in the Late Cretaceous (Roehler 1965). Erosion has 

uncovered a sequence of Tertiary and Upper Cretaceous 

rocks. The rocks exposed on the uplift are cut by a number of 

faults and data indicate that the west flank of the uplift is 

bounded by a thrust fault that does not reach the surface (Love 

and Christiansen 1985; Bradley 1964). The planning area 

straddles the northern plunge of the uplift. 

The Leucite Hills, at the north end of the Rock Springs 

Uplift, are the remnants of a Quaternary volcanic field. They 

form a series of buttes that rise precipitously above the 

surrounding plains. Steamboat Mountain is capped by lava 

flows and Boars Tusk is the remnant of a volcanic neck. These 

two features lie within the planning area. 

At the far northern end of the Rock Springs Uplift and on 

the south part of the planning area, is an extensive dune field 

called the Killpecker Dunes. This dune field is at the western 

end of a narrow belt of dunes that stretches 150 miles (240 

kilometers) to the east. The outer margins of the field are 

occupied primarily by dormant dunes, while active dunes are 

found in the central portion of the field. 

The Great Divide Basin is a structural basin (Figure 7) 

underlying a topographic and internally drained basin (Love 

1961). The Continental Divide splits near the southeast end of 

the Wind River Range and converges again at the north end of 

the Sierra Madre Mountains. Lake, swamp, and stream 

deposits of Tertiary age make up most of the bedrock and 

surficial deposits are predominantly soft and weak, causing 

the basin to be nearly flat and featureless, with occasional 

intermittent lakes and dry flats in the lowest areas. The 

youngest features are the Killpecker Dunes which extend 

across this basin. 

The dominant feature of the southern Wind River Range in 

the planning area is a very gently dipping erosion surface 

comprised of Tertiary sediments (Bayley, et al. 1973). This 

surface blends the Precambrian core of the range with the 

Rock Springs Uplift and Green River Basin to the south and 

southwest. Relief in these foothills is 300 to 500 feet (90 to 

150 meters). This range is one of the most spectacular of the 

Precambrian uplifts in the state. It is basically a huge block of 

granite that has been moved by faulting south-westward over 

the Green River Basin. This fault is called the Wind River 

thrust fault and is covered by sediments on its southern end 

where it extends into the planning area. 

Oil and Gas Geology 

Historical Background 

Between 1900 and 1916, a number of shallow wells were 

drilled on the Rock Springs Uplift in search of oil. A number 

of oil and gas shows were encountered but no wells were 

productive. Additional work began in the 1920s with the first 

discovery being the South Baxter Basin field in August of 

1922. Drilling activity has occurred almost continuously 

since this discovery and has resulted in the location of a large 

number of gas and oil fields along the axis of the Rock Springs 

Uplift. 

The first test in the planning area was the Boars Tusk Oil 

Company #1 (sec. 16, T. 23 N., R. 104 W.) abandoned in 1927. 

Thirteen more nonproductive wells were drilled and abandoned before the first producing well was completed in 1961. 

Trigood Oil Company drilled the first Frontier Formation 

producer in sec. 17, T. 23 N., R. 103 W. The well later added 

production from the Dakota Formation. 

Exploration and development continues today. Through 

August 31, 1997, there have been 153 wells completed in the 

planning area. Information on these wells is presented in 

Table 3-6. Additional information about those wells that have 

produced can be found in the RFD (on file in the Rock Springs 

Field Office). Methods and procedures to conduct geophysical exploration leasing, well permitting, drilling operations, 

development, production, and subsurface practices are described in Appendix 9. 

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Origin of Oil and Gas 

Crude oil and natural gas are composed chiefly of hydrocarbon compounds and are found primarily in sedimentary 

rocks. The earliest formed petroleum compounds tend to be 

very heavy, viscous oils. With increasing temperature and 

pressure, the heavy oils are “cracked,” forming lighter oils and 

natural gas. The lighter constituents are more mobile and may 

migrate away from the rocks containing the organic debris, 

called the “source rocks,” into more porous and permeable 

rocks called “reservoir rocks.” Oil and gas are “trapped” when 

they migrate to a place where further movement is barred by 

a structural and/or stratigraphic feature, e.g., faults, impervious beds, etc. Both source and reservoir rocks are present in 

the planning area as evidenced by the production so far 

discovered. The planning area thus has a high potential for the 

occurrence of oil and gas in economic amounts. 

Trapping Mechanisms 

Figure 9, a cross-section through the Rock Springs Field 

Office area, portrays the most common trap types. A structural trap, as illustrated on the Rock Springs Uplift, has a 

closure in which oil and gas accumulate after migrating up-dip 

through strata. An impervious cap rock seals the accumulations against further vertical movement while water generally 

underlies and confines the hydrocarbon accumulation against 

the cap rock. Exposed structures are readily apparent and thus 

received the earliest and most extensive exploration effort. 

That is why the area to the south of the planning area was 

drilled and developed at an early date. 

Stratigraphic traps, as illustrated in the Red Hill and Patrick 

Draw areas of the Great Divide Basin, may depend upon a 

change in the amount of space between grains of sediment 

(porosity) and/or how well those spaces are connected (permeability) to block the migration of petroleum hydrocarbons, 

allowing an accumulation of hydrocarbons to develop. Changes 

in porosity and permeability occur as a result of depositional 

history, such as the deposition of sand bars and alluvial stream 

deposits, or the truncation of permeable strata with subsequent deposition of an overlying impermeable formation. The 

discovery of stratigraphic traps depends on detailed and time 

consuming geologic study. 

Oil and Gas Occurrences 

Producing units in the planning area are: Buccaneer; 

Nitchie Gulch; Rim Rock; Steamboat Mountain; and Treasure 

(Map 44). Wells drilled in these units are listed as part of Table 

3-6. The Johnson Gap Exploratory Unit (Map 44 was approved effective February 2, 1994. Drilling of the first unit 

well is delayed until this CAP is completed. 

The Gold Coast Exploratory Unit (Map 44) was approved 

effective January 30, 1998. The first well, located in section 

6 of T. 25 N., R. 102 W., commenced drilling in the Fall of 

1998 and is temporarily shut-in. The West 187 Exploratory 

Unit (Map 44) was approved effective February 25, 1998. 

.Drilling of the first unit well is delayed until this CAP is 

completed. 

Three recently terminated exploratory units lie partially 

within the planning area and the first well for each was drilled 

outside the planning area. Riva Exploratory Unit overlapped 

the planning area on its eastern boundary and terminated June 

22, 1995. The Lewis Shale was tested and abandoned in the 

unit well. The Encore Exploratory Unit overlapped the 

planning area on its southeast edge and terminated February 

17, 1998. The Almond Formation, Lewis Shale, and Ericson 

Sandstone were tested and abandoned in the unit well. The 

Jade Exploratory Unit overlapped the planning area on its 

eastern boundary and terminated July 1, 1998. The unit 

targets were the Almond Formation and Lewis Shale. The 

first well was completed as a low volume gas producer in the 

Lewis, causing unit termination. 

All other units shown on Table 3-6 were originally part of 

exploratory unit proposals that were later terminated either 

because non-productive wells or low volume producing wells 

were drilled. The large number of producing units and 

exploratory unit wells drilled in the planning area shows that 

unitization has been a popular method for exploration and for 

orderly development. 

Each of the five producing units are also classified as Fields 

by the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. 

Their areal extent can cover an area larger than that of the 

linked unit area. Other fields in the planning area are: the Pine 

Canyon Field which extends south beyond the planning area 

boundary; the productive Essex Mountain and unnamed (Section 7 of Township 25 North, Range 102 West) fields; and the 

abandoned Freighter Gap and Saddle Bag fields. In addition, 

three other wells were technically completed as coalbed 

methane wells but have not produced. A field name for these 

wells has not been determined. The wells lying within each of 

these fields are listed on Table 3-6. 

All fields in the planning area are developed over stratigraphic traps and produce gas and occasionally some oil or 

condensate from the lower Cretaceous Frontier, Dakota, and 

Mowry formations. Only four other productive wells have 

been drilled, all in the upper Cretaceous section. Three of 

these were coalbed gas wells completed in the Mesaverde 

Group and one oil well completed in the Rock Springs 

Formation. A number of other younger Tertiary formations 

and older Mesozoic and Paleozoic age formations produce to 

varying degrees in the Greater Green River Basin, outside the 

planning area. 

Much of the area has been leased for oil and gas. Leases are 

issued for a 10-year period, and several are currently held by 

production activity. All WSAs are closed to leasing. These 

are non-discretionary closures in accordance with 43 CFR 

3100. As other leases in the planning area terminate they are 

being held in abeyance until this plan is completed. 

Pipelines and Natural Gas Storage 

An extensive natural gas transmission system now exists in 

Wyoming and the Rocky Mountain region. The state has more 

than 12 major natural gas pipelines. Six natural gas storage 

facilities were active as of December 1994 (WOGCC 1995). 

In addition, seven major pipelines are regulated by the Federal 

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AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

Energy Regulatory Commission and transport natural gas 

from the region in all directions in the interstate system. 

The planning area production is serviced by one main 

gathering pipeline that brings gas south to the east-west 

corridor of pipelines that lie along the I-80 transportation 

corridor (Barlow & Haun 1994). Most gas is sold by producers directly to local gas distribution companies, with the 

pipeline acting as a “common carrier” of natural gas. 

Storage facilities have been used by utilities and pipelines 

to manage peak loads of gas and other sudden changes in 

consumption and production. At these facilities, gas is stored 

underground until needed. The Brady Field is the only gas 

storage facility located in the Rock Springs Field Office area. 

The Clay Basin storage facility, in Utah, lies south of the 

planning area and receives a large portion of its gas from fields 

lying within the Field Office area. 

Oil and Gas Development Potential 

Oil and gas development potential (Map 45) was determined for the Green River Final EIS RMP (USDI 1996) by 

geologic analysis from United States Geologic Survey sources 

and a survey of the industry. This map is expected to still be 

accurate for the planning area. 

Potential for the occurrence of Tertiary coalbed methane 

and the occurrence of Upper Cretaceous coalbed methane was 

determined by Stilwell (1991) for the Green River RMP-EIS 

(1996). That analysis is expected to still be accurate for the 

planning area. New information obtained while preparing this 

CAP caused modification of the area development potential 

for coalbed methane (Map 46). 

Geophysical exploration activities have occurred throughout much of the area. Geophysical exploration is a method of 

mapping subsurface geology. A number of geophysical 

exploration methods are used. See Appendix 9 for a description of various geophysical exploration methods. The most 

popular types of geophysical methodologies involve the use 

of shothole, vibroseis, and explosive charges. The Green 

River RMP closed the following areas to geophysical vehicle 

use and explosive charges: Boars Tusk, Special Status Plant 

Species locations, Crookston Ranch, White Mountain 

Petroglyphs, and Wilderness Study Areas (about 119,890 

acres). Seismic activity has occurred in the planning area in 

the past, although not recently. Activity could occur in the 

future. 

Coal 

The southern part of the planning area is within the Coal 

Occurrence and Development Potential area. The focus of 

this designation is on the late Cretaceous and early Tertiary 

coal bearing formations around the Rock Springs Uplift. The 

Green River RMP (USDI 1997) provided management direction on coal development in certain areas to facilitate management of other resources. The table of areas with coal development restrictions (Table 3-7) coal development restrictions 

shows derived from the Green River RMP. 

Map 47 shows the area with coal development potential. 

Coal beds in this area are buried by overlying sediments. 

Limited drill data exist for a few sections within these townships: T. 23 N., R. 103 W. and R. 104 W. and T. 22 N., R. 104 

W. Data indicate numerous coal seams with thicknesses 

ranging from 0.3 to 3 feet occur at depths from 8 to 428 feet. 

One notable coal bed ranges in thickness from 3 to 8 feet and 

occurs at depths ranging from 11 to 283 feet in depth. Little 

data exist on the late Cretaceous coal beds deeper than 300 feet 

everywhere in this relatively unrestricted area and even less 

data exist for T. 23 N., R. 102 W., and T. 22 N., R. 105 W. 

Additional exploration drilling is needed before surface and/ 

or subsurface mining could be deemed feasible. The Green 

River RMP closed portions of the planning area to coal 

exploration and sodium prospecting. These areas are listed in 

Table 3-8. About 35,600 acres in the core area are closed to 

coal exploration. 

Currently, there are no leases within the planning area and 

no coal development is currently projected. Existing mines, 

especially those in the Powder River Basin, and coal reserves 

elsewhere in the state are expected to meet the demand for coal 

during the planning period. About 44,990 acres of federal coal 

lands within the Coal Occurrence and Development Potential 

area would be open to further consideration for coal leasing 

and development (i.e., new competitive leasing, emergency 

leasing, lease modifications, and exchange proposals, under 

the Federal Coal Management Program) with appropriate and 

necessary conditions and requirements for protection of other 

land and resource values and uses (see Appendix 3). 

About 21,990 acres of federal coal lands, within that 

portion of the Coal Occurrence and Development Potential 

area that is within the core area, would be open to further 

consideration for coal leasing and development (i.e., new 

competitive leasing, emergency leasing, lease modifications, 

and exchange proposals, under the Federal Coal Management 

Program) with appropriate and necessary conditions and 

requirements for protection of other land and resource values 

and uses (see Appendix 3). 

Presently, there are no coal operations within the planning 

area boundary. Outside the planning area, two companies 

operate strip surface coal mines and two companies operate 

underground coal mines (USDI 1997). The surface mines 

include the Bridger Coal mine and Black Butte/Pit 22 mine, 

and the subsurface mines include the Lion Coal and Pilot 

Butte mines. These mines would continue to operate, and 

areas of high interest and development potential would be 

defined as lease tracts. 

Sodium 

The planning area is not within any Known Sodium Leasing Area. However, sodium brines exist in the Wilkins Peak 

Member of the Green River Formation near Eden and are open 

to exploration and consideration for leasing and development. 

The brine originated from lake water trapped within permeable rock lenses near the bottom of ancient Lake Gosuite 

(Dana and Smith 1976). Dana and Smith report tested samples 

contain soda ash (about 30 weight percent) and oil (about 70 

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AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

weight percent). Combustible carbon and noncondensable 

gas are additional products included with the oil. 

The potential for producing multiple products from a 

single well has generated some commercial interest. At least 

one company produced brine from six drill holes, but was 

unsuccessful in finding a market for the brine or finding a 

suitable process for producing soda ash or organic matter from 

it. Eventually they abandoned the effort. In 1991, another 

company obtained permits to conduct a pilot project to determine the economic feasibility of commercializing the brine. 

The project was never implemented, reportedly because the 

beneficiating cost could not compete in the existing trona 

(soda ash) and oil and gas markets. Currently, oil and gas can 

be produced more efficiently through conventional means. 

As conventional oil and gas sources are exhausted, alternate 

sources will be investigated. 

The five trona mines located west of Green River produce 

about 16 million tons annually, which supplies 30 percent of 

the world’s trona. If it is assumed that yearly production was 

20 million tons, and only 35 percent of the 127 billion tons 

could be recovered then it would take over 2,200 years to mine 

all of the trona resources in the Green River Basin. Consequently, brine development potential is low. Any development of brine within the brine potential area would occur 

slowly and in phases and likely occur in the last five to ten 

years of the planning period. 

Areas closed to sodium prospecting are the same as those 

listed above for coal resources. 

Oil Shale 

Deposits of oil shale are known to occur in the Tipton, 

Wilkins Peak, and Laney Members of the Green River Formation. The oil shale was formed in association with Lake 

Gosuite and occurs as nearly horizontal layers of fine-grained 

lacustrine shales, marlstones, mudstones, and claystones containing solid combustible organic rich matter, also known as 

kerogen (Culbertson, Smith, and Trudell 1980). Approximately 2.9 million acres of Wyoming land has been officially 

classified as prospectively valuable for oil shale in Oil Shale 

Classification Order Wyoming No. 1 (Federal Register, Vol. 

47, No. 224). In Wyoming, these oil shale reserves are only 

found in the Green River and Washakie Basins. 

The western edge of the planning area is included within 

Oil Shale Classification Order Wyoming No. 1. The primary 

effect of this Order is to withdraw these lands from mineral 

location and land disposal and to reserve them for development of shale oil. Current efforts are underway to lift the 

Order. The Green River RMP (USDI 1997) made the decision 

to revoke the classification at such time as the classification is 

lifted, but not before evaluating whether an area should 

remain withdrawn from mineral location for the purpose of 

protecting other resource values. 

Available technology falls short of being able to extract 

and prepare the oil for market in a way that is competitive with 

today’s oil markets. Therefore, no oil shale development is 

expected anywhere in this area. 

Potash 

The Leucite Hills, including Boars Tusk and Steamboat 

Mountain, are known to contain potash. Chemical analyses of 

the rocks from Steamboat Mountain and Boars Tusk indicate 

a potash content of 12.66 and 9.81 percent, respectively 

(Hausel, Sutherland, and Gregory, 1995). Hausel, et al reports 

Steamboat Mountain had the highest potash content of any of 

the 24 samples collected from the Leucite Hills volcanic field. 

Schultz and Cross (1912) estimated 20,618,180 tons of potash 

occur within an estimated 206,181,800 tons of rock at Steamboat Mountain. Boars Tusk was estimated to contain 2,899,438 

tons of potash. Potash was mined during the first world war 

by the Liberty Potash Company on Zirkel Mesa, located south 

of the planning area. Potassium chloride was processed in a 

plant in Green River for fertilizer (Hausel, Sutherland, and 

Gregory, 1995). Though Steamboat Mountain and Boars 

Tusk contain considerable amounts of potash, development of 

this resource in these areas is unlikely during the planning 

period given the existing surface use constraints and the 

amount of potash contained elsewhere in the Leucite Hills. 

Locatable Minerals 

Gold 

Historically, gold has been the primary locatable mineral 

explored for in the planning area. At the present time, active 

mining claims are located east of Dickie Springs, south of the 

Sweetwater River, and northwest of Honeycomb Buttes (USDI 

1997). These are placer claims, except for one lode claim on 

the pre-Cambrian outcrop in section 4, Township 27 North, 

Range 100 West. Active mining claims are those that have 

been properly recorded and have annual filings completed for 

the current year and may or may not have exploration and/or 

mining operations in progress (Map 48). 

In the recent past, a few claims have been explored by 

trenching with a backhoe, but most exploration is done with 

pick and shovel. One notable exception is a small-scale 

trommel operation, which is run by claimants in their free 

time. Weather restricts activity to the snow-free months, 

which generally runs from May to mid-November. Current 

exploration activity disturbs less than 5 acres and is reflective 

of the amount of activity seen in the area since the placers were 

first worked in 1863. Similar levels of activity are anticipated 

during the planning period. 

Public lands open to mineral entry within the planning area 

are shown in Map 25. The Green River RMP requires a plan 

of operations for all locatable mineral activities within ACECs, 

WSAs, potential additions to the Wild and Scenic River 

System, and areas closed to off-road vehicle use, to protect 

associated resource values. The following areas require a Plan 

of Operations: Boars Tusk; Oregon Buttes ACEC; Greater 

Sand Dunes ACEC; South Pass Historic Landscape ACEC; 

South Pass Historic Landscape (about 4,970 acres); Steamboat Mountain ACEC (pending completion of the site specific 

implementation plan); Special Status Plant Species Sites; and 

Crookston Ranch. 

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AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

Diamonds 

Besides gold occurrences in the northeastern portion of the 

planning area, there is the potential for diamonds to occur in 

association with the Quaternary volcanic rocks (lamproites) 

found in the southern part of the study area. Though no 

diamonds have ever been recovered from these lamproites, 

they exhibit characteristics similar to diamondiferous 

lamproites found in Arkansas, Western Australia, and India. 

Additional exploration is needed to further define these 

structures and to search for diamonds. Either detailed petrographic and geochemical analyses or larger sample volumes 

will be necessary to make this determination. It is anticipated 

that such exploration may occur during the planning period. 

About 2 acres of disturbance is anticipated from these activities. 

Uranium 

Wyoming has been a major producer and reserve holder of 

uranium in the United States (Harris and King 1993). Harris 

and King report that almost every stratigraphic unit and every 

county in the state contains uranium mineralization. The 

largest and most important deposits of uranium occur outside 

the planning area in the Gas Hills, Shirley Basin, Crooks Gap, 

southern Powder River Basin, and Pumpkin Buttes uranium 

districts. In the northern part of the planning area, the U.S. 

Geological Survey (Patterson, et al, 1987) reports the occurrence of uranium within coal beds of the Wasatch Formation 

(Tertiary) and possible deposits within the conglomeratic 

lenses of the Cathedral Bluffs Tongue (Wasatch Formation). 

Uranium exploration has occurred on claims staked in the 

northern part of the planning area and south of the planning 

area around the Rock Springs Uplift. These claims were 

located over the Rock Springs Formation and/or Ericson 

Formation of the Cretaceous Mesaverde Group. The potential 

for development of uranium within the planning area is very 

low. No development activity is projected during the planning 

period. 

Salable Minerals (Mineral Materials) 

Sand and Gravel 

Lands open to development of salable minerals within the 

planning area lack good quality construction material, except 

for Steamboat Mountain which is capped by volcanic lava. 

The South Pass Historic Landscape, the Sweetwater River and 

1/4 mile buffer, and the Sand Dunes contain quality construction materials. However, the Green River RMP (USDI 1997) 

prohibits development of salable minerals in these areas. 

Areas closed to development of salable minerals within the 

planning area are listed below: Boars Tusk; Oregon Buttes 

ACEC; Greater Sand Dunes ACEC; South Pass Historic 

Landscape ACEC; South Pass Historic Landscape (about 

4,970 acres); Steamboat Mountain ACEC (pending completion of the site specific implementation plan); Occupied 

Raptor Nests; Special Status Plant Species Sites; Crookston 

Ranch, Rock art sites (including the White Mountain 

Petroglyphs ACEC), and Wilderness Study Areas. 

Nearly all material used for construction and maintenance 

of designed gravel and paved roads comes from outside the 

planning area. The exception is a Wyoming Transportation 

Department borrow site along Wyoming Highway 28. About 

4 acres of disturbance has occurred at this site. South of the 

planning area along the Tri-Territory Road is the Long Canyon community sand and gravel pit. Gravel deposits of 

marginal quality occur southeast of the planning area along 

the Bar X Road. 

Clay 

The Cretaceous Lance Formation, Lewis Shale, and 

Mesaverde Group could contain clays and shales usable in 

structural clay products (Construction Materials Survey 1965). 

Potential products include brick tile, sewer pipe and other 

items used in construction. Little testing of these clays and 

shales has been conducted. The sediments containing the 

potentially usable clays occur in the southern portion of the 

planning area. The potential for development of clays is very 

low given the existing land use restrictions and abundance of 

clay elsewhere. No activity is projected during the planning 

period. 

Geologic Hazards 

Several types of geologic hazards are present in the planning area (Map 49). Hydrogen sulfide, earthquake, landslides, and windblown sand hazards are of primary concern. 

Geo/Resource Consultants (1984) prepared an analysis of 

these hazards, with the exception of the hydrogen sulfide 

hazard. 

Hydrogen sulfide is present with the hydrocarbons in some 

deep producing oil and gas wells further south on the Rock 

Springs Uplift and could be present in the planning area in 

formations deeper than those that presently produce hydrocarbons. Exposure to small quantities can cause death. Additional discussion of this hazard is on file in the Rock Springs 

Field Office (USDI 1992). 

Active faulting is limited to the Continental fault area on 

the north perimeter of the planning area. Historical seismicity 

shows no major earthquakes within the planning area. However, earthquakes in adjacent regions may directly affect this 

area. 

Landslides are scarce in the planning area, due to the 

relatively arid climatic conditions and the competent rocks 

underlying most steep slopes. The area of steep slopes around 

Steamboat Mountain and Oregon Buttes has the most potential for landslides or rock falls. 

Windblown sand deposits occur throughout the southern 

part of the planning area. The Killpecker Dune field encompasses about 170 square miles, extending beyond the planning 

area boundary. Prevailing wind direction is from the westnorthwest and dune migration follows prevailing winds. 

Hazards are increased when dunes are migrating. 

No volcanic hazards exist within the area (Wright and 

Pierson 1992). 

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AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

OFF-ROAD VEHICLES 

Off-road vehicle (ORV) designations for the planning area 

were made in the Green River RMP (USDI 1997) (Map 50). 

The designations have been instituted for resource protection 

of soils, vegetation, wilderness, wildlife, and water. Only the 

Sand Dunes ORV play area carries an “open” ORV designation of 10,500 acres. All seven of the Wilderness Study Areas, 

Boars Tusk, Crookston Ranch, and Special Status Plant Species found in the planning area are closed to off-road vehicles, 

encompassing about 119,890 acres. The remainder of the 

planning area falls within the “limited” use category (Table 3-

9). 

The limited ORV category includes areas limited to existing roads and trails, areas limited to designated roads and 

trails, areas limited by number and type of vehicle, areas 

limited to licensed or permitted use, and areas limited seasonally (see the Glossary). Current limited designations in the 

planning area include limited to existing roads and trails and 

areas limited seasonally. Designations have not been made 

for the areas identified as limited to designated roads and 

trails. Designations would be done through site-specific 

activity planning with public input. Until the designations are 

completed, the areas are managed as limited to existing roads 

and trails. 

PALEONTOLOGY 

The BLM manages paleontological resources for their 

scientific, educational and recreational values and mitigates 

adverse impacts to them as necessary. In general, it is 

permissible to collect reasonable amounts of common invertebrate fossils from the public lands for non-commercial 

purposes, and to collect limited amounts of petrified wood as 

outlined in 43 CFR 3622. The Department of the Interior has 

administratively determined that the collection of vertebrate 

fossils requires a permit. Paleontological permits are issued 

under the authority of FLPMA, and such permits are generally 

issued only to qualified paleontologists. 

The Tertiary volcanics and the pre-Cambrian igneous 

rocks have no potential for paleontological resources. The 

sand dunes and alluvial deposits in the planning area are 

unlikely to contain fossils because of their recent age. 

Common invertebrate fossils (clams, etc.) are known to 

occur in the Cretaceous rocks of the Rock Springs Uplift, and 

scattered fragments of dinosaur fossils have been found in the 

Lance Formation on the Rock Springs Uplift (Breithaupt 

1982). These rock formations are found at the south edge of 

the planning area and have a similar fossil potential. 

Vertebrate fossils are known to occur in the Fort Union and 

the Wasatch Formations around Bitter Creek, Wyoming. The 

American Museum of Natural History, the University of 

Colorado, and other institutions have collected numerous 

primate and other small mammal fossils from these formations. The Fort Union Formation has some potential for fossils 

but is largely buried under the sand dunes within the planning 

area. The Wasatch Formation composes much of the lower 

elevations within the planning area; it may have some potential for fossil occurrences. 

The Tipton Shale Member (Green River Formation) has a 

persistent layer of freshwater snails at its base (Goniobasis 

and Viviparus). The remains of a bird skeleton have reportedly been found at a site west and north of Boars Tusk (Geo/ 

Resources 1984), and fossils may potentially be present 

elsewhere in the planning area. 

Hundreds of flamingo-like bones have been collected from 

the Cathedral Bluffs Member of the Wasatch Formation. This 

was evidently the nesting site of a flamingo-like shore bird, 

Presbyornis. No other such sites are presently known within 

the report area. The Cathedral Bluffs Member is richly fossiliferous in many places in the planning area, yielding such 

vertebrates as crocodiles, turtles, fish, and mammals. 

The Laney Shale Member of the Green River Formation is 

known to contain large numbers of Knightia, Diplomystus and 

other fish of the Eocene Epoch. Several fossil fish localities 

have been found in the Laney Shale outside the planning area; 

fish are also locally common in the planning area. 

The Bridger Formation has a large number of significant 

fossil localities in the general region outside the planning area. 

Primates, primitive horses and other Eocene-age mammals 

have been collected from the Bridger Formation from circa 

1870 until the present day. The Bridger Formation includes 

the upper elevations around Oregon Buttes, Honeycomb 

Buttes, Tule Butte, and Buffalo Hump. 

RECREATION 

Recreation activities available on BLM-administered lands 

in the planning area are many and varied. A brief listing 

includes stream and river fishing; big game hunting for elk, 

deer, moose, and antelope; small game, upland bird, and 

waterfowl hunting; swimming; camping; backpacking; 

horsepacking and riding; dirt bike and other ORV use; mountain biking; rock and petrified wood collecting; sight seeing of 

historic trails and places; wild horse viewing; wildlife viewing; and general photography. Recreation use in the planning 

area predominantly occurs between May and October. Lack 

of maintained roads in the winter restricts recreational yearround access. Recreation use is anticipated to continue and 

increase in the future (see the Socioeconomics section). 

Major recreation locations include the Greater Sand Dunes 

area, Steamboat Mountain, Oregon Buttes, White Mountain 

Petroglyphs, Honeycomb Buttes, Tri-Territory Monument, 

and the Oregon/Mormon Pioneer/California/and Pony Express National Historic Trails. 

There are three Special Recreation Management Areas 

(SRMA) in the planning area: (1) Greater Sand Dunes (38,650 

acres) (refer to Greater Sand Dunes ACEC); (2) the Oregon/ 

Mormon Pioneer/California/and Pony Express National Historic Trails (27 miles); and (3) the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. 

Greater Sand Dunes Special Recreation 

Management Area 

The Greater Sand Dunes Special Recreation Management 

Area incorporates the ACEC boundary. The area offers 

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outstanding motorized and non-motorized recreational values 

which have the potential of increasing significantly. In 1983, 

an ACEC management plan was completed and this plan also 

serves as the Recreation Activity Management Plan for the 

area. The existing off-road vehicle parking and camping area 

was built in the mid-1980s and needs to have a project plan 

completed to address visitor conflict concerns. The Crookston 

Historic Ranch also is in need of a project plan to address 

resource concerns. 

Oregon/Mormon Pioneer/California/ 

Pony Express National Historic Trails 

After the Sand Dunes discussion add as a heading Oregon/ 

Mormon Pioneer/California/and Pony Express National Historic Trails followed by this discussion. “ A complete discussion of the Oregon-Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trails 

special recreation management area can be found in the 

Oregon-Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trails Management Plan (USDI 1986). In 1999, a comprehensive management and use plan was developed by the National Park Service 

for the California/Pony Express National Historic Trails as 

well as an update to the Oregon/Mormon Pioneer National 

Historic Trails Management Plan. The SRMA is managed for 

a range of visitation intensities from dedicated trail buffs in 

four-wheel-drive off-road vehicles to the transient visitor in a 

family vehicle simply passing through the area. 

Continental Divide National Scenic 

Trail 

The Forest Service published a comprehensive management plan for the trail in 1985. The plan set broad goals and 

policy for local trail management. In 1998, BLM issued an 

Environmental Assessment for the designations of the proposed on-the-ground route for the trail. The Continental Peak/ 

South Pass Connecting Side Trail (35 miles) was proposed 

and analyzed. However, designation of the route was deferred 

pending completion of the Jack Morrow Hills EIS to analyze 

the side trail along with other related resource issues. 

On October 2, 1968, Congress passed the National Trails 

System Act. This Act called for the establishment of a system 

of national scenic trails “which will be extended trails so 

located as to provide for maximum outdoor recreation potential and for the conservation and enjoyment of the nationally 

significant scenic, historic, natural, or cultural qualities of the 

areas through which such trails may pass.” As a result of the 

1978 amendment to this Act, Congress designated the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDNST) as part of the 

National Scenic Trail system. The CDNST is a trail route 

traversing the length of the Rocky Mountains, in close proximity to the Continental Divide for approximately 3,100 

miles, through the states of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. 

A part of the CDNST is identified in the planning area. 

About 25 miles of existing roads and routes have been identified as a side trail for the CDNST. This route would partially 

occur in the South Pass Historic Landscape area (Map 51). 

There are two Backcountry Byways identified in the planning area. The Tri-Territory Loop Backcountry Byway lies 

completely in the planning area while the Red Desert 

Backcountry Byway lies partially in the planning area. There 

are opportunities for interpretive sites along these byways to 

provide information and scenic views of the planning area. 

Recreation Opportunity Spectrum 

Public lands are managed to provide a broad spectrum of 

recreational opportunities. The recreation opportunity spectrum system provides the BLM with a framework for determining existing outdoor recreation opportunities and management potential, based upon a combination of activity, 

setting, and experience. 

“The recreation opportunity spectrum is divided into six 

management classes which are described in Table 3-10 and 

shown on Map 52, if applicable. The recreation opportunity 

spectrum system describes probable physical settings, experiences, and activities for each class and identifies where these 

combinations occur within the planning area, but also allows 

flexibility. The use of this system on public lands will help 

recognize and meet the public’s growing demand for a wide 

variety of recreation activities and setting within the planning 

area. 

SOCIOECONOMICS 

General Setting 

The planning area is located in southwest Wyoming and 

can be characterized as remote with very little development. 

The planning area sits in the north-central portion of Sweetwater 

County; however, small segments of the planning area affect 

Fremont and Sublette Counties. Therefore, the economies of 

Sweetwater, Sublette, and Fremont Counties will be discussed. 

County Amenities 

Sweetwater County 

Sweetwater County has one hospital, several medical 

clinics, home health care, and two nursing homes. Two school 

districts and one community college with several outlying 

learning centers provide educational opportunities. Numerous parks and ball fields, which provide youth and adult 

sporting activities, can be found within or nearby the cities and 

towns. The cities of Rock Springs and Green River have 

recreational and community centers. Flaming Gorge National 

Recreation Area lies south and between the cities of Green 

River and Rock Springs. Other outdoor recreation opportunities are available including Seedskadee National Wildlife 

Refuge, historic trails, hunting, fishing, boating, hiking, backpacking, 4-wheeling, mountain biking, sight-seeing, etc. 

Cultural attractions occur throughout the year including 

Flaming Gorge Days, Red Desert Rodeo, stock car races, 

festivals celebrating international cultures, and a balloon 

extravaganza, among others. There are several museums and 

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libraries open to the public, and other visiting cultural events 

take place throughout the year. All major religious denominations are locally available and provide social services to the 

community. 

Three shopping malls and three major discount stores can 

be found in Sweetwater County as well as numerous stores 

located away from shopping centers. Daily and weekly 

newspapers, several radio stations, cable and satellite television, and telephone service are available. Several businesses 

provide local Internet access. 

Local government facilities and services are adequate for 

the current population. Public transportation is available 

including commercial airline, car rental, taxi, and local, regional, and national bus services. Train access is not currently 

available. The crime rate is well below the national per capita 

rate. 

Fremont County 

Fremont County has two hospitals, a medical clinic, home 

health care, and several nursing home facilities. Nine school 

districts and a community college with outlying learning 

facilities provide educational opportunities to residents. Numerous parks and ball fields provide youth and adult sporting 

activities within or near cities and towns. The communities of 

Riverton and Lander provide either recreational or community centers. The Wind River Indian Reservation is within the 

county. 

Outdoor recreation opportunities are abundant in Fremont 

County including hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, backpacking, 4-wheeling, mountain biking, snowmobiling, etc. 

Cultural attractions take place throughout the year including 

winter festivals, rodeo, a balloon rally, and festivals celebrating Indian and Hispanic cultures among others. Several 

museums and libraries are available in the county and visiting 

cultural events occur during the year. All major religious 

denominations are locally available and provide social services to the community. 

Shopping opportunities are readily available. One daily 

and several weekly newspapers, several radio stations, cable 

and satellite TV, telephone, and Internet access are available 

to county residents. Public transportation services include 

commercial airline, rental car, and local and regional bus 

service. The crime rate is well below the national per capita 

rate. 

Generally speaking, governmental facilities and services 

are adequate for the current population. 

Sublette County 

Sublette County has two medical clinics, two senior citizen’s 

centers, and a rural health care district. Two school districts 

and Western Wyoming Community College’s outreach center, in conjunction with the Pinedale high school, provide 

educational opportunities. Several parks are available and 

school-related recreational facilities are open to the public. 

Organized sports are available for youths and adults. 

Outdoor recreation opportunities are abundant in Sublette 

County including hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, backpacking, boating, cross-country and downhill skiing, 4-wheeling, mountain biking, snowmobiling, etc. Cultural attractions 

occur throughout the year including Green River Rendezvous, dog-sled races, rodeos, snowmobile hill climbs, etc. 

Two museums and libraries are open to the public. All major 

religious denominations are locally available and provide 

social services to the community. 

Shopping opportunities are available if somewhat limited. 

One weekly newspaper, one biweekly newspaper, two local 

radio stations (one available to Pinedale residents only), cable 

or satellite TV, telephone, and Internet access are available to 

county residents. Limited public transportation in the form of 

shuttle service for senior citizens is available. No commercial 

airline, train, or bus service is available. However, commercial airline and bus services are available in Jackson or Rock 

Springs. 

With construction of a new water treatment facility and 

pipeline for the Town of Pinedale, local government facilities 

and services are adequate for the current population. 

Population 

According to U.S. Census Bureau latest estimates, 1997 

population for Wyoming decreased slightly to 479,743 from 

the 1996 estimate of 480,011 (WSDC Bulletin 1998). Wyoming ranks 50th in population size (U.S. Census Bureau 

1997). Of the State population in 1996, 50.3 percent of the 

population was male and 49.7 percent was female. Median 

age was 34.9 (State of Wyoming 1998a). The three-county 

area had a combined population of 77,328 in 1990 (last 

census) and represents just over 17 percent of the population 

in Wyoming. July 1997 estimate released by the U.S. Census 

Bureau in March 1999, calculate the population of the threecounty area at 81,332, an increase of 4,004 individuals. 

Sweetwater County 

Although it is difficult to ascertain exact numbers for 

population especially so far between census taking, population in Sweetwater County in July 1997 is estimated between 

39,738 (WSDC Bulletin 1998) and 41,570 (SWEDA 1998a). 

Regardless, trends show that population has fluctuated in the 

last decade. In 1987, 42,118 individuals lived in Sweetwater 

County. By 1990, Sweetwater County lost approximately 

3,300 individuals, leaving a population estimated at 38,823. 

Since 1990, the population has rebound to a total of between 

39,738-41,570 depending upon the source of information, but 

still below 1987 population levels. Table 3-11 shows 

Sweetwater County population estimates in the last decade 

and estimates for the early millennium. 

The main population centers in Sweetwater County include Rock Springs with 20,717 residents and Green River 

with 13,815 residents. Other nearby communities include 

Eden/Farson, Superior, and Point-of-Rocks with populations 

of 568, 256 and 82, respectively. Other communities in 

Sweetwater County include Bairoil with 165 members, Granger 

with a population of 140, Wamsutter with 274 members, and 

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McKinnon/Burntfork with 84 persons. Approximately 5,700 

persons lived outside population centers (SWEDA 1998b). 

The estimated ethnic make up of Sweetwater County in 

1996 includes 35,776 whites, 3,573 whites of Hispanic origin, 

3,658 Hispanics, 316 African-Americans, 323 American Indian (category also includes Eskimo and Aleutian), 334 Asian 

or Pacific Islander (State of Wyoming 1998a). Others with 

ethnic backgrounds different than those mentioned above also 

live in Sweetwater County. 

Fremont County 

Population in Fremont County in July 1997 is estimated 

between 35,888 (WSDC Bulletin 1998) and 36,200 (Wyoming Almanac). Again, the population took a dip in the late 

1980s and early 1990s. In 1987, 34,844 individuals lived in 

Fremont County. By 1990, the population dipped to approximately 33,662. Since 1990, the population has increased to 

somewhere between 35,888 and 36,200 (1997 estimate). In 

the last decade, population has increased by approximately 

1,356 individuals. Table 3-12 shows Fremont County population estimates in the last decade and estimates for the early 

millennium. 

The main population centers in Fremont County include 

Riverton with 10,050 members and Lander with 7,372 members. Other population centers include the communities of 

Dubois, Shoshoni, Hudson, and Pavillion with population of 

1,018, 522, 411, and 135, respectively (1996 estimates, State 

of Wyoming 1998a). Approximately 16,500 individuals live 

outside the major population centers. 

The estimated ethnic make up of Fremont County in 1996 

includes 28,012 whites, 944 whites of Hispanic origin, 1,384 

Hispanics, 62 African-Americans, 6,792 American Indian 

(category also includes Eskimo and Aleutian), 130 Asian or 

Pacific Islander (State of Wyoming 1998a). Others with 

ethnic backgrounds different than those mentioned above 

may also live in Fremont County. 

Sublette County 

Population in Sublette County in July 1997 is estimated 

between 5,640 (State of Wyoming 1998a) and 5,696 (WSDC 

Bulletin 1998). In 1987, 5,358 individuals lived in Sublette 

County. By 1990, the population dipped to approximately 

4,843. Since 1990, the population has increased to 5,696 

(1997 estimate). Overall, the population has increased by 853 

individuals in the last 10 years. Table 3-13 shows Sublette 

County population estimates in the last decade and estimates 

for the early millennium. 

The main population centers in Sublette County include 

Pinedale with 1,274 members, Marbleton with 689 members, 

and Big Piney with 478 members (1996 estimates, State of 

Wyoming 1998a). Almost 60 percent (3,136 individuals) of 

the population live outside of incorporated population centers. 

The estimated ethnic make up of Sublette County in 1996 

includes 5,406 whites, 68 whites of Hispanic origin, 68 

Hispanics, 5 African-Americans, 81 American Indian (category also includes Eskimo and Aleutian), 17 Asian or Pacific 

Islander (State of Wyoming 1998a). Others with ethnic 

backgrounds different than those mentioned above may also 

live in Sublette County. 

Housing 

Sweetwater County 

In 1970, Sweetwater County’s population was just under 

18,400 people and by 1982, the population bloomed to almost 

46,000 residents. Today (1997 estimate), the population 

stands at over 40,000. The cycle of growth and decline is 

reflected by changes in housing availability. Through the 

1970s and early 1980s, much of the demand for housing was 

accommodated by mobile homes. When employment opportunities declined, many mobile home residents left the community or moved into site built homes. In addition, some 

company owned apartments in the area were removed. 

Due to increased employment opportunities in the early 

1990s, some 430 new single family and multi-family housing 

units were added between 1990 and 1993. By late 1997, 

approximately 16,400 housing units existed including 10,415 

single family homes, 1,809 multi-family units (duplexes and 

apartments), and approximately 4,169 mobile homes 

(Sweetwater County 1998). 

In Sweetwater County there were fewer vacancies for all 

types of housing in 1994 than in 1990. Rental rates have 

continued to climb since 1990 with average in December 1997 

of $366 for a two bedroom apartment and $460 for a two 

bedroom house in Sweetwater County (Sweetwater County 

1998). As of early June 1998, there were 355 housing units for 

sale (Vanderpool 1998) and 80 units for rent (Rocket Miner 

1998). 

As of 1998, the price of a new 1,200 square foot home in 

Sweetwater County was almost $130,000 (Sweetwater 1998). 

Existing average homes for sale cost around $110,000-120,000 

(Robertson 1998). Housing starts in the first five months of 

1998 numbered 25. By the year 2000, it is estimated that an 

additional 700 housing units will be required in Sweetwater 

County should current economic indicators hold true 

(Sweetwater County 1998). In 1997, Sweetwater County 

issued 75 building permits (State of Wyoming 1998b). 

Fremont County 

Housing situation in Fremont County is based upon review 

of a local newspaper, Lander Wyoming State Journal on June 

7 and 24, 1998, and July 5, 1998. 

Housing in Fremont County is available. Approximately 

12-18 houses, in every price range ($40,000 to $400,000+), 

were for sale in June/July 1998. More moderately price homes 

sell faster than higher priced homes (Barlett 1998). Summer 

or second homes are fairly common in Fremont County. 

Fremont county issued 54 building permits in 1997 (State of 

Wyoming 1998b). Rentals are very readily available including apartments, mobile homes, some site-constructed houses, 

and even rooms. Average rental rate in Riverton was $347 for 

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an apartment in the fourth quarter, 1997; a house rented for 

$410 during the same period (State of Wyoming 1998b). 

Sublette County 

Housing situation in Sublette County is based upon conversations with Gary Caskey of High Mountain Real Estate, 

Pinedale and Betty Fear with Real Estate of Sublette County, 

Big Piney on June 18, 1998. 

Housing in Sublette County is available. Approximately 

80-100 houses come up for sale in a given year and approximately 30-40 house are sold. Pinedale area has the most 

housing units (includes cabins, ranches, etc.). Housing prices 

in Pinedale area have stabilized over the last year and a half. 

Smaller homes within Town of Pinedale range in price from 

approximately $85,000-95,000 on up, depending upon features. Houses outside of town, including new construction 

and those with acreage, sell for $140,000 on up. Rentals are 

very hard to find and relatively expensive. Summer or second 

homes are fairly common in Sublette County. Sublette 

County issued 46 building permits in 1997 (State of Wyoming 

1998b). 

As of June 1998, housing in the Big Piney-Marbleton area 

is tight. Currently there are four houses for sale, all single 

family dwellings, and range in price from $55-90,000. Prices 

have remained stable over the last few years. Some new 

housing construction is taking place but only for individuals; 

no multi-family dwellings. No rentals are currently available. 

Employment And Income 

For the purpose of discussing local economies, certain 

industries have been grouped together. To better understand 

the following tables, the economic sectors are discussed 

below: 

Farm Sector - Animal products including meat products 

(beef, pork, lamb), dairy products (milk, cheese), poultry and 

eggs, wool, leather, honey, etc. Crops include wheat, feed 

crops (hay, barley, oats, corn), oil crops, vegetables (dry 

beans, potatoes, etc.), sugar beets, and other crops. 

Agricultural Services - includes establishments primarily 

engaged in forest products, commercial fishing, hunting and 

trapping, and related services. 

Mining - includes all establishments primarily engaged in 

mining. Mining includes the extraction of solid, liquid, and 

gaseous minerals occurring naturally, as well as other preparation customarily done at the mine site or as a part of the 

mining activity. 

Construction - includes establishments primarily engaged in 

construction, defined to include new work, additions, alterations, reconstruction, and repairs. 

Manufacturing - includes all establishments such as plants, 

factories, and mills engaged in the mechanical or chemical 

transformation of materials or substances into new products. 

Transportation, Communication, and Public Utilities (TCPU) 

- includes establishments providing to the general public or to 

other business enterprises, passenger and freight transportation, communication services, electricity, gas, steam, water, 

or sanitary services, and mail services. 

Wholesale Trade - includes or places of business primarily 

engaged in selling merchandise to retailers, or acting as agents 

or brokers in buying merchandise or for selling merchandise 

to retailers. 

Retail Trade - includes establishments engaged in selling 

merchandise for personal or household consumption and 

rendering services incidental to the sale of goods. 

Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate (FIRE) - includes establishments operating primarily in the fields of finance, insurance, and the real estate. 

Service - includes establishments primarily engaged in providing a wide variety of services (i.e., legal, health, and repair) 

for individuals, businesses, government establishments, and 

other organizations. 

Government - includes local, state, and federal levels. 

Sweetwater County 

The county is endowed with tremendous natural resource 

wealth. The local economy depends on several key commodities: soda ash, coal and coal-fire electric power generation, oil 

and gas exploration and production, fertilizer production, 

agriculture, tourism, and construction of industrial, commercial, and residential facilities. In turn, these key industries 

support secondary employment found in the retail sales, 

finance, and service industries. All levels of government also 

play a role in stable employment. 

Total number of employed persons was 24,988, employed 

either in full-time, part-time temporary or permanent positions, in Sweetwater County 1995 (State of Wyoming 1998a). 

Per capita personal income, total income, and total employment for the years 1991 through 1996 are shown in Table 3-

14. 

Mining is the largest private employment sector in 

Sweetwater County, as shown in Table 3-15. It provided over 

5,000 jobs in 1995 (State of Wyoming 1998a). A close second 

is the service sector with 4,539 individuals. Retail industry 

employed 4,191, followed by transportation at 2,022, construction 1,884, finance (FIRE) with 1,337, wholesale trade at 

723, manufacturing with 712 employees. The agriculture 

service and farm industry employed a total of 128 and 200 

individuals respectively. Table 3-15 provides a breakdown of 

total employment by sector for the years 1991 to 1995. 

Employment rates at all levels of government including 

local, state, and federal in 1995 was 4,120. SWEDA provides 

additional insight into the health of the employment sector in 

Sweetwater County. Their latest figures show the private 

labor force in 1997 totaled 20,599 and in the first half of 1998, 

the labor force increased by 272 individuals to a total of 

20,871 individuals but is still down from 1995 figures (SWEDA 

1998a). 

Industry earnings are shown in Table 3-16. 

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Fremont County 

The county is characterized as rural. The local economy is 

not dependent upon natural resources to the extent that 

Sweetwater County is. All levels of government also play an 

important role in stable employment. 

Total number of employed persons was 19,426, employed 

either in full-time, part-time temporary or permanent positions, in Fremont County 1995 (State of Wyoming 1998a). 

Per capita personal income, total income, and total employment for the years 1991 through 1996 are shown in Table 3-

17. 

The service sector is the largest private employment sector 

in Fremont County, as shown in Table 3-18. It provided over 

5,000 jobs in 1995 (State of Wyoming 1998a). Second is the 

retail sector with 3,538 individuals. Construction industry 

employed 1,475, followed by farm sector at 1,163, manufacturing with 965, finance (FIRE) with 935, transportation at 

773, mining with 614, wholesale at 393, and agricultural 

service with 298 employees. Table 3-18 provides a breakdown of total employment by sector for the years 1991 to 

1995. 

Employment rates at all levels of government including 

local, state, and federal in 1995 was 4,159 in 1995. Government is the second highest employer in Fremont County. 

Industry earnings are shown in Table 3-19. 

Economic Situation of the Wind River Indian 

Reservation on Fremont County 

The Wind River Indian Reservation sits within Fremont 

County and contributes significantly to the economic health of 

Fremont County. This write-up is based upon the revenue and 

expenditure flows associated with the following reservation 

related entities: Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone 

Tribal Governments; Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA); the 

Ethete, Fort Washakie, and Arapaho School Districts; Indian 

Health Service; and Indian households in Fremont County. 

These entities bring substantial amounts of revenues into the 

local economy. 

Recent estimates are that the Wind River Indian Reservation brought in $71.3 million into Fremont County in 1996. 

This includes $20.4 million in Tribal Government revenue, 

local BIA budget of $4.4 million, State and Federal school 

district funding in the amount of $16.6 million, Indian Health 

Service budget of $13.7 million, and net Indian household 

income of $16.1 million. It should be noted net household 

income represents income in addition to per capita payments 

from Tribes, wage and salary payments from Tribes, BIA, 

school districts, and Indian Health Service (Fremont County 

1998). 

Approximately 76 percent of the Wind River Indian Reservation revenue was spent directly in Fremont County as 

wage or salary, purchases from local businesses, and payments to Tribal members. It is estimated that local spending 

of Wind River Indian Reservation revenue generated $128.4 

million in total economic activity in Fremont County in 1996 

(Fremont County 1998). 

Total earnings from the revenues associated with Wind 

River Indian Reservation are estimated to be $58.6 million in 

1996. Total employment is estimated to be 1,647 jobs. 

Average earnings per job ranged from $13,190 (Tribal Government employment) to $37,433 (Indian Health Service 

employment). 

The Wind River Indian Reservation makes up approximately 8 percent of total county economic activity, 8 percent 

of the total external sales, 10 percent of total county earnings, 

and 9 percent of employment in Fremont County (Fremont 

County 1998). 

Sublette County 

Sublette County can be characterized as rural. All levels of 

government play an important role in providing stable employment. 

Total number of employed persons was 3,537 employed 

either in full-time, part-time temporary or permanent positions, in Sublette County 1995 (State of Wyoming 1998a). Per 

capita personal income, total income, and total employment 

for the years 1991 through 1996 are shown in Table 3-20. 

The service sector is the largest private employment sector 

in Sublette County, as shown in Table 3-21. It provided 

almost 700 jobs in 1995 (State of Wyoming 1998a). Second 

is the retail sector with 551 individuals. Farm Sector employed 410 individuals followed by the construction sector 

with 366. Over 300 individuals made their living in the 

mining sector, followed by FIRE sector with 211 employees, 

transportation sector with 131 individuals, manufacturing 

with 94, agricultural services with 90, and the wholesale trade 

industry employed 50 individuals. Table 3-21 provides a 

breakdown of total employment by sector for the years 1991 

to 1995. 

Employment rates at all levels of government including 

local, state, and federal in 1995 was 626 in 1995. Government 

is the second highest employer in Sublette County. 

Industry earnings are shown in Table 3-22. 

Property Valuation and Taxation 

Sweetwater County 

Total assessed valuation for Sweetwater County in Fiscal 

Year (FY) 1997 was just under $1.1 billion. Total ad valorem 

taxes levied in FY 1997 was over $79 million (State of 

Wyoming 1998a). Table 3-23 provides sales and use tax 

collections by industrial sector for FY 1997. 

Fremont County 

Total assessed valuation for Fremont County in Fiscal 

Year (FY) 1997 was over 261 million. Total ad valorem taxes 

levied in FY 1997 was just under $22 million (State of 

Wyoming 1998a). Table 3-24 provides sales and use tax 

collections by industrial sector for FY 1997. 

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AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

Sublette County 

Total assessed valuation for Sublette County in Fiscal Year 

(FY) 1997 was under 275 million. Total ad valorem taxes 

levied in FY 1997 was just under $18.5 million (State of 

Wyoming 1998a). Table 3-25 provide sales and use tax 

collections by industrial sector for FY 1997. 

In Lieu Tax Payments/Royalty 

Payments 

Sweetwater County 

Sweetwater County has over 4.6 million acres held by the 

federal government not subject to local government land 

taxes. Therefore, the federal government makes entitlement 

land payments to local governments in lieu of tax payments. 

In addition, the federal government shares royalties and bonus 

payments received from sale of leased minerals on federal 

lands primarily made up of oil, gas, coal, and trona. There are 

reimbursements to the county for other uses of federal lands. 

In 1997, in lieu tax payments to Sweetwater County totaled 

$863,835. In FY 1997, production of federally-owned minerals in Sweetwater County generated over $80 million in 

royalty value of which over $40 million was returned to the 

State of Wyoming for local disbursement (USDI MMS 1997). 

In 1997, Sweetwater County collected $11,203 for the harvest 

of timber products and $57,496 under the Taylor Grazing Act 

(State of Wyoming 1998d). 

Fremont County 

Fremont County has just under 3.2 million acres held by the 

federal government not subject to local government land 

taxes. Therefore, the federal government makes entitlement 

land payments to local governments in lieu of tax payments. 

In addition, the federal government shares royalties and bonus 

payments received from sale of leased minerals on federal 

lands primarily made up of oil and gas production. There are 

reimbursements to the county for other uses of federal lands. 

In 1997, in lieu tax payments to Fremont County totaled 

$774,223. In FY 1997, production of federally-owned minerals in Fremont County generated just under $12 million in 

royalty value of which almost $6 million was returned to the 

State of Wyoming for local disbursement (USDI MMS 1997). 

In 1997, Fremont County collected $92,869 for the harvest of 

timber products and $32,810 under the Taylor Grazing Act 

(State of Wyoming 1998d). 

The Wind River Indian Reservation sits within Fremont 

County and all royalties and rents that arise from mineral 

production on these lands are deposited in accounts administered by the Office of Trust Funds Management where they 

are invested and subsequently distributed to the appropriate 

Indian Tribe and allottees by the Bureau of Indian Affairs 

(BIA). BIA collects rents and bonuses from non-producing 

leases. Royalties collected in behalf of Indian Tribes in 1996 

from all mineral sources in the State of Wyoming was almost 

$11 million (USDI MMS 1996). 

Sublette County 

Sublette County has over 2.4 million acres held by the 

federal government not subject to local government land 

taxes. Therefore, the federal government makes entitlement 

land payments to local governments in lieu of tax payments. 

In addition, the federal government shares royalties and bonus 

payments received from sale of leased minerals on federal 

lands primarily made up of oil and gas production. There are 

reimbursements to the county for other uses of federal lands. 

In 1997, in lieu tax payments to Sublette County totaled 

$233,474. In FY 1997, production of federally-owned minerals in Sublette County generated just under $33.8 million in 

royalty value of which almost $17 million was returned to the 

State of Wyoming for local disbursement (USDI MMS 1997). 

In 1997, Sublette County collected $130,344 for the harvest of 

timber products and $16,335 under the Taylor Grazing Act 

(State of Wyoming 1998d). 

Base Year Analysis 

Table 3-26 summarizes the estimated physical outputs 

from the economic activities associated with the planning area 

in 1998. The planning area supported a wide variety of 

economic activities including over 4 billion cubic feet of 

natural gas production, 13,038 AUMs of cattle and sheep 

grazing, 4,528 days of nonresident and resident hunting, and 

48,700 days of nonresident and resident non-consumptive 

recreation in 1998. 

Table 3-27 summarizes the direct economic impact of the 

planning area on Southwest Wyoming based on the quantities 

of physical outputs listed in Table 7. Direct economic impact 

represents the initial amount of dollars flowing into the 

region’s economy as the result of an economic activity. It is 

estimated that the economic activities in the planning area 

generate $11.0 million of direct economic impact in the 

Southwest Wyoming economy in 1998. Oil and gas activity 

(development and production) was the largest source of this 

revenue, representing 78 percent of the total. The second 

largest source was nonresident non-consumptive recreation 

expenditures (16 percent). The rest of the revenue was from 

livestock grazing (4 percent) and nonresident hunter expenditures (2 percent). 

Table 3-28 summarizes the estimated total economic impact of the planning area on the Southwest Wyoming economy. 

The total economic impact represents the direct impact plus 

any secondary impacts resulting from the “multiplier effect”. 

The multiplier effect considers the re-spending that occurred 

within the region as a result of economic linkages between the 

producing sectors and other sectors in the region’s economy. 

The total economic impact of economic activity in the planning area was estimated to have been $15.3 million. This 

amount included the direct impact of the $11.0 million plus 

$4.3 million in secondary impacts. 

Oil and gas activity (development and production) accounted for 76 percent of the total economic impact from the 

planning area. Nonresident non-consumptive recreation expenditures accounted for 17 percent of the total economic 

impact. The rest came from livestock grazing (5 percent) and 

nonresident hunter expenditures (2 percent). 

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AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

A portion of the total economic activity associated with the 

planning area represented labor earnings (wage and salary 

payments and self-employment income) in the region. Table 

3-29 indicates that total earnings (direct and secondary) in the 

region from economic activities in the planning area amounted 

to $1.7 million in 1998. 

Oil and gas activity (development and production) represented 64 percent of the total earnings for the planning area. 

Nonresident non-consumptive recreation expenditures represented 25 percent of the total earnings. The rest represented 

earnings from livestock grazing (9 percent) and nonresident 

hunting expenditures (2 percent). The percentage of earnings 

from oil and gas activity was somewhat lower than that for the 

direct and total impacts because oil and gas activity was less 

labor intensive than other economic activities in the planning 

area. Similarly, the percentage of earnings from nonresident 

non-consumptive recreation expenditures was somewhat 

higher because the sectors associated with this economic 

activity were more labor intensive. Differences in the relative 

wage rates between economic activities also affected the 

percentage of earnings for different economic activities. 

The economic activity associated with the planning area 

also supports employment in the Southwest Wyoming 

economy. Table 3-30 summarizes the total employment 

(direct and secondary) supported by the economic activity in 

the planning area. The employment estimates were expressed 

on annual job equivalents basis. An annual job equivalent 

represents 12 months of employment. For example, one 

annual job equivalent could represent one job for 12 months 

or two jobs for six months or three jobs for four months. The 

total employment resulting from the economic activity in the 

planning area was estimated to have been the equivalent of 

nearly 80 annual jobs in 1998. 

Nonresident non-consumptive recreation expenditures and 

oil and gas activity represented about 43 percent and 42 

percent, respectively, of the total employment associated with 

the planning area. The rest came from livestock grazing (12 

percent) and nonresident hunting expenditures (4 percent). 

The percentage of employment from oil and gas activity was 

lower than that for the direct and total impacts because oil and 

gas activity was less labor intensive than other economic 

activities in the Jack Morrow Hills. Similarly the percentage 

of employment from nonresident non-consumptive recreation expenditures was higher because the sectors associated 

with this economic activity were more labor intensive. 

By comparing labor earnings and employment it is possible to get an estimate of the average earnings per job for the 

economic activities in the planning area. Table 3-31 summarizes the average earnings per job for the various economic 

activities found in the area. Average earnings per job for all 

economic activities in the planning area were $21,391. This 

was about 80 percent of the average earnings for all jobs in 

Southwest Wyoming ($27,122). There was substantial variation in average earning per job between different economic 

activities in the planning area. They ranged from a low of 

$12,521 per job for nonresident non-consumptive recreation 

expenditures to a high of $32,369 per job for oil and gas 

activities. Average earnings per job were over 2.5 times 

greater for oil and gas activities than for nonresident nonconsumptive recreation expenditures. Average earnings per 

job for livestock grazing were only about one-half of those for 

oil and gas activity, but were about 30 percent higher than for 

nonresident non-consumptive recreation expenditures. Average earnings per job for nonresident hunting expenditures 

were about 14 percent higher than for nonresident nonconsumptive recreation expenditures. The earnings per job 

estimates represent the average for all jobs directly or indirectly associated with the activity, not just the direct jobs in the 

producing sectors. 

Economic activities on federal land, such as the planning 

area, are an important source of revenue for local governments 

in Southwest Wyoming. Table 3-32 summarizes the revenues 

to local governments in the region that result from the economic activities in the planning area. The estimated total local 

government revenue in Southwest Wyoming from economic 

activity in the planning area was about $512,000 in 1998. 

Due to the tax structure in Wyoming, oil and gas activity 

(development and production) was the largest source of local 

government revenue from the Jack Morrow Hills representing 

86 percent of the total. The second largest source was 

nonresident non-consumptive recreation expenditures (8 percent). The rest of the revenue came from livestock grazing (5 

percent) and nonresident hunter expenditures (1 percent). 

Recreation activities in the planning area were important to 

Southwest Wyoming not only because they attract nonresident visitor expenditures but also because they provide recreation opportunities for regional residents. As such, they are 

part of the quality of life associated with living in Southwest 

Wyoming. Table 3-33 summarizes the estimated net economic benefits to resident users from participating in recreation activities in the planning area. The total net economic 

benefit from resident recreation use in the planning area was 

estimated to be about $593,000 in 1998. Resident nonconsumptive recreation use represented 75 percent of the total 

with the other 25 percent from resident hunting. 

SOILS 

Soils in this area are generally light colored with minimal 

leaching of soluble salts. Uplands are dominated by soils with 

fractured sandstone and shale bedrock within 40 inches of the 

surface. Many of these soils also have flat rock fragments 

throughout the profile. Rock outcrop is common. The high 

calcium carbonate content and steeper slopes of these upland 

soils makes many of them susceptible to water erosion. 

Drainages and lower slopes have deeper soils with less rock 

and more vegetation. Red soils, which are often highly 

erosive, occur in some drainages. Darker soils with greater 

leaching and development and consequent productivity occur 

in the northeast corner of the planning area at higher elevations. These darker soils also occur in snow drift areas around 

Steamboat and Essex Mountains. The Killpecker Dune field, 

composed of active and stabilized sand dunes, traverses the 

southern perimeter of this area. The vegetated dunes are 

susceptible to severe wind erosion when the stabilizing plant 

cover is removed. 

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AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

Moderately and strongly saline soils are common along 

drainages, as is evident along Jack Morrow Creek and Pacific 

Creek. Slightly saline soils dominate the upland areas. Major 

causes of increased non-geologic salinity into local drainages 

are overgrazing, off-road vehicle use, and energy exploration 

and extraction. These surface disturbing activities often result 

in loss of vegetation and compaction of the soil surface, both 

of which, can cause increased runoff and erosion. 

SPECIAL STATUS PLANT 

SPECIES 

Special Status Plants are those which are officially listed as 

threatened or endangered (T&E), proposed for listing or 

candidates for listing as T&E by the Secretary of the Interior 

under the provisions of the Endangered Species Act; those 

listed or proposed for listing by a state in a category implying 

potential endangerment or extinction; and those designated by 

each State Director as sensitive. 

The Bureau of Land Management is mandated by law and 

policy to protect and manage threatened, endangered, candidate, and sensitive plant species and their habitat identified by 

the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. BLM is also required to 

protect and manage for sensitive species jointly identified and 

agreed to with the appropriate state agency. Additionally, 

former Candidate species are provided the same protection as 

Candidates under the BLM Manual Section 6840 “Special 

Status Species Management”. The State of Wyoming does 

not have an official list of sensitive, threatened, or endangered 

plant species. 

A significant amount of information on the vegetation and 

plant associations of the Jack Morrow Hills areas has been 

accumulated by the BLM to date (Map 53). General floristic 

inventories were conducted in the Continental Divide region 

by botanists from the University of Wyoming Rocky Mountain Herbarium in 1994 and 1995. In addition, a specific 

survey of plant communities and species of special concern in 

the planning area was performed for the BLM by the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database in 1994 and 1995 (Jones and 

Fertig 1996). 

The Jones study provided information on 10 species of 

special concern found within the planning area, including four 

species not previously known from the ecosystem. Six other 

species of concern are known from the area based on recent or 

historical herbarium specimens. In all, sixteen plant species 

of concern are now confirmed from the planning area (Table 

3-34). Two of these species, meadow pussytoes and the largefruited bladderpod, are managed as Special Status Plant 

species in the Rock Springs Field Office. The remaining 14 

species are state and regionally rare plant species that currently are not similarly managed, pending the release of a 

BLM state list of sensitive species. 

Threatened, Endangered and 

Candidate Species 

Ute ladies’-tresses (Spiranthes diluvialis) 

The Ute ladies’-tresses is listed as a Threatened species by 

the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered 

Species Act. This species, a member of the orchid family, 

occurs in three general areas of the interior western United 

States: near the base of the eastern slope of the Rocky 

Mountains in southeastern and central Wyoming and northcentral and central Colorado and Montana; in the upper 

Colorado River basin, particularly in the Uinta Basin; and 

along the Wasatch Front and westward in the eastern Great 

Basin, in north-central and western Utah and extreme eastern 

Nevada. The total population is approximately 20,500 individuals. The riparian and wetland habitats required by this 

species have been heavily impacted by urban development, 

stream channelization, water diversions and other watershed 

and stream alterations that reduce the natural dynamics of 

stream system, recreation, and invasion of habitat by exotic 

plant species (USFWS 1995). 

The Ute ladies’-tresses reaches a height of eight to 14 

inches and is marked by an open cluster of several small white 

flowers arranged in a spiral resembling braids—a characteristic accounting for its name. The plant grows along streams, 

rivers, ponds, reservoirs, in bogs, or in wetland, riparian or 

seepage areas. This species has been found associated with 

cottonwood, willow, and prairie grassland communities. It 

generally blooms in late July through August and occasionally 

into September. It has been found in locations between 4,300 

and 7,200 feet in elevation. 

The Ute ladies’-tresses has not been found in southwest 

Wyoming yet, although BLM-authorized searches for the 

species have been performed at several locations along the 

Green River. The closest known location of the Ute ladies’-

tresses to the planning area is on the Green River at Brown’s 

Park, Utah. Potential suitable habitat in the planning area may 

be found on Jack Morrow Creek and its tributaries (Rock 

Cabin Creek); Pacific Creek; the meadows at Crookston 

Ranch (located on Nitchie Creek); the Sweetwater River and 

tributaries such as Oregon Slough, Harris Slough, Long Slough 

and Dickie Springs Creek; the sand dune ponds (flockets); and 

the perennial/intermittent streams in the Red Desert area 

(Bush Creek, Bear Creek, Red Creek, and Sand Creek). It is 

likely that this species will be found eventually in southwest 

Wyoming due to the proximity of the other populations and 

the similarity of riparian habitat types. 

In order to gather as much information about this species as 

possible and comply with the provisions of the Endangered 

Species Act and BLM national policy, the Rock Springs BLM 

requires surveys of all suitable areas that could provide habitat 

for these species prior to surface disturbing activities. In 

addition, the BLM and the Rocky Mountain Herbarium are 

partners in a cooperative project to perform searches for the 

Ute ladies’-tresses on the Green River from Seedskadee 

Wildlife Refuge to the Utah-Wyoming border during the 

summer of 1999. 

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AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

Mandatory surveys and avoidance of this species would 

prevent adverse affects in the planning area. Consultation 

procedures with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as mandated under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act would 

be required for any project that would involve potential or 

known habitat areas for the Ute ladies’-tresses. 

In addition, range condition assessments conducted under 

the Standards for Healthy Rangelands and Guidelines for 

Livestock Grazing Management on BLM lands would address this species. 

Small Rockcress (Arabis pusilla) 

Small rockcress was formerly proposed for listing under 

the Endangered Species Act as either Threatened or Endangered. It has been dropped from consideration due to the 

protection currently afforded the species but may be proposed 

again in the future if any threats are identified. The Nature 

Conservancy ranks this plant as G1S1, extremely vulnerable 

to extinction globally and extremely vulnerable to extirpation 

statewide. Small rockcress is known from only one location 

in the southern Wind River Range in Fremont County, Wyoming. The single known population occurs on about 6 acres 

of suitable habitat just north of the planning area boundary, on 

public land managed by the BLM. 

Small rockcress is found in crevices and on sparsely 

vegetated, very coarse soil in granite-pegmatite outcrops 

surrounded by sagebrush grassland. Most granite-pegmatite 

outcrops in the South Pass area were surveyed in 1986 by the 

Nature Conservancy-Wyoming Natural Diversity Database 

(Mariott 1988). Other suitable habitats along the Lander 

Cutoff were spot-checked. No other populations were located 

during that survey. More plants were found in the immediate 

area during a later survey conducted for the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service (Dorn 1990). The entire population size is 

estimated at 600 individuals. Motorized recreational activity 

and livestock grazing in the area have been identified as 

threats to the population. The extremely restricted geographic 

range of this species makes it highly vulnerable to extinction. 

A Habitat Management Plan/Environmental Assessment 

was developed for the protection of the small rockcress and its 

habitat in 1994. Protective management actions that have 

been implemented include designation of the species’ habitat 

and surrounding area part of the Special Status Plant Area of 

Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC); construction of a 

500-acre exclosure around the plants and their habitat; closure 

and rehabilitation of two-track trails through the ACEC, 

annual monitoring of the plant populations, closure within the 

ACEC to motorized vehicles, surface disturbing activities and 

livestock grazing; a No Surface Occupancy designation for 

mineral leasing; and institution of a permanent mineral withdrawal (signed February 4, 1998). This species is also 

included in the Special Status Plant Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) which closes the habitat to surface 

disturbing activities. 

Although it is not likely that this species occurs within the 

planning area due to limited habitat, granitic outcrops along 

the Sweetwater River may provide suitable habitat. Searches 

for the small rockcress would be required in suitable habitat 

prior to any surface disturbing activities by authorization of 

the Green River RMP/Record of Decision (USDI 1997) and 

the BLM Manual Section 6840. 

Blowout penstemon (Penstemon haydenii) 

Blowout penstemon is listed as an Endangered species by 

the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered 

Species Act. This species, a member of the figwort family, 

occurs in two general areas of the interior western United 

States: in the Sand Hills of central Nebraska and a recently 

discovered location in the sand dune country south of the 

Ferris Mountains in south-central Wyoming. The total population consists of thirteen populations in Nebraska containing 

3,000 - 5,000 individuals (Stubbendick, et al., 1997) and 

approximately 300 to 500 plants in one location of less than 20 

acres in Wyoming. Threats to the species include off-road 

vehicle traffic, removal of fire, and leveling of the sand dunes. 

Blowout penstemon is a perennial herb reaching 1 foot tall 

with one to many stems. It has milky-blue to pale lavender 

flowers that are 1 inch long and found in 6 to 10 whorls. It is 

found in sparsely vegetated, actively shifting sand dunes and 

blow-out depressions. It is commonly found with thickspike 

wheatgrass, lemon scurf-pea, and rubber rabbitbrush. It 

flowers from late June to early July. 

Other Special Status Plant Species 

General floristic inventories were conducted in the planning area by botanists from the University of Wyoming Rocky 

Mountain Herbarium and the Wyoming Natural Diversity 

Database (WNDDB) between 1994 and 1996. Species specific status surveys were performed for Lesquerella macrocarpa 

(1994) and Antennaria arcuata (1994); permanent transects 

have been established and baseline information gathered for 

these species. In addition, the 1995 WNDDB vegetation 

inventory provided information on 10 species of special 

concern found within the planning area. 

Meadow Pussytoes (Antennaria arcuata) 

Meadow pussytoes is a former Category 2 Candidate. The 

Nature Conservancy ranks this plant as G2S2, very vulnerable 

to extinction globally and very vulnerable to extirpation 

statewide, due to its restricted range. Antennaria arcuata has 

been found in Idaho (one site in Blaine County near Carey) 

and Nevada (two sites in Elko County). Twenty sites are 

known from Wyoming, all in Fremont County. Most known 

locations are east and southeast of Atlantic City, while two 

occurrences are in the Granite Mountains northwest of Jeffrey 

City. Two populations are found on public land southwest of 

South Pass City. One population is found along Fish Creek 

approximately 1 mile west of Wyoming Highway 28; the 

other is located about 1.5 miles east of Wyoming Highway 28 

on Pine Creek. Populations of meadow pussytoes at these 

sites are small compared to those near Atlantic City and in the 

Granite Mountains. Only one of the twenty Wyoming populations was previously known to extend into the Rock Springs 

Field Office at Long Slough, near South Pass City. However, 

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AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

a status survey of meadow pussytoes, conducted in 1995 for 

the BLM (Fertig 1996a) discovered a single new population of 

meadow pussytoes in the Oregon Gulch drainage, approximately four miles west of Continental Peak. These two populations are the only known occurrences in the planning area. 

Surveys in other areas of potential habitat along Dickie 

Springs, Alkali Creek and west Pacific Creek at that time were 

unsuccessful. 

Meadow pussytoes occurs in hummocky or level, 

subirrigated, grassy drainages which remain moist late into 

the summer. Known populations occur primarily on soils 

derived from sandy alluvial deposits. These soils may have a 

whitish, alkaline crust and a well-developed layer of mosses 

and cryptograms on the surface. On more level sites with bare 

soil, the plants occasionally form vegetative mats. 

Individual Wyoming occurrences range in size from two to 

over 90 acres and are often divided into numerous smaller 

subpopulations in areas of suitable habitat. Total actual 

habitat acreage for meadow pussytoes is estimated at 400-500 

acres. Actual habitat for this species within the planning area 

is approximately 5 acres. 

Trend data are available for twelve of the Wyoming occurrences surveyed in 1995. Six of these occurrences show an 

apparent downward trend since 1982, four show an increase, 

and one is stable. Overall, the total state population appears 

to be stable to slightly declining since 1982. Grazing may be 

compatible with the species, based on studies at other sites, 

however stocking rates must be appropriate to avoid impacts 

from trampling. 

In 1995 permanent monitoring transects were established 

at Long Slough and Harris Slough, both near Atlantic City. In 

addition, a floristic inventory of the Great Divide Basin area 

during 1994 and 1995 documented the new location of meadow 

pussytoes at Oregon Gulch. Potential habitat in the area of 

Atlantic City and South Pass City has been adequately inventoried, and additional survey is not a high priority. 

Searches for this species in suitable potential habitat would 

be required in the planning area prior to surface disturbing 

activities. Avoidance of the species is the preferred form of 

mitigation where possible. In addition, mineral withdrawals 

for the plant and its habitat will be pursued. 

Large-Fruited Bladderpod (Lesquerella 

macrocarpa) 

The large-fruited bladderpod is a former Category 2 Candidate. The Nature Conservancy ranks this plant as G2S2, 

very vulnerable to extinction globally and very vulnerable to 

extirpation statewide. Prior to 1992, the large-fruited 

bladderpod was thought to be endemic to the northern Great 

Divide Basin in Sweetwater and Fremont counties, Wyoming. 

However, during a vegetative survey, it was located near the 

town of Opal in Lincoln County, Wyoming (Culwell 1992). 

Most of the known large-fruited bladderpod populations 

occur on public land northeast of Steamboat Mountain on 

Bush Rim, near Continental Peak, and in the Oregon Buttes 

area. The species has been collected from sparsely vegetated 

clay flats, benches, slopes, and hills. It commonly grows in 

association with Gardner’s saltbush between 7,200 and 7,700 

feet in elevation. 

Sites surveyed in 1981 ranged in size from 80 to over 1,000 

acres, with estimates ranging from several hundred to tens of 

thousands of plants. Large-fruited bladderpod population 

sizes fluctuate from year to year, apparently in response to 

moisture availability. During dry years, when populations are 

small, the species is much more vulnerable to adverse impacts. Its overall limited range and small population sizes in 

dry years qualify Lesquerella macrocarpa as a Candidate 

species. No threats are known at this time. A monitoring 

program was established in 1988 by the Wyoming Natural 

Diversity Database (Marriott 1988), but was not considered a 

good baseline because of the effect of drought conditions on 

the population size. A status survey was conducted for this 

species in cooperation with the Rawlins District (now Field 

Office) BLM in the summer of 1994. 

Species of Special Concern 

The remaining 14 species of special concern in Table 3-34 

are considered by the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database as 

state and regionally rare plant species lacking formal federal 

status or protection, but potentially threatened within the 

ecosystem. These species include annuals or biennials like 

Cryptantha scoparia, Eriastum wilcoxii, Eriogonum 

divaricatum, Monolepis pusilla, Oxytheca dendroidea, Phacelia 

demissa, and Phacelia salina that have fluctuating population 

sizes in response to favorably moist years. Such species are 

dependent on the establishment and maintenance of adequate 

seedbanks for long-term survival. The habitats of these plants 

may be threatened by impacts from vehicles, mineral development activities, or livestock. Equally threatened are desert 

riparian species like Carex parryana which occur in habitats 

that are highly sensitive to disturbances. Several rare species 

of the Jack Morrow Hills have small global ranges but are 

often locally abundant within areas of suitable habitat. Such 

species require little or no formal protection as long as areas 

of representative habitat are maintained in good condition. 

These species include Astragalus nelsonianus, Ipomopsis 

crebrifolia, Penstemon paysoniorum, and Phacelia scopulina. 

VEGETATION AND WEEDS 

Vegetation 

The high-elevation, cold desert vegetation of the planning 

area is composed predominantly of Wyoming big sagebrush/ 

grass and Gardner saltbush vegetation communities, with 

grass-dominated riparian vegetation along Jack Morrow Creek. 

Within this complex can be found patches of mountain big 

sagebrush on slopes and escarpments; basin big sagebrush on 

sand dunes; cushion plant communities on rims above mountain shrub communities; Utah junipers on the steeper mainly 

south-facing slopes; sparse patches of true mountain mahogany on sandstone outcrops; and aspen and limber pine 

mainly on north and east-facing slopes of buttes and mesas, 

such as Pacific Butte and Steamboat Mountain. 

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AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

The University of Wyoming’s Gap Analysis Project (GAP) 

maps provided the base data for a more intensive vegetation 

inventory of the Jack Morrow Hills Ecosystem performed in 

1995 (Jones and Fertig 1996a) by the Wyoming Natural 

Diversity Database. Vegetation types of the planning area 

were classified according to a system developed for Wyoming 

by the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database (Jones 1992) and 

the classification developed by The Nature Conservancy for 

the western United States (Bourgeron and Engelking 1994). 

In most cases, classification of shrub stands was based on the 

species contributing the most cover to the shrub and herbaceous layers in the study plots within that stand. Additional 

vegetation class information documented by BLM was used 

as needed in this report (Map 54). 

The ecologic significance of this area has been frequently 

documented. Steamboat Mountain and the sand dunes were 

recommended for nomination as a National Natural Landmark in a report prepared for the National Park Service 

(Knight 1976). National Natural Landmarks are areas which 

are designated as being of value in their natural condition. In 

addition, the Jack Morrow Hills ecosystem has been assigned 

the highest biodiversity significance rating by the Wyoming 

Natural Diversity Database (1998) due to the presence of the 

only known occurrence of the basin big sagebrush/lemon 

scurfpea association, the occurrences of several vascular plant 

species endemic to the intermountain Semi-Desert Province 

of Wyoming, and the importance of the vegetation communities as habitat for the rare pygmy rabbit and the desert elk herd. 

The dunal ponds generally are not as alkaline as other water 

sources in the area and are known to provide an oasis for plants 

and animals. These dunal ponds, or flockets, have not been 

systematically inventoried, and should be surveyed for the 

presence of amphibians as well as rare plants. 

At this time, it is impossible to establish a significance 

threshold value for the loss of the tall sagebrush/lemon scurfpea 

vegetation association. This is the only known occurrence of 

this type of plant community in North America. Removing 

any of this community type before it is known if it is possible 

to reestablish the plants after disturbance, and how long it 

would take, could comprise an irreversible and irretrievable 

commitment of this unique resource. Under the BLM Manual 

section 6840, the BLM initiative Fish and Wildlife 2000, Rare 

Plants and Natural Plant Communities, and the Federal Land 

Policy and Management Act of 1976, the BLM is responsible 

for protecting and conserving rare plants and their habitat. 

Complete surveys of the plant community have not been 

performed, thus it is impossible to say what other important 

rare species could occur in association with this unique type. 

In addition, in designating the Steamboat Mountain area as an 

ACEC, natural resources that have more than local significance or have qualities that make them rare, irreplaceable, 

exemplary or vulnerable to adverse change were identified. 

Conserving this plant community from man-caused impacts 

such as surface disturbing activities would also mitigate 

potential impacts from natural disturbances such as wildfire. 

Wyoming Big Sagebrush Communities 

Wyoming big sagebrush-grassland is the dominant vegetation type in the planning area. Two different associations of 

this type, Wyoming big sagebrush/western wheatgrass and 

Wyoming big sagebrush/bluebunch wheatgrass are described. 

Wyoming Big Sagebrush/Western Wheatgrass Association 

Stands of this association typically occupy the lower parts 

of easterly slopes, benches and valley bottoms, and typically 

cover from several hundred to 1,000 square meters. Wyoming 

big sagebrush forms a fairly sparse shrub layer about 0.5 

meters high. Other shrubs such as green rabbitbrush, Utah 

snowberry, and rubber rabbitbrush are commonly present, 

and occasionally Gardner’s saltbush, forming a lower shrub 

layer of about 0.3 meters high. The understory is composed 

of primarily western or thickspike wheatgrass and in many 

areas, alkali bluegrass co-dominates the herbaceous layer. In 

addition, Indian ricegrass, bottlebrush squirreltail, milkvetches, 

phlox, penstemon, paintbrush and bushy bird’s beak are 

commonly found in these communities. 

Wyoming Big Sagebrush/Bluebunch Wheatgrass 

Association 

This association usually occupies exposed sites, on southerly or westerly slopes, or the upper parts of easterly slopes. In 

these locations, Wyoming big sagebrush, antelope bitterbrush, and green rabbitbrush form a sparse shrub layer 0.2 to 

0.3 meters high. Bluebunch wheatgrass dominates the herbaceous layer, and forbs such as turnip spring-parsley, granite 

pricklygilia, bushy bird’s beak, timber milkvetch, rockcress 

and buckwheat are often present. 

Gardner’s Saltbush-Winterfat Vegetation 

Type 

The Gardner’s saltbush-winterfat community is the second 

most abundant vegetation type in the planning area, and 

characteristically occupies the more alkaline soils of benches, 

flats and gentle slopes. Gardner’s saltbush and winterfat are 

both low-growing species, forming a shrub layer of less than 

0.3 meters high. The herbaceous layer typically consists of 

bottlebrush squirreltail, Indian ricegrass, greenmolly, springparsley and phlox. This type generally provides sparse cover 

and considerable bare ground. The large-fruited bladderpod, 

Lesquerella macrocarpa, occupies habitat within this vegetation type in the Bush Rim/Continental Peak area. 

Mountain Shrub Communities 

For the purposes of this document, mountain shrub communities are those that support vegetation tall enough to serve 

as cover for elk and mule deer, or contain species that are 

especially important as food for elk and deer. Four vegetation 

associations are considered mountain shrubs—basin big sagebrush, mountain big sagebrush, true mountain mahogany, and 

Utah juniper. Although the Utah juniper is technically a tree 

species, it is often found growing with the sagebrush community types. The juniper stands are of considerable importance 

for wildlife habitat in the planning area. Of the above 

community types, the basin big sagebrush communities on the 

aeolian sands occupy the largest area while the other shrub 

230
AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

stands are several acres or less in size. Mountain shrub 

associations are restricted to areas of substantial topographic 

relief within the vicinity of the planning area; the area of 

Oregon Buttes and Pacific Buttes in the north-central part of 

the ecosystem, the Bush Rim—Joe Hay Rim area in the center, 

the Jack Morrow Hills—Steamboat Mountain—Essex Mountain area in the central and south-central parts, and the White 

Mountain area in the southwestern comer. A detailed vegetation study of the different types of mountain shrub vegetation 

identified in the planning area is found in the 1996 report by 

Jones and Fertig. 

Basin Big Sagebrush Vegetation Type 

Three different associations of the basin big sagebrush type 

are recorded for the planning area. Although these communities are not as widespread as the Wyoming big sagebrush type, 

they form the largest stands of sagebrush and are critically 

important to the ecology of the planning area. 

Basin Big Sagebrush/Basin Wildrye Association 

Stands of this association grow on southeast-facing escarpments, primarily at the foot of the escarpment, and in valley 

bottoms on terraces above the floodplain. The big sagebrush 

shrub layer in this association extends upward to 1.0 meter 

high, and contributes substantial cover on escarpments. At the 

upper locations on escarpments, Utah snowberry may contribute significant amounts of cover, and be accompanied by 

smaller amounts of green rabbitbrush and antelope bitterbrush. Stands of basin big sagebrush growing at lower 

locations such as the foot of slopes or valley bottoms may 

contain mountain silver sagebrush. Basin wildrye contributes 

substantial cover in the lower locations while bluebunch 

wheatgrass dominates the herbaceous understory on escarpments; often bottlebrush squirreltail is present in this type, but 

contributes little cover. Less than 100 acres of this association 

has been mapped in the planning area; along a valley tributary 

to Jack Morrow Creek north of Essex Mountain, at the foot of 

the escarpment below Bush Rim, and on slopes in Alkali Draw 

near Bush Rim. 

Basin Big Sagebrush/Lemon Scurfpea Association 

Southwest of Steamboat Rim and south of Essex Mountain 

in the southern part of the planning area, the sand dunes 

support large stands of basin big sagebrush/lemon scurfpea 

communities. Many of the same species found in the sagebrush-grassland are also found on the dunes, however the 

dune habitat has fostered development of a unique community 

displaying plant species which can survive in the shifting 

sands. Slopes in the vicinity range from flat to moderate, and 

aspects are primarily northeast to south. In this association, 

basin big sagebrush forms a shrub layer up to 2.5 meters high. 

Rubber rabbitbrush forms a shrub layer up to about 1.0 meter, 

and may dominate patches covering up to several hundred 

square meters. Other species present in the understory are 

green rabbitbrush and Utah snowberry; and on more mesic 

sites, Utah serviceberry and chokecherry, whisky currant and 

antelope bitterbrush are commonly found. Graminoids documented growing in this community type are basin wildyre, 

Indian ricegrass, thickspike wheatgrass and needle-and-thread 

grass. The largest stand, south of Steamboat Rim, is on the 

rolling surface of a field of stabilized sand dunes. This tall 

sagebrush vegetation is well known as hiding cover and 

crucial calving habitat for elk. Smaller stands in the upper 

parts of valleys draining north from Steamboat Rim occur on 

valley sides and bottoms, where the sand has accumulated. 

This association is considered unique because it is not reported from anywhere else in Wyoming or the western U.S. 

Approximately 18,020 acres of this type are mapped in the 

planning area. 

Basin Big Sagebrush/Western Wheatgrass Association 

This association has been observed on the mesa east of 

Alkali Draw on a northwest-facing slope in a shallow draw, 

and on a sandy colluvium site in a broad valley bottom near 

Essex Mountain. These stands form a sparse shrub layer from 

1 to 1.5 meters high, with lower shrubs such as Utah snowberry and green rabbitbrush providing additional cover. The 

understory of this type is usually dominated by thickspike 

wheatgrass with smaller amounts of alkali bluegrass, bottlebrush squirreltail, bushy bird’s beak, rockcress, and other 

grasses and forbs. Approximately 5 acres of this type are 

mapped for the planning area. 

Mountain Big Sagebrush Vegetation Types 

Variations of the mountain big sagebrush type described 

from the area are: mountain big sagebrush-Utah snowberry/ 

basin wildrye and mountain big sagebrush/bluebunch wheatgrass. 

Mountain Big Sagebrush—Utah Snowberry/Basin 

Wildrye Association 

Stands of this community are largely restricted to slopes 

with northerly to south-southeasterly aspects, slopes steeper 

than 10 percent, and substrates of residual soils or colluvium 

derived from sandstone, limestone, or siltstone. Stands are 

especially well developed on escarpments below rims formed 

by limestone. Stands of this community are absent from, or 

poorly developed on, slopes underlain by claystone and mudstone. The dominant shrub layer formed by mountain big 

sagebrush usually grows from 0.6 meter to 1 meter high, with 

a lower shrub layer of Utah snowberry, but it may also contain 

significant amounts of antelope bitterbrush and green rabbitbrush. The dominant herbaceous understory species are 

generally basin wildrye (which often is found growing with 

alkali bluegrass), Nelson’s needlegrass, bottlebrush squirreltail, 

sulphur buckwheat, bushy bird’s beak, and western gromwell. 

Stands of this type growing on steep escarpments below rims 

often include patches of chokecherry. Cushion plant communities often grow on the windswept rims above the escarpments. Approximately 2,300 acres of this vegetation type 

were mapped in the planning area. 

Mountain Big Sagebrush/Bluebunch Wheatgrass 

Association 

This association is located on the northeast face of Pacific 

Butte, where the sagebrush forms a mosaic with aspen and 

limber pine woodland. Mountain big sagebrush forms a 

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AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

sparse, open shrub layer up to 0.5 meter high in this type. Utah 

snowberry is present in small amounts, as are bluebunch 

wheatgrass, sedge, needlegrass, lupine, phlox, and other forbs. 

Aspen sprouts and seedlings grow on the edges of the shrub 

stand, and display a tendency to form the overstory layer in 

mountain big sagebrush stands if left undisturbed. Approximately 400 acres of this vegetation type were mapped in the 

planning area, but there is likely to be more scattered throughout the vicinity. 

True Mountain Mahogany/Bluebunch Wheatgrass Vegetation Type 

Small stands of mountain mahogany exist in the planning 

area, many covering up to several acres on relatively steep 

slopes with all aspects. This type generally occurs on or near 

sandstone outcrops. The shrub layer may range from less than 

0.5 meters to over 1.0 meter high. The stands are generally 

sparse, but include shorter shrubs, such as Wyoming big 

sagebrush, Utah snowberry, spineless horsebrush, green rabbitbrush, and rubber rabbitbrush. Commonly found herbaceous species include bluebunch wheatgrass, Indian ricegrass, 

Wyoming thistle, slender buckwheat, turnip spring-parsley, 

and bushy bird’s beak. Elk and deer droppings and evidence 

of browsing on mountain mahogany, antelope bitterbrush, 

and Utah serviceberry have been noted in most of the stands. 

The true mountain mahogany stands are widely scattered; less 

than a total of 100 acres is recorded for the planning area. 

Utah Juniper/Bluebunch Wheatgrass Vegetation Type 

Utah juniper forms scattered stands on sandstone-derived 

soils, mainly east and south-facing slopes and outcrops in the 

planning area. Individual trees in the stands may reach a 

height of 3 to 5 meters. Although there is a rich species 

diversity in the understory of juniper stands, the vegetation is 

sparse. Wyoming big sagebrush forms a low shrub layer of 

under 0.5 meter high and typically includes antelope bitterbrush, green rabbitbrush, and black sagebrush. Bluebunch 

wheatgrass had the highest average cover values in the studied 

juniper stands, but thickspike wheatgrass, needle-and-thread 

grass, and Indian ricegrass are also well represented in the 

type. Alkali bluegrass, bottlebrush squirreltail, and Sandberg 

bluegrass are common associates in this type as are the forbs 

species sulphur buckwheat, goldenweed, bushy bird’s beak, 

aster, milkvetch, and sandwort. Total juniper acreage in the 

planning area is estimated at 800 acres. 

Woodlands 

Tree species are a very minor component of the vegetation 

in the project area. In addition to the previously mentioned 

juniper stands, small isolated stands of limber pine and aspen 

occur at the higher elevations of Oregon Buttes and Steamboat 

Mountain. The presence of these stands is attributable to snow 

accumulation and the location of springs and seeps on the 

slopes of the buttes. In addition, sparse patches of Douglas fir 

and lodgepole pine occur on Oregon Buttes. 

Biological Islands 

Some of the more botanically interesting areas in the 

planning area are Continental Peak, Oregon Buttes, and Steamboat Mountain. These sites are major land features in the 

planning area rising approximately 2,000 feet above the 

surrounding desert plains to an elevation of about 8,400 feet 

above sea level. The fine-textured soils of this area are derived 

from mudstone and sandstone parent material, are poorly 

developed and provide very little moisture for plant growth. 

They are also fragile and very highly susceptible to sheer 

erosion. Dominant vegetation community types found at 

these sites represent both the basin and montane floras, 

creating biological islands of diverse plant communities. At 

the lower elevations, the vegetation is dominated by species 

representative of the Great Basin flora; Gardner’s saltbush, 

Indian ricegrass, and bottlebrush squirreltail. As elevation 

increases up the slopes of Oregon Buttes, the desert vegetation 

gives way to montane community species representative of 

the Rocky Mountain flora; limber pine, aspen, and Douglas 

fir. 

Steamboat Mountain provides an especially important 

biological island in the desert on the Continental Divide. 

Topped by sagebrush-grassland, the mountain supports limber pine and pockets of aspen and moisture-loving forbs 

where numerous springs and seeps occur. Mountain shrub 

species such as serviceberry, chokecherry and buffaloberry 

are found on more mesic sites on the west side of Steamboat 

where the sand dunes abut its base. The tall stands of basin big 

sagebrush and other mountain shrubs on the west side of the 

mountain provide critical cover and calving habitat for the 

desert elk herd. 

Riparian 

For wetlands and riparian areas, the minimum standard is 

Proper Functioning Condition (PFC). Stream (lotic) inventories began in 1995 and were completed in 1999. The ratings 

for lentic riparian areas (bogs, marshes, ponds, wetlands and 

wet meadows) have not been completed. Twenty percent 

(16.5 miles out of 79.95 miles) of the stream (lotic) riparian 

areas in the Jack Morrow Hills planning area are in PFC. A 

significant portion (40 percent) is in upward trend and an 

equally significant portion (40 percent) is in downward or 

“not apparent” trend. These data were collected in 1995-6 

when a significant amount of non-use was occurring. Not all 

of the poor conditions in riparian areas are due to livestock 

grazing; however, livestock grazing, roads, and water diversions create the most significant impacts to the riparian areas 

in the planning area. However, it is known that season long 

use by livestock, concentrations around riparian areas during 

the hot season, and that later fall use tends to be adverse to 

riparian plants. 

Weeds 

Weed populations are found scattered throughout the planning area: along main dirt roads and two-tracks (especially 

those that cross meadows and drainage bottoms); areas of 

livestock concentration such as stock reservoirs, riparian 

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AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

areas and sheep camps; and areas of intense recreational use, 

such as frequently-used dispersed camping areas. Weed 

species have been introduced through many channels, but 

motorized vehicles (personal vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, 

and industrial vehicles) transporting the weed seeds in tire 

treads are a significant source of new infestations. Other 

modes of spread include untimely road blading (spreading 

mature weed seeds along roadbanks); transportation of nonlocal livestock into the area, or movement from a weedy area 

to a non-infested site; use of contaminated hay for stock 

animals; and overutilization and denigration of native plant 

communities which create openings for weed invasion. Most 

of the weed species described below are found along County 

Road 21 (the Tri-Territory Road) and County Road 74 (the 

Oregon Buttes Road). 

Widespread populations of halogeton (Halogeton 

glomeratus), kochia (Kochia scoparia), and Russian thistle 

(Salsola kali) are found throughout the planning area. These 

species were introduced from Europe, but are now found on 

millions of acres of semi-arid desert rangelands. They tend to 

be found mainly on roadsides, in borrow ditches and disturbed 

areas, and will take over any area cleared of vegetation. 

However, these species will generally decrease if native 

grasses and shrubs are allowed to recolonize the disturbed 

sites. They are moderately toxic to livestock. 

Extensive infestations of the noxious weed, perennial 

pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium), occur on streambanks in 

the lower portions of Jack Morrow Creek and Pacific Creek. 

Once established, perennial pepperweed becomes very difficult to control by herbicides, and can cause loss of native grass 

communities in riparian areas. 

Black henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) is expanding into the 

planning area vicinity, especially in areas along the TriTerritory Road near Oregon Buttes, North and South Table 

Mountains, in the sand dunes, along the Bar X Ranch Road, 

and in disturbed locations of Pacific Creek and Rock Cabin 

Creek. This species is commonly found along roadsides and 

in other waste places, and it has been observed invading small 

open areas within native sagebrush-grass communities. Black 

henbane contains alkaloids which have caused occasional 

livestock poisoning, although it is generally not grazed unless 

other forage is unavailable. This species (especially the seeds) 

is considered poisonous to humans. It can be treated effectively with herbicides. 

Whitetop (Cardaria spp.) is a deep-rooted perennial that is 

commonly found on disturbed, alkaline soils of sagebrushgrass or riparian communities in the planning area. Small 

populations are evident along Pacific Creek and Bear Creek at 

the road crossings. It is highly competitive with native plant 

species once it becomes established, but can be effectively 

controlled with herbicides. 

Scattered populations of musk thistle (Carduus nutans) and 

Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) are found in the meadows 

around Rock Cabin Creek, Chicken Springs (Bush Rim), and 

Dickie Springs, as well as in seep areas on the east side of 

Steamboat Mountain. Musk thistle can be an aggressive 

invader, forming dense stands which crowd out desirable 

species. Chemical herbicides are effective in controlling 

musk thistle, but they are less successful on Canada thistle. 

A population of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula), the first 

noted in the Rock Springs Field Office area, was found in the 

Honeycomb Buttes area several years ago. This species is 

highly undesirable as it has become one of the worst noxious 

weed problems in the country. Its extensive root system, and 

an extremely effective seed dispersal mechanism allow this 

species to significantly out-compete native rangeland species. 

The population of leafy spurge in the planning area is treated 

with herbicides annually and monitored. Although the population is not yet eradicated, it is under control. It is imperative 

that this species be restricted from further spread in the 

planning area. 

An area-wide weed inventory and mapping project began 

in late 1998. This project, a partnership effort between the 

BLM and the University of Wyoming, will provide baseline 

data from which BLM can better manage weed problems in 

the planning area. In addition, the project will produce a 

susceptibility model depicting areas of high potential for weed 

infestation. 

VISUAL RESOURCES 

Visual resources are best described using the physiographic 

provinces within the planning area. These physiographic 

provinces are large scale geographical units of land. Common 

characteristics (landform, water, color, etc.) unlike those in 

other provinces exist within each. Each province helps 

establish a logical frame of reference with which to classify 

the relative visual quality for each scenery quality rating unit. 

A detailed description of the 34 scenery quality units of the 

planning area is located in the Rock Springs Field Office. 

The planning area lies mostly within the Wyoming Basin 

physiographic province. The landscape found within the 

Wyoming Basin Province is characterized primarily by highly 

erodible soils and multi-colored, horizontally layered sedimentary bedrock. These conditions have generated the formation of the colorful badlands landscape common throughout most of the province. Between these badland areas, the 

land form is primarily low rolling or flat-topped hills. 

Scenic quality is perhaps best described as the overall 

impression retained after driving through, walking through, or 

flying over an area of land. In the VRM process, rating Scenic 

Quality requires a brief description of the existing scenic 

values in a landscape. This step identifies (1) areas that must 

be protected, (2) opportunities for enhancement and rehabilitation, and (3) opportunities for improvement by reducing the 

contrast of cultural modifications. 

From sensitivity level determinations, three visual classes 

were identified: Class II - retention, changes should not be 

evident; Class III - deviation, changes may be evident but 

subordinate; and Class IV - modification, changes are evident 

and somewhat dominant. 

Areas with important scenic and visual values include 

recreation sites, the Greater Sand Dunes area, Wilderness 

Study Areas, South Pass Historic Landscape, White Mountain 

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AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

Petroglyphs, Steamboat Mountain, rivers, historic trails, and 

scenic vistas along Wyoming Highway 28. Current VRM 

classifications are described in Table 2-8. 

WATERSHED 

The planning area eventually drains into the Colorado 

River except for the small portion of the planning area that is 

on the eastern side of the Continental Divide. Most of the 

planning area is within the Colorado River drainage and 

subject to the Colorado River Salinity Compact. 

Rainfall 

The average annual rainfall in the planning area ranges 

from 8 inches near Farson to 14 inches in the higher elevations. This precipitation comes primarily in the form of winter 

snow and scattered summer thunder storms. Because of this 

there is a seasonal runoff with peak flows in the spring and 

occasional summer runoff that tends to be intense and sporadic. 

Channel Condition 

Stream channels in the higher elevations are characterized 

by long meadows bracketed by rock outcrops. In the lower 

reaches, stream channels tend to form broad floodplains of 

fine sediment that rely on vegetation for channel stability. 

At the end of the 1999 field season, 79.95 miles of streams 

on public land in the planning area have been surveyed in the 

planning area using the Proper Functioning Condition survey 

method as described in BLM Technical Reference 1737-9. 

The results are shown in Table 3-35. 

Because PFC is the minimum physical desired stability 

rating, this indicates that 20.6 percent of the observed streams 

are sufficiently stable to withstand moderate flows. Most of 

this stability can be attributed to rocky substrates. Forty 

percent of the observed streams have limited stability and are 

showing some improvement, and 40 percent of the streams 

have limited stability and are showing signs of becoming 

more unstable. This high percentage of instability results in a 

greater than natural loss of soil and elevated levels of sediment, and salinity over what would occur in a stable stream 

system. 

Water Quality 

There are no known point sources of water pollution in the 

planning area. This means that water quality is controlled by 

Nonpoint sources such as area wide soil erosion and stream 

channel condition. 

Water quality samples have been taken in the planning area 

in a random pattern over the last 20 years. The lack of point 

sources in the drainage area allows overall water quality to be 

assessed using the level of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) as a 

general guide. TDS can be thought of as a measurement of 

how much salt is dissolved in a given volume of water. 

The State of Wyoming Department of Environmental 

Quality (DEQ) has set guidelines for TDS levels and acceptable uses of ground water (Table 3-36). These levels can be 

applied as general guidelines for surface water use. 

Pacific Creek, its tributary Jack Morrow Creek, and 

Killpecker Creek are tributaries to the Green River and Colorado River systems and are subject to the Colorado River 

Salinity Compact (Map 55). The Sweetwater River is a 

tributary to the North Platte River. According to water 

samples taken over the last 20 years, the water quality in the 

streams from the Colorado River Drainage tends to be suitable 

for livestock water and in some but not all places is within the 

range for agricultural water (Table 3-37). 

Given the PFC ratings and the water quality numbers, there 

is room for improvement in the planning area. The stream 

system is sensitive to disturbance but has a good chance of 

recovery and increased stability if it is managed for these 

attributes (see Table 3-38). 

As of 1999 there are no streams within the planning area 

that are on the Wyoming State 303d list. The closest stream 

that is currently on the 303d list is the Big Sandy River. The 

TMDL process for the Big Sandy River is well under way. If 

streams within the planning area are listed in the future, land 

use management will be adjusted to comply with the TMDL 

process. 

WILD HORSES 

The Great Divide Basin Wild Horse Herd Management 

Area is located 40 miles east of Rock Springs in the eastern 

portion of the planning area north of Interstate 80. It encompasses an area from the Rawlins-Rock Springs Field Office 

boundary west to the Continental Divide. The management 

level range is 415 to 600 wild horses. The area consists of 

778,915 acres of which 73 percent is public, 2 percent is state, 

and 25 percent is private. The portion of the herd management 

area that lies within the planning area is predominantly public 

land. Wild horse management within the Great Divide Basin 

Wild Horse Herd Management Area is in accordance with the 

herd area management plan. 

Approximately 206,540 acres of the Great Divide Basin 

Wild Horse Herd Management Area lie within the planning 

area. This area encompasses roughly the eastern one-third of 

the planning area with the western boundary of the herd 

management area formed by the western branch of the Continental Divide. This boundary is unfenced and does not 

provide an effective barrier to the movement of wild horses. 

Wild horses are often found outside the herd management area 

yet within the planning area. These horses are by definition 

“excess” and are subject to annual removal. These horses are 

largely confined to the Steamboat Mountain ACEC and the 

Rock Cabin Creek/Oregon Buttes areas. 

Dispersed outdoor recreation activities related to the viewing and enjoyment of free-roaming wild horses in the planning 

area is becoming more prevalent. Opportunities exist and may 

be improved to assist the public in viewing wild horses in their 

natural habitat. 

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AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

WILDERNESS 

There are seven wilderness study areas (WSAs) within the 

planning area: Buffalo Hump, Sand Dunes, Alkali Draw, 

South Pinnacles, White Horse Creek, Oregon Buttes, and the 

Honeycomb Buttes. 

The WSAs in the planning area were evaluated in a 

previous wilderness environmental impact statement (USDI 

1990). As a result of these analyses, the BLM recommended 

all of the Oregon Buttes (5,700 acres) WSA as suitable for 

designation. In addition, 6,080 acres of the 10,300-acre 

Buffalo Hump WSA; 21,304 acres of the 27,109-acre Sand 

Dunes WSA; and 37,287 acres of the 41,404-acre Honeycomb 

Buttes WSA have been identified as suitable for designation 

(BLM 1991). 

The following WSAs were not recommended as suitable 

for designation: Alkali Draw (16,990 acres), South Pinnacles 

(10,800 acres), Whitehorse Creek (4,002 acres), part of the 

Buffalo Hump WSA (4,220 acres), part of the Sand Dunes 

WSA (5,805 acres), and part of the Honeycomb Buttes WSA 

(4,117 acres). All recommendations are pending Congressional decision. 

Until Congress acts, these WSAs will be managed under 

the “Interim Management Policy and Guidelines for Lands 

Under Wilderness Review” (USDI 1987). Congress has also 

closed WSAs to oil and gas leasing (non-discretionary closure). The WSAs are closed to motorized vehicle use. 

WILDLIFE 

Over 350 species of wildlife are found on a variety of 

habitats on the public lands in the planning area. Other 

resource activities, such as realty, mining, recreation, and 

grazing, affect wildlife habitat beneficially or adversely. The 

Bureau of Land Management maintains habitat management 

responsibilities on public lands while the Wyoming Game and 

Fish Department (WGFD) manages wildlife populations. 

The WGFD manages big game on a “herd unit” concept. 

Herd unit boundaries do not generally match BLM field office 

boundaries, making analysis and correlation of resource data 

and big game population data difficult. The WGFD revises its 

strategic population numbers for each big game species based 

on new habitat information, population trends, and recreation 

demand. 

Maintaining connectivity between important habitats (crucial winter ranges, severe winter relief areas, calving/fawning 

habitats, migration corridors, topographic relief areas (Map 

56), mountain shrub communities, forest type habitats, etc.) 

within the planning area is paramount to sustaining viable big 

game herds and other wildlife. Fragmentation of these crucial 

habitats will not sustain big game population objectives agreed 

to by the public and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department 

and will not meet objectives set forth in the Green River RMP. 

This is due to the desert environment, flat terrain, lack of 

escape and hiding habitats, and lack of suitable habitat for 

thermal protection and secure calving/fawning habitat. 

Mule Deer 

Mule deer are distributed over most of the planning area 

and are part of the Steamboat (519,000 public land acres) and 

Hall Creek (55,800 public land acres) herd units. Currently, 

the population objective for the Steamboat herd unit is 4,000; 

however, the actual population is well below this objective 

level with no apparent increases in population numbers. 

Approximately 100,990 public land acres are classified crucial mule deer winter range and 23,100 public land acres are 

classified as mule deer fawning habitat within the planning 

area (Map 57). During late fall, some herds move south into 

Jack Morrow Creek and the area between Essex Mountain and 

Tule Butte within the planning area. 

Shrubs furnish nearly 75 percent of the winter diet of deer. 

The primary winter food species for mule deer in the planning 

area are sagebrush, mountain mahogany, rabbitbrush, and 

bitterbrush. Shrubs taller than the average winter snow depth 

are important for deer survival. Winter range is a limiting 

factor for deer populations over much of their habitat, as 

shrubs are covered by snow in many areas. Competition with 

elk for preferred parturition habitats may also be affecting 

mule deer fawning success. 

Most deer activity within the planning area is dependent on 

the availability of water. Studies have shown that in arid 

regions, in the driest months, deer seldom move more than 1 

to 1.5 miles from water. Deer require 1.0 to 1.5 quarts of water 

per hundred pounds of body weight per day in the winter and 

2 to 3 quarts in the summer. 

Some flowing streams and standing waters dry up during 

long, hot summers. This concentrates deer activity around 

those available waters that remain. In an attempt to relieve the 

pressure on overused water resources and to more evenly 

distribute deer in unused areas, the BLM and the Wyoming 

Game and Fish Department have installed 4 wildlife guzzlers 

in the planning area. Five others exist in the Cedar and Pine 

Canyon areas adjacent to the planning area. 

Pronghorn Antelope 

The planning area is made up of the Red Desert (76,230 

public land acres) and Sublette (498,570 public land acres) 

herd units for antelope. The current population objective for 

the Sublette herd unit is 40,000, with an actual population of 

approximately 27,000. Approximately 74,970 public land 

acres within the planning area are considered crucial antelope 

winter range (Map 58). 

Preferred pronghorn habitat is usually characterized by the 

presence of summer water and sagebrush in combination with 

rabbitbrush and antelope bitterbrush. Antelope generally do 

not inhabit areas where sagebrush exceeds 2 to 3 feet in height. 

Wyoming big sagebrush dominates the antelope winter 

ranges in southwest Wyoming. Black sagebrush is found on 

many ridges and sideslopes, and is a highly desirable forage 

species for both pronghorn and sage grouse. Saltbush communities are critically important as winter habitat, although 

pronghorn use them yearlong. Many saltbush communities 

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AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

are in association with greasewood, spiny hopsage, or 

shadscale. These plants apparently provide basic carbohydrates, protein, and other nutrients for growth and body 

maintenance of pronghorn. 

Probably the single most important factor affecting antelope populations is weather. Severe winters with deep, 

crusted snow and below zero temperatures cause high antelope mortalities. An example of weather-induced population 

dynamics is the drastic reduction of antelope numbers in the 

planning area due to severe winter storms in the early 1970s. 

Mortality loss in the Red Desert herd unit in 1971-72 was 

estimated at 55 percent. 

The water requirements of antelope are met through foraging on plants, consumption of snow, and natural surface water. 

The availability and distribution of water is probably the most 

important limiting factor affecting summer antelope distribution. 

Lack of surface water in some areas influences migration 

of pronghorn and their season of use on particular ranges. In 

many areas, pronghorn rely on plant moisture, rains, some 

perennial seeps, and human-made water developments to 

make summer use of otherwise unsuitable habitat. Mild 

winters during 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1990 reduced winter 

mortality; however, drought conditions have caused significant losses of fawns in some areas. Water developments have 

helped improve antelope distribution in some local situations, 

but timely rainfall and availability of natural water are more 

significant in maintaining a sustained yield of wildlife. Disease and predation have not been documented as significantly 

affecting local big game populations. 

Fences affect pronghorn movement in the planning area. 

Right-of-way fences along Wyoming Highway 28 have especially affected movement of antelope into the planning area. 

Woven wire fences form a barrier to antelope movement. 

Fence modifications such as antelope passes and lay-down 

panels, when well maintained, have helped pronghorn cope 

with some fences. 

In 1975, the Wyoming Highway Department began a 

fencing program on southwest Wyoming highways which 

continues today. Dimensions, design, and placement of these 

and other new fences are causing some migration problems 

and some direct and indirect mortality on big game animals, 

especially the young. The placement of either wooden or wire 

stays between posts creates a very tight fence and prevents 

wildlife from migrating through fences they cannot jump. 

Rocky Mountain Elk 

The entire planning area is part of the Steamboat herd unit 

for elk. The herd unit is over 2,600,000 acres with approximately 574,800 acres of public land occurring within the 

planning area (Map 59). The population objective for this 

herd is 500 with the actual population being approximately 

600 animals (WGFD 2000). Approximately 172,740 acres of 

public lands are classified as crucial winter range and 58,890 

acres of public land are classified as elk calving areas. These 

acres amount to 67 percent of all classified winter range and 

86 percent of parturition habitats for the entire herd unit 

occurring within the planning area. This demonstrates the 

importance of the planning area to elk as well as other big 

game species. 

Elk historically migrated to the planning area from Jackson 

and Yellowstone. Records indicate that this movement was so 

large that portions of the area were proposed as a winter elk 

refuge. The last major movement occurred in 1913. Agricultural developments and hunter shooting lines either blocked 

this movement or the elk decided to stay on newly developed 

hay fields. Historic information shows a remnant population 

of elk lived within the planning area until around 1940. 

Transplants to re-establish elk began in 1944 and continued 

until around 1967. Some 438 elk were released at various 

locations within the planning and herd area. Elk numbers 

continued to increase and reached between 1,200 and 1,400 

animals by 1977. By 1981, elk numbers had decreased to 

approximately 290 animals. Some of the Steamboat elk 

migrate south to North and South Table Mountain and winter 

from Hatcher Mesa to Long Canyon and Pine Canyon. This 

migration has not been observed since about 1985, primarily 

due to the large amount of human disturbance and activities 

associated with oil and gas development and year-round 

access into much of the area for recreationists and other public 

land users (Map 60). 

Elk forage on a wide variety of trees and shrubs, grasses, 

and herbaceous plants. Fecal studies conducted from 1974 

through 1978 show that 74 percent of the diet was grass, 3.5 

percent of the diet was forbs, and 22.5 percent consisted of 

shrubs. More than half of the browse was antelope bitterbrush. 

Elk historically were a plains animal; this is one of the few 

desert elk herds left in the United States. Elk are very 

intolerant of human presence and are known to travel large 

distances (up to 3 miles) when disturbed within the planning 

area (Bock and Lindzey 1999). Lack of hiding cover in this 

desert environment requires elk to use topographic barriers to 

escape intrusion. Increased activity within the planning area 

will displace elk to areas that offer these type barriers. 

Moose 

Moose found in the planning area are part of the Lander 

herd unit. Habitat is very limited and these animals are 

generally migrants although moose are not rare in the planning area. Approximately 55,660 acres of the Lander herd 

unit occur in the planning area. 

Bighorn Sheep 

No bighorn sheep are known to inhabit the planning area. 

Petroglyphs found in the vicinity of the planning area show 

bighorns which means they were probably historically found 

in the planning area. Also, many written accounts of bighorn 

sheep were recorded in the years 1805 to 1878 (Dorn 1986). 

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AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

Mountain Lion 

The distribution and abundance of mountain lions in the 

planning area is largely unknown. Information is based upon 

sketchy reports by the public, BLM biologists, and WGFD 

information. Indications are that distribution is widespread 

and the population is very limited. Mountain lions have been 

observed in the Steamboat Mountain area. 

The main habitat components restricting mountain lion 

populations in the planning area include the absence of large, 

undisturbed, remote areas; a lack of trees and other habitat 

used to stalk prey; and low mule deer populations throughout 

the planning area. 

Black Bear 

Urbanization of mountain foothills, off-road vehicle use, 

and animal damage control activities have nearly eliminated 

this large predator from public lands in the planning area. 

Black bear have been observed in the planning area; however, 

they are rare and involve migrating or displaced animals. 

Coyote 

The coyote is cosmopolitan throughout the west and Wyoming. Populations fluctuate annually, depending on hunting 

pressure, fur prices, and available prey. This is an almost 

entirely carnivorous animal, relying on jackrabbits, cottontail 

rabbits, ground squirrels, mice, other rodents, insects, and 

other small animals for 98 percent of its diet. The coyote is an 

opportunist hunter. The coyote will also take sheep if available. Coyote litters increase as coyote mortality increases, or 

rodent and rabbit populations increase. 

Other 

Other small mammals that may be present in the planning 

area include white-tailed jackrabbit, cottontail rabbit, pygmy 

rabbit, porcupine, raccoon, red fox, swift fox, beaver, skunk, 

white-tailed prairie dogs, various rodents, bats, and weasel. 

Waterfowl 

Most of the planning area lies within the Pacific Flyway 

with a very small portion occurring within the Central Flyway. 

The period of occupancy by waterfowl is comparatively short, 

and most of the waterfowl found here are migratory, shortterm occupants. Most waterfowl nesting in the Pacific Flyway 

occurs below 8,500 feet. 

Throughout the planning area, the availability of forage, 

food, and cover are the most significant factors affecting 

resident waterfowl populations. Nesting habitat is dependent 

upon cover in riparian areas. These areas are often dependent 

on beaver pond-building activities. 

Every form of available open water in the planning area, 

from flowing wells and stock ponds to playa lakes and 

potholes, are used by waterfowl. Shovelers, gadwalls, mallards, pintails, and teal are the most common summer resident 

species. 

Some species only migrate through the area on their way to 

breeding or nesting grounds farther north or to winter areas 

farther south. Other species such as the Barrow’s goldeneye, 

are resident for only part of the year, wintering in western 

Wyoming. All waterfowl are dependent on ponds, marshes, 

streams, lakes, and rivers. 

Waterfowl nesting in freshwater ponds of the sand dunes 

has become nearly nonexistent within the past 10 years; 

however, these areas still offer excellent habitat for certain 

species. The Red Desert region has historically had fair to 

good duck production as a result of human-made reservoirs 

and flowing wells. However, available water and adjacent 

cover necessary for nesting and escape have been reduced. 

Avian and mammalian predators take some waterfowl and 

their young but their impact on the population is not significant. Probably the greatest limiting factor presently facing 

resident and migrant waterfowl is direct loss of birds in open 

industrial wastewater ponds, and the loss of riparian vegetation and habitats along streams and wetlands. 

Sage Grouse 

Long-term trends from sage grouse harvest questionnaires 

and lek surveys show a gradual population decline. Local 

populations increased as a result of better habitat and forage 

conditions created by heavier than normal precipitation from 

1980 through 1986. The drought conditions from 1987 

through 1994 probably resulted in an increase in chick mortality. This pattern of gradual population increases and sometimes drastic decreases (as indicated by chick survival and 

young per hen, production trend counts) is typical of sage 

grouse and other upland birds. Sage grouse are found throughout the planning area wherever suitable habitat exists (Map 

61). 

The reproductive characteristics and habits of sage grouse 

significantly limit their adaptability to human disturbance and 

habitat alteration. A cycle begins with birds returning to 

historic “strutting grounds” or breeding complexes in March. 

Strutting grounds, referred to as “leks,” may be located at a 

point intermediate between the winter range and summer 

range, or in, some cases the summer and winter range may be 

the same area. The grounds are usually small, open areas from 

1/10 acre to 10 acres in size, but may be as large as 100 acres 

or more. Snow conditions play a part in the suitability of an 

area for strutting, as does the amount of vegetation. The 

strutting ground is an area supporting low, sparse sagebrush or 

an area denuded of vegetation. 

Strutting ground counts have been conducted by the WGFD 

for many years. There are 19 leks currently identified in the 

planning area. Approximately 114,660 acres of the planning 

area are within the 2-mile radius for nesting and 8,170 acres 

within the quarter-mile strutting area. 

Peak breeding season is early to mid-April when up to 200 

birds may congregate on a single strutting ground. Birds are 

active in courtship displays during early morning darkness 

until sunrise. On overcast or foggy days, strutting grounds 

may remain active until mid-morning. Strutting can take 

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place all night during full moon periods. An estimated 15 to 

20 percent of the actual strutting grounds have been identified. 

Historic and long-term information on sage grouse nesting 

indicates that 80 to 85 percent of nesting occurs within a 2-

mile radius of strutting grounds. Recent radiotelemetry data 

gathered by Rocky Mountain Energy biologists show that 

some grouse move up to 11 miles to nest, while most range one 

to four miles. University of Wyoming Co-op studies have 

consistently shown the most successful nests are located 

beyond 2 miles (Anderson 1999). 

Raptors 

There are 83 raptor nests identified in the planning area and 

approximately 43,150 acres of nesting habitat (Map 62). 

There are 27 different species of hawks, eagles, and owls 

either nesting, thought to nest, or having the potential of 

nesting in the planning area. Other species are either wintering populations, migrants, or possible migrants. The bald 

eagle is federally listed as a Threatened species and requires 

a biological assessment for activities which may jeopardize or 

destroy it or its critical habitats. The BLM has identified the 

bald eagle, peregrine falcon, ferruginous hawk, prairie falcon, 

osprey, and golden eagle, as raptors of high priority and has 

effected conservation and habitat criteria for management. 

The burrowing owl is listed by the state as a species in the 

“rare” abundance category with a biological status designation of “I,” indicating declining populations and/or habitat 

conditions or indicators of such throughout all or a part of their 

range. 

Approximately 70 percent of the planning area has been 

surveyed for nesting raptors. About 40 percent of the planning 

area was surveyed for “special habitat features” in 1979 with 

most potential cliff-nesting habitat identified. A 1980-1981 

raptor inventory was conducted within the Rock Springs 

Known Recoverable Coal Resource Area by BLM biologists 

and survey crews to satisfy coal leasing suitability criterion. 

Raptor inventories have not been completed on all potential 

habitats in the planning area. Raptor studies are currently 

driven by specific development projects and data are collected 

to determine raptor management conflicts. 

Many of the known raptor nests occur on hilltops, low 

cliffs, and rock escarpments found within the sagebrush 

steppe community. Conservation and management of this 

habitat component is of primary importance. 

Raptor species that are commonly seen in the planning area 

include prairie falcon, American kestrel, ferruginous hawk, 

red-tailed hawk, Swainson’s hawk, northern harrier, raven, 

golden eagle, and great-horned owl. 

Prairie falcons nest on cliffs, ranging from low rock 

outcroppings to tall vertical cliffs (e.g., Rock Springs Uplift, 

Steamboat Mountain). Prairie falcon feed on cottontail rabbits, prairie dogs, horned larks, snakes, and ground squirrels. 

American kestrels nest in varied environments such as 

dead snags, clay streambanks, and rimrock. Their diet includes insects, small birds, and small mammals. 

Swainson’s hawks nest on dry plains, open foothills, open 

forest, sparse trees, and riverbottoms (e.g., the Green River, 

Little Sandy River, and wood lots). Their diet includes 

rabbits, other small mammals, grasshoppers, and birds. 

The ferruginous hawks nest on low cliffs, buttes, trees, on 

the ground, and artificial nesting platforms. Their diet consists primarily of rodents. These hawks have also been known 

to nest on sheepherder monuments found throughout the 

planning area. Current population estimates show these 

hawks are declining in numbers within the planning area. 

The red-tailed hawk prefers riparian zones and timbered 

areas for nesting. Their diet includes cottontails, jackrabbits, 

rodents, reptiles, and birds. 

The northern harrier (or marsh hawk) commonly nests on 

the ground, often in dense vegetation. Their diet consists 

primarily of rodents, amphibians, reptiles, and other birds. 

Golden eagles nest on cliffs, ledges, and pinnacles that 

provide a view of the area. Their diet includes rabbits, rodents, 

and carrion. 

Great-horned owls nest in cliff holes, rock crevices, and 

trees. Their diet includes a wide variety of small mammals. 

Aquatic 

Aquatic wildlife in the planning area is primarily found in 

the streams which cross through the area. The most important 

ponds or lentic habitats are found in the sand dunes region 

(locally called the “flockets”). 

The streams containing fish life are the Sweetwater River, 

Harris Slough, Oregon Slough, Pacific Creek, and Jack Morrow Creek (Table 3-39). Cold water game fish exist in some 

portions of all of these except Jack Morrow Creek which only 

contains non-game minnow species. 

The Sweetwater River has the highest WGFD rating of all 

the streams within the Jack Morrow planning area with a 

classification of 3 (Important trout waters - fisheries of regional importance). Pacific Creek, Harris Slough, and Oregon Slough all have classifications of 4 (Low production 

trout waters - fisheries frequently of local importance, but 

generally incapable of sustaining substantial fishing pressure). All the rest of the streams in the area (perennial and 

intermittent) are classified as 5 (very low production waters). 

The Sweetwater River represents the highest value cold 

water fishery in the planning area with an estimated 630 to 

2,350 trout per mile. Pacific Creek trout populations range 

from 0 to 1,500 trout per mile (page 2-101, Sandy Grazing 

EA). Water quality within this area is generally suitable for 

most other aquatic organisms (see hydrology section). No 

threatened or endangered aquatic species have been identified 

in this area. However, water flowing into the Green River 

Drainage is considered a direct contributor to the habitat for 

four endangered fish species in the upper Colorado River. 

Any withdrawals of water from these tributaries are considered to adversely affect these species and require Section 7 

consultation (Endangered Species Act) with the U.S. Fish and 

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AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

Wildlife Service. See the Biological Assessment for further 

information on those species. Overall quality tends to decline 

as conductivity, temperature, and turbidity levels progressively increase after streams leave the montane and foothill 

areas and traverse the more sedimentary bottoms of the cold 

desert plains. Lack of full bank development and an adequate 

riparian shade canopy also result in a progressive deterioration of fish habitat downstream. 

Pacific Creek flows along the northern edge of the planning 

area. The lower half to this creek has little to fair resident 

habitat with poor spawning potential for salmonids. Sixty to 

100 percent of the bottom is silted, making this reach most 

suited to cyprinids which populate the lower half of the creek. 

Summer water temperature maximums in excess of 20°C 

limit salmonid habitat in the lower reaches of Pacific Creek. 

Lack of bank protection by vegetation, cutting, mass wasting 

and livestock damage in specific areas along the creek contribute to bank instability and poor habitat conditions in the 

lower reach. Pacific Creek above State lands has brook trout 

and fair pool habitat. Spawning potential is still limited but 

bank protection and cover is better. 

Jack Morrow Creek heads at spring sources on Steamboat 

Mountain and flows northwest to its confluence with Pacific 

Creek. This stream is not suitable for salmonids due to low 

flows which only maintain pool habitat in the lower 10 miles. 

Its primary values lie in habitat for nongame fish, mostly 

minnow species, and as a riparian habitat for wildlife. This 

also holds true for all of the tributaries to Jack Morrow Creek. 

The streams in the Red Desert Basin and the tributaries 

flowing into the Green River drainage are mostly intermittent 

streams and have valuable riparian and water source assets for 

terrestrial wildlife in such a water-short area. 

Riparian inventory using Proper Functioning Condition 

methodology has been completed (see Watershed section). 

There are numerous small reservoirs and some natural 

ponds (dune area) scattered throughout the planning area 

which function primarily as stock water reservoirs. These 

standing waters and their aquatic communities create an 

important early season resource base for the production of 

food organisms (invertebrates) and nesting sites for waterfowl 

and other birds common to the aquatic environment. A lentic 

PFC inventory of these sites (specifically the flockets - dune 

ponds) will be completed in Summer 2000. 

Since the aquatic and riparian habitat is a reflection of the 

watershed’s health any activities that affect the quality and 

health of watershed and its vegetative cover will directly 

affect the aquatic environment. Conflicts to the aquatic 

environment are not limited to livestock grazing. Also included are things such as road development, oil and gas 

development activities, off-road use, fire, ecological seral 

stage of the plant communities, mining, recreation, irrigation 

and diversions, etc. Proper management of all activities and 

resources is essential for high quality riparian and aquatic 

conditions. 

Threatened, Endangered, and Special 

Status Species 

Special Status species are those plant and animal species 

which are proposed for listing, officially listed (threatened 

and endangered), or candidates for listing as threatened or 

endangered by the Secretary of the Interior under the provisions of the Endangered Species Act; those listed or proposed 

for listing by a state in a category implying potential endangerment or extinction; and those designated by each BLM State 

Director as sensitive. 

The management actions for special status species apply 

only to BLM-administered public lands. Emphasizing management of these species on public lands and preventing these 

species from being listed as threatened or endangered would 

benefit all parties within the planning area. When species are 

listed as threatened and endangered, by law they become more 

universally protected on private and state-owned lands, in 

addition to federal lands. 

In October 1999, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

supplied species lists to be considered in preparing the Jack 

Morrow Hills Coordinated Activity Plan. The following plant 

and animal species occur or may occur within the planning 

area. 

Listed Species 

Black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) 

Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 

Whooping crane (Grus americana) 

Colorado River fish species: 

Bonytail chub (Gila robusta elegans) 

Colorado pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius) 

Humpback chub (Gila cypha) 

Razorback sucker (Xyrauchin texanus) 

Blowout penstemon (Penstemon haydenii) 

Ute ladies’-tresses (Spiranthes diluvialis) 

Proposed Species 

Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) 

Mountain plover (Chadrius montanus) 

Candidate Species 

Swift fox (Vulpes velox) 

Special Status Species 

Small rockcress (Arabis pusilla)

Wolverine (Gulo gulo)

Pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis)

Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) (recently downlisted)

Ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis)

Swainson’s hawk (Buteo swansoni)

Long-billed curlew (Numenius americanus)

White-faced ibis (Plegadis chihi)

Flannelmouth sucker (Catostomus latipinnis)

Meadow pussytoes (Antennaria arcuata)

Large-fruited bladderpod (Lesquerella macrocarpa)

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Current Status and Habitat Use by Threatened and Endangered Species 

Four federally listed endangered species may have inhabited the planning area. Listed species include black-footed 

ferret, bald eagle, whooping crane, Colorado River fish species, blowout penstemon, and Ute ladies’-tresses. 

Black-Footed Ferret (Mustela nigripes) 

There is historical documentation of presence of ferrets 

near the planning area as late as 1984 . Other areas where 

ferrets are presumed to have occurred near the planning area 

are Sublette Flats, Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge, and 

the Red Desert. Potential areas of ferret habitat can be 

delineated due to their association with prairie dogs and 

prairie dog colonies. Researchers have concluded that the 

Date Location 

black-footed ferret has never been very abundant based upon 

archaeological and historical evidence. 

Primarily nocturnal, ferrets spend much of their time below 

ground and are rarely seen during daylight hours. This 

behavior is probably the reason for so few sightings recorded 

here and elsewhere. 

Few formal surveys and inventories of prairie dogs have 

been conducted in the planning area. Numerous scattered 

white-tailed prairie dog colonies occur south of Tule Butte 

near Fifteen Mile flowing well, north of Essex Mountain, in 

the Oregon Buttes-Continental peak area and in the Red 

Desert. Known colonies have been plotted on map mylar for 

placement in the BLM GIS database. 

The following black-footed ferret sightings were near the 

planning area boundary. 

Animal(s) Comments 

Spring 1969 Sweetwater County, 2 miles west of Eden 1 adult, 4 kits Confirmed 

Summer 1979 Sweetwater Co., Superior Exit on I-80 l adult(?) Probable 

May 1983 T. 23 N., R. 98 W., Sweetwater Co. 1 adult Confirmed 

July 1983 Sweetwater Co., Bar-X Road near I-80 l adult(?) Probable 

June 1984 T. 26 N., R. 105 W., Sec 36 on S. side of Hwy 28. 1 adult(?) Probable 

Management Conflicts Animal damage control programs 

probably have had the greatest impact on ferret mortality. 

From the 1920s until the mid-1970s, predator control through 

trapping and poisoning resulted in some black-footed ferret 

mortality. Secondary poisoning of ferrets is also known to 

have occurred from highly toxic rodenticides used in prairie 

dog eradication programs. 

Coyote trapping and sport prairie dog hunting activities 

have resulted in some ferret mortality in the past. These 

activities need some measure of control and agencies need to 

initiate efforts to educate hunters and trappers about ferret 

identification and their habits. 

Land use activities such as rights-of-ways, energy developments, Special Land Use and Free Use permits, urban 

expansion, mineral extraction, and grazing programs can 

effect the quality and quantity of ferret habitat and therefore 

require inventory and clearances. Habitat losses can be 

minimized through analysis, planning, and coordination. 

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 

The main food item for this species is fish. Bald eagles nest 

in association with water, and most often winter where fish are 

available. Additional food items may include ducks, coots, 

rabbits, carrion, and small rodents. 

The accelerated decline in numbers of the species since 

World War II has been attributed to several factors. The bald 

eagle and other raptors have suffered reproductive problems 

due to organochloride pesticide poisoning. Raptors are especially susceptible to accidental poisoning through animal 

damage control programs, primarily when administered by 

untrained or unauthorized individuals. 

Shooting is another significant factor, causing fledgling 

mortality estimated as high as 75 percent in some areas. 

Electrocution, while still a problem, has been reduced through 

alteration and redesign of many power transmission systems 

both nationally and locally. 

Habitat Requirements Bald eagles are found primarily along 

rivers and inland lakes where their nests are usually located in 

large coniferous or deciduous trees. Streams and rivers with 

trees, especially conifers, are uncommon to nonexistent in the 

planning area. Currently, the only known active bald eagle 

nesting site near the planning area is on the Green River on 

Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge. 

In the planning area, the bald eagle is classed as a casual 

migrant. They have been observed feeding on carrion near 

Pacific Butte and perched on signposts along the AT&T 

pipeline during winter. The bald eagle is fully protected by the 

Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Federal Register 1978), the 

Bald and Golden Eagle Act, the Migratory Bird Treaties, and 

Wyoming Game and Fish Department laws. 

Management Conflicts The primary factor influencing the 

bald eagle’s habitation of the area is available undisturbed 

habitat and the absence of significant river systems with large 

woody vegetation. 

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Whooping Crane (Grus americana) 

As of March 21, 1990, only 13 whooping cranes were 

known to be alive and free-roaming in the Gray’s Lake flock. 

Several of these found their way into the Rock Springs Field 

Office area over the past eight or nine years. In 1986, two 

Colorado State University summer wildlife volunteers working for BLM in the Farson area observed a lone whooping 

crane on several occasions. The USFWS was notified and the 

bird was captured and taken to Grays Lake in an attempt to 

have it mated to another crane. During 1987 and 1988 a pair 

did spend part of the summers in Farson grainfields and 

wetlands. Two observations of whooping cranes were made 

along Pacific Creek wetlands in 1991 and 1992. 

Whooping cranes select muskeg, prairie potholes, and 

marshes for nesting. Their nest is a flat mound in the marsh 

usually containing two buff, blotched eggs. Food habits are 

similar to the resident sandhill crane (Grus canadensis). Though 

largely vegetarian, they eat some animal food. Insects, snails, 

frogs, mice, lizards, snakes and fish have been recorded in 

their diet. Besides eating seeds of wild plants and grains, they 

also consume herbaceous foliage, underground stems, tubers, 

and roots. 

Conflicts The greatest mortality among whooping cranes is 

collision with powerlines, cables, and fences along streams, 

wetlands, and marshes. New rights-of-way should also consider the impacts to large migrating birds and mitigate accordingly. Agricultural grain depredation in the Farson Project 

area by both sandhill cranes and whooping cranes pose management conflicts which have been resolved by the WGFD 

paying depredation claims to landowners. 

Major facilities and activities which conflict with whooping crane habitat include: powerlines/river cable crossings, 

riparian fences; recreation (off-road vehicles, camping, etc.), 

shooting (sport hunting and poaching), wetlands conversion, 

riparian habitat losses, agriculture and irrigation, water diversions, hazardous wastes, and chemical spills. 

Colorado River Fish Species 

The bonytail chub (Gila robusta elegans), Colorado 

pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius), humpback chub (Gila 

cypha), and razorback sucker (Xyrauchin texanus) no longer 

occur in Wyoming. These fishes are only affected by water 

depletions to the Colorado River System. Consultations with 

the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are required for any water 

depletions within the Colorado River and Platte River systems. 

Blowout penstemon (Penstemon hayendii) 

See the discussion at Special Status Plant Species in this 

chapter. 

Ute Ladies’-tresses (Spiranthes diluvialis) 

See the discussion at Special Status Plant Species in this 

chapter. 

Proposed Species 

Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis) 

The last known lynx in the Field Office area was taken by 

a hunter in the 1960s just north of Big Sandy Reservoir. This 

area is out of its “typical” habitat, although the cat probably 

came from the Wind River Mountains or foothills. Cat tracks 

are often seen in the Prospect Mountains and along the Wind 

River Mountains but these have always identified as cougar or 

bobcat. Commercial timber removal could remove some 

valuable cover, but size of sale blocks and select cutting 

practices should reduce impacts to this species. The planning 

area has no commercial timber areas, only small, isolated 

woodlands. Modest restrictions in the way animal damage 

control is conducted will help reduce incidental take of this 

species. 

Population Distribution There is little population information on the lynx in the Rock Springs Field Office. Lynx were 

historically distributed throughout the Wyoming Range, Wind 

River Range, and Uinta Mountains. Lynx, like other species, 

wander out of the preferred or typical range and are seen in 

badland and desert habitats where they compete with other 

similar predators. However, outside forested habitats, they 

are more susceptible to predation due to a lack of escape cover. 

Habitat Requirements Lynx are generally found in association with snowshoe hare populations. The planning area has 

no known snowshoe populations. Highways and roadways 

can lead to vehicle/lynx collisions and impede movement. 

Primary habitat for lynx is Engelmann spruce, subalpine fir, 

and lodgepole pine at the higher elevations, generally 6,500 to 

9,800 feet. This habitat occurs in only limited amounts in the 

planning area. 

Conflicts Removal of old growth timber, clearcutting in large 

blocks, juniper chaining, and burning are all detrimental to 

perpetuating the species. Road intrusion into forested habitats 

results in displacement and often collision with individuals. 

Forest road reclamation and obliteration benefits lynx habitat. 

Wilderness also benefits lynx habitat. In some areas, timber 

management and fire suppression have affected lynx habitat. 

Conversion or alteration of native vegetation communities in 

and adjacent to lynx habitat would decrease prey populations. 

Pre-commercial thinning likely has a direct negative effect on 

snowshoe hare habitat, at least in the short term. 

Grazing use levels, by livestock or wild ungulates, may 

increase competition for forage resources with lynx prey. By 

changing native plant communities, such as aspen and high 

elevation riparian willow, grazing can degrade snowshoe hare 

habitat. 

Road and trail access and recreational use that results in 

snow compaction allows ingress of coyotes into lynx habitat, 

and increased competition for prey. 

Poison baits, traps, snares, and any type of animal damage 

control which is not specific to a species pose a threat to the 

lynx. Lynx may be incidentally trapped during the trapping 

seasons for other carnivores, particularly bobcat and wolverine (Squires and Lorean 1999). 

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AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

Mountain Plover (Charadrius montanus) 

Population Distribution The mountain plover is a candidate 

species (proposed threatened) inhabiting the high dry shortgrass plains/prairies east of the Rocky Mountains, as well as 

the sagebrush grasslands throughout Wyoming. It is also 

known from northern Utah and northwestern Colorado. The 

focus of breeding activity appears to be northeastern Colorado. 

Taxonomic changes recently placed this bird with other 

plovers and killdeer. The bird is of bland coloration about the 

size of a killdeer without the striking white marking on the 

head and breast rings. The bird summers and nests in areas of 

naturally occurring low vegetation within the planning area. 

Habitat Requirements Parrish, et al. (1993) noted that mountain plover nests in northeastern Wyoming were found in 

areas of short (< 4 inches) vegetation on slopes of less than 3 

percent. Any short grass, short shrub, or cushion plant 

communities could be considered as nesting habitat. In 

Colorado, the mountain plover diet is composed of 99.7 

percent arthropods, with beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, and 

ants the most important food items (Baldwin 1971). Breeding 

bird surveys between 1966 and 1987 show an overall decline 

in the continental population of mountain plovers (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 1994a). Surveys 

completed in 1991 indicate that only 4,360 to 5,610 mountain 

plovers remain on the North American continent. 

Conflicts Probably the most important reasons for the decline 

of the mountain plover are human impacts and habitat alteration on breeding grounds and the degradation in the quality 

of wintering habitats. Loss of breeding habitat due to cultivation and prey base declines resulting from pesticide use are 

also threats to mountain plover survival. Cattle often maintain 

the open blue grama/buffalo grass preferred by mountain 

plovers so livestock grazing may benefit the species to some 

extent. However livestock grazing can also result in a reduction in prey species for mountain plovers due to the reduction 

in vegetation. Surveys would help determine breeding and 

nesting areas. Activities would avoid nesting and breeding 

areas during these periods. 

Candidate Species 

Swift Fox (Vulpes velox) 

Population Distribution The swift fox, a federal candidate 

species, is a resident of the Great Plains from the northern 

Rocky Mountain foothills in southern Canada to western 

Texas. In Wyoming, this species primarily inhabits the 

eastern Great Plains grasslands of the state. A few sightings 

have been reported in the Rock Springs Field Office area. 

Habitat Requirements Living up to its name, the swift fox 

can reach speeds of over 50 km/hr. This speed allows it to 

catch its prey and also to escape predators such as coyotes, 

golden eagles, bobcats, and wolves. Swift fox dens are 

burrows located in sandy soil on open, bald prairie, along 

fence rows or in plowed fields and often in association with 

prairie dog towns. The diet of swift fox varies seasonally. 

Hunting primarily at night, they feed on a variety of food 

including: small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and 

insects. 

Conflicts Historically, the major threat to the swift fox has 

been extermination by humans. Trapping, shooting, and 

poisoning as part of predator control programs for coyotes and 

red fox caused the extinction of the Canadian population of 

this species. While it is now illegal to kill swift foxes, some 

are still confused with coyotes and red fox and are killed by 

mistake. 

Current threats to the swift fox include habitat loss, automobile traffic, accidental killings, and conversion of grasslands to agricultural lands. 

Special Status Species 

Small Rockcress (Arabis pusilla) 

See the discussion at Special Status Plant Species in this 

chapter. 

Wolverine (Gulo gulo) 

No sightings of wolverine or their scat or tracks have been 

made in or adjacent to the planning area in over 20 years. They 

are not expected to inhabit the planning area in the long term. 

The Oregon Buttes provide the only habitat suitable for this 

species in the planning area. 

Management Conflicts Animal damage control activities 

and encroachment on undisturbed forested lands are the 

primary conflicts with this species. 

Pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis) 

The Wyoming population of this small rabbit was first 

described by Tom Campbell of Biota Research in a paper of 

1980. It was thought to occur primarily within sandy hummock habitats south and west of Little America. The Nature 

Conservancy has continued inventory of this species in the 

Field Office area during recent years and conclude the population is interspersed within desert cottontail (S. auduboni) 

populations. Pygmy rabbits are found over a broader area than 

first thought, now extending into the Red Desert and south into 

South Baxter Basin. With dramatic cyclic trends in rabbit 

species, the long-term effect of mineral development, road 

development, and other factors of habitat loss cannot be 

realistically assessed. Hunting is not considered to be a factor 

in long-term population alteration. Some discussion of management direction toward commodity development discussed 

in the Preferred Alternative may adversely impact habitat for 

this species. 

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) 

The peregrine falcon was removed from the endangered 

species list in August 1999. The BLM will continue its current 

management practices until the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

releases its management plan for the peregrine falcon. 

The apparent reason for the precipitous decline of the 

species in the United States, beginning in 1947, was the loss 

in reproduction due to sublethal chronic poisoning from 

organic chlorine pesticides. This poisoning is manifested in 

the thinning of egg shells which results in accidental breakage. 

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AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

Principal food items of peregrines are perching birds, 

shorebirds, and waterfowl. The presence of a nesting cliff is 

a preferred habitat component, with falcons at times nesting 

on slopes, river cut-banks, tall buildings, and occasionally on 

sand dunes. Potential peregrine falcon nesting habitat exists 

in some Jack Morrow habitats such as along the Sweetwater 

River, Steamboat Mountain, and on Oregon Buttes. Sightings 

of peregrines in the planning area are rare and no active nests 

are currently known to exist here. In 1976 a peregrine was 

observed by a BLM contract survey crew on Oregon Buttes. 

Sightings in 1979 and 1986 on the Sweetwater River gave 

hope of finding an aerie on uninventoried cliffs. That inventory has not yet been performed. 

Management Considerations Management efforts to improve the number of peregrines and reduce mortality should 

include: (1) Education of public land users and school groups 

concerning the biological role of peregrines and other raptors 

in our natural ecosystem, (2) Identified peregrine aeries and 

associated habitat should be given total protection and potentially suitable habitat should be given status preventing its 

alteration or disposal, and (3) Suitable hack sites should be 

identified and BLM should cooperate in establishing peregrines in these areas. 

Management Conflicts Considerable time, effort, and money 

have gone into peregrine recovery programs. They are successfully inhabiting metropolitan areas with high-rise buildings. In the west, peregrine hacking into the Greater 

Yellowstone Ecosystem have led to somewhat unknown 

success. Many birds are showing up outside the Greater 

Yellowstone Ecosystem and are probably the result of the 

extensive planting efforts. Mortality and poor nest establishment are attributed to one or more of the following conflicts: 

habitat encroachment, wetlands loss, riparian habitat degradation and loss, agriculture, pesticides and toxic wastes, 

recreation (off-road vehicle, float boating, etc.), shooting, 

drought, and illegal take by falconers. 

Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis) 

The ferruginous hawk is the second most abundant of the 

Buteo hawks to be found nesting in the Rock Springs Field 

Office area. This hawk is a desert raptor commonly found in 

remote habitats of the planning area which provide ledges or 

pinnacles for nesting. Ferruginous hawks are opportunistic 

nesters having built upon sheepherder “monuments” in the 

Red Desert, on cliffs, atop clay pinnacles, in nests of other 

raptors, in juniper trees, on the ground, and on artificial 

nesting platforms. 

Nest construction consists of sagebrush sticks, lath, twine, 

cow dung, and whatever they may find. Nesting is a highly 

sensitive time in the Ferruginous life cycle and they frequently 

abandon eggs when disturbed. Rabbits and ground squirrels 

are the most common prey species. Nests commonly contain 

three to four young. 

Both light and dark color phases exist in the planning area 

with the dark phases (almost universally males) most colorful 

but uncommon. Resurveys of historic nesting habitat (1984-

1994) show a general decline in the nesting success of these 

birds. This may, in part, be due to the prolonged drought and 

poor populations of rodents and other small prey. An effort 

should be made to determine what specific factors are responsible for the decline in ferruginous hawk nesting activity and 

the management efforts required to reverse this trend. 

Management Conflicts Increased human activity in areas 

with nesting populations of ferruginous hawks create adverse 

impacts if activity occurs before hatching. A thorough inventory of the planning area in all habitats will be necessary to 

identify and afford protection to ferruginous hawk nests. 

They are particularly vulnerable as most of their nests are 

easily accessible from the ground. 

The ferruginous hawk is protected by the Migratory Bird 

Treaty Act of 1913, and an additional treaty signed with 

Mexico in March 1972. The bird is also protected by Wyoming state law. Falconry permits have been issued for 

ferruginous hawks, with capture quotas established in 1973. 

Some of the conflicts identified with ferruginous hawks 

include power lines, fences, livestock grazing, mineral exploration/development, off-road vehicles, and predator control 

activities. 

Swainson’s Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) 

The Swainson’s hawk winters in Mexico and Central 

America, migrating north in April. They are commonly found 

on dry plains, open foothills, open forest, sparse trees, and 

river bottoms. Nesting occurs on the Little Sandy and Big 

Sandy Rivers and in woodlots near Eden and Farson. 

Swainson’s build a small, shallow nest of twigs lined with 

bark, grass, or other greenery. They may also occupy nests 

previously used by Red-tailed hawks. Two or three eggs are 

laid in late April or early May. Rabbits usually comprise more 

than 90 percent of their diet with grasshoppers, small mammals and birds making up the remainder. 

Management Conflicts Nesting habitat for this species has 

declined over the past 20 years as mature trees have died and 

are not being replaced. Woodlots in the Farson farmlands are 

becoming overmature and decadent. Very few shelter belts 

are being planted to replace dead and dying trees. Overbank 

flooding of the Big Sandy River has not occurred since 1980, 

resulting in little or no recruitment of tree seedlings. Grazing 

of stream bottoms has had detrimental effects on tree and 

shrub recruitment and plant vigor. The Sweetwater River has 

not been inventoried for raptors and additional Swainson’s 

hawk nests may be found in this habitat. Livestock grazing, 

recreation activities, excessive beaver activities, agriculture, 

and mineral exploration conflict with habitat management for 

the Swainson’s hawk. 

Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) 

This large bird is known to have occurred in the Rock 

Springs Field Office area, although the last recorded observations were in the mid-1980s. They were common residents at 

Circle Springs and Maggie Springs until heavy livestock 

grazing and the drought impacted their historic habitat. Little 

is known of their activities in suitable habitats in the planning 

area. Long-billed curlews are known to occupy arid habitats 

on prairie dog colonies in the tall grass prairie (Nebraska). In 

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AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

Sweetwater County, they are most commonly seen during 

spring migration and casual during late summer. 

Management Conflicts Wetland and riparian habitat loss 

and degradation may be associated with the decline of longbilled curlew in the planning area. Destruction or alteration of 

prairie dog towns may also be associated with the decline of 

the long-billed curlew. 

White-faced ibis (Plegadis chihi) 

These birds are commonly seen in the planning area spring 

through fall. A large nesting colony had used the Old Eden 

Reservoir slough annually until drought in 1986. Loss of this 

water source and loss of suitable habitat at Old Eden Reservoir 

slough since then, has resulted in no known nesting by the 

species at this location. The prolonged drought may result in 

losing birds aware of this nesting site and will require 

recolonization by pioneering birds. Sightings of white-faced 

ibis were common in wetland habitats of the Sand Dunes and 

along perennial streams in the planning area prior to this longterm drought. Sightings of white-faced ibis are still common 

in the Farson/Eden area during the migration. 

Management Conflicts Wetland and riparian activities causing degradation or habitat loss are in direct conflict with 

management of this species. Maintaining some residual cover 

along streams and standing waters is necessary for nesting. 

Fox and raccoons are somewhat predatory on nesting ibis. 

Management should be directed at improving residual nesting 

and escape cover, maintaining healthy riparian habitats and 

helping maintain flooded areas for nesting. 

Flannelmouth sucker (Catostomus latipinnis) 

The species selects river runs, shorelines, eddies, and pools 

of main river systems. During the 1970s and early 1980s, they 

migrated up the Green River from Flaming Gorge Reservoir 

in large numbers to spawn in the Big Sandy River, Slate Creek, 

and even into Alkali Creek. Spawning fish were usually 12 to 

16 inches in length and averaged about one pound in weight. 

They provided a good forage base for great-blue herons which 

nested on Seedskadee and the Green River along with mink 

and other fish predators. The last known spawning run of 

significance was 1985, with few fish spawning up the Big 

Sandy River in 1992 and 1993. 

Meadow Pussytoes (Antennaria arcuata) 

See the discussion at Special Status Plant Species in this 

chapter. 

Large-Fruited Bladderpod (Lesquerella macrocarpa) 

See the discussion at Special Status Plant Species in this 

chapter. 

SPECIAL MANAGEMENT 

AREAS 

Greater Sand Dunes ACEC (38,650 

acres in the planning area) 

The Greater Sand Dunes are part of the larger Killpecker 

dune field, the largest active dune field in North America. The 

Killpecker dune field encompasses approximately 109,000 

acres, extending 55 miles east from the Green River Basin 

across the Continental Divide into the Great Divide Basin. In 

1982, the Greater Sand Dunes (including Boars Tusk) was 

designated an ACEC to protect geologic, cultural, and wildlife 

values with management objective to preserve and protect the 

integrity of the unique values in the area for future public use 

and enjoyment. The ACEC comprises about 38,650 acres 

(approximately 38 percent of the Killpecker dune field). 

The ACEC is unique to the Wyoming Basin and contains 

values that are “geologically, aesthetically and biologically 

interesting” (McGrew, et al. 1974). In addition, the ACEC 

includes prehistoric and historic values, high scenic values, 

diverse wildlife and habitats, high recreation use, and high oil 

and gas values. 

The Greater Sand Dunes ACEC encompasses portions of 

the Sand Dunes and Buffalo Hump Wilderness Study Areas 

(WSA). These WSAs are located in the western portion of the 

ACEC and are closed by policy to oil and gas leasing. This 

portion of the ACEC is closed to off-road vehicle use. 

Crookston Ranch is closed to ORV use, and the road 

around Boars Tusk is closed. The unstabilized sand dunes in 

the eastern portion of the ACEC are open to ORV use. The 

remainder of the eastern portion is limited to existing roads 

and trails. 

Recreation use, particularly with all-terrain vehicles 

(ATVs), is high in parts of the ACEC. An ORV open area is 

located on the unstabilized dunes in the eastern portion of the 

ACEC. A parking lot was developed to provide access to the 

dunes 

ATV user days in the ACEC are estimated at 3,200 a year 

and appear to be increasing. Other recreation user days such 

as sightseeing, hunting, horseback riding, and environmental 

education field trips in the ACEC are estimated at 10,000 per 

year. 

The historic Crookston Ranch site (40 acres) is located in 

the ACEC south of the ORV parking lot. The site is potentially 

eligible for the national Register of Historic Places as a 

representative example of vernacular architecture within the 

Wyoming Basin homesteading era. The site is closed to 

surface disturbing activities. Some damage is occurring to the 

riparian area on the ranch site from ATV users and campers. 

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AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

The dunes within the Greater Sand Dunes ACEC help to 

support the desert elk herd known to occupy this unique desert 

habitat. Large numbers of elk occupy the area during the 

spring, summer, and fall, using dunal ponds (flockets) as a 

source of water. The dunal ponds generally are not as alkaline 

as other water sources in the area and are known to provide an 

oasis for plants and animals. The dunal ponds also provide 

excellent habitat for waterfowl, amphibians, songbirds, and 

small mammals. Waterfowl species use these ponds for 

nesting in the spring, raising young in the summer, and staging 

in the fall. Amphibians, such as the tiger salamander, can be 

found in many dunal ponds reproducing and rearing young. 

Livestock grazing in the Greater Sand Dunes ACEC includes both cattle and sheep use. Cattle use the area mostly in 

the spring and summer months, while sheep use the area 

mostly in the late fall and early winter. Cattle use on the dunal 

ponds can be heavy while sheep use is generally light. 

Heavy use of the dunal ponds in portions of the Greater 

Sand Dunes ACEC by cattle may cause ecological damage to 

the ponds and surrounding riparian vegetation by trampling 

the riparian vegetation and stirring up the bottom of the ponds 

by wading in the water. This wading in the water causes 

sediments to become suspended. Pollution also occurs from 

cattle defecating in the ponds making them more eutrophic 

which reduces the oxygen available in the water for amphibians, making successful reproduction difficult. Spring and 

summer use of the ponds by cattle is also disruptive to nesting 

waterfowl. 

In 1983, there were 10 producing gas wells in the eastern 

portion of the ACEC, 2 of which were in the Sand Dunes 

WSA. This level of development was considered acceptable 

in 1983 and it met the ACEC objectives. 

Portions of the ACEC are leased for oil and gas; other 

portions are unleased. Presently, there are 17 producing gas 

wells within the eastern portion of the ACEC, one of which is 

inside the Sand Dunes WSA. Industry is interested in developing this area further; including development of up to 10 

coalbed methane wells in the eastern part of the ACEC. To 

remain consistent with the purpose and intent of the ACEC, 

clear and specific management direction is needed on whether 

further oil and gas development will be allowed within the 

ACEC, and if so, where and at what level. 

Oil and gas activity has caused some conflicts with ATV 

use. Oil and gas facilities, particularly linear facilities such as 

pipelines, may be buried but after a period of time, as the sand 

moves and shifts, portions of these pipelines become exposed 

creating a hazard for ATV users driving across the sand. Some 

pipelines were placed aboveground when constructed and 

have since been buried in the sand. Different portions of the 

pipelines could be exposed at different times and change 

often, making it difficult to identify and mark these hazards for 

the ATV user. As more oil and gas development occurs, more 

hazards would be created. 

Approximately 9,840 acres of federal coal lands in the 

ACEC are closed to coal leasing and development by surface 

mining methods and related surface facilities and activities. 

This area is open to consideration for coal leasing (i.e., new 

competitive leasing, emergency leasing, lease modifications, 

and exchange proposals, under the Federal Coal Management 

Program) by subsurface mining methods, with placement of 

surface facilities extremely limited and with appropriate and 

necessary conditions and requirements for protection of other 

land and resource values and uses. Any activities or ancillary 

facilities related to subsurface mining would be prohibited on 

about 1,400 acres of BLM-administered public lands surrounding and including the Boars Tusk (see Appendix 3). 

The ACEC is managed as a VRM class II area. As more oil 

and gas development occurs, more effects to the visual quality 

of the area will occur. 

Oregon Buttes ACEC (3,450 acres in 

the planning area) 

The Oregon Buttes ACEC was designated in April 1982 to 

protect the scenic integrity as a historic landmark. The Oregon 

Buttes ACEC lies on a structural platform which joins the 

Rock Springs Uplift to the Wind River Mountain Range 

(Zeller and Stephens 1969). At Oregon Buttes, the Continental Divide splits into east and west rims, which rejoin at 

Bridgers’ Pass, south of Rawlins, and encloses an area known 

as the Great Divide Basin. 

Because the Buttes are a dominating landform, they were 

often noted by emigrants using the Oregon Trail, marking the 

halfway point in their journey from Independence, Missouri, 

to the Pacific Ocean. The Buttes also denoted the Continental 

Divide and the point where they crossed into the Pacific 

watershed. 

The Oregon Buttes provide excellent wildlife habitat. The 

area is used heavily by big game species, and the Buttes 

themselves are occupied by many raptors. Deer fawning and 

elk calving occurs in the area. 

Bird watching, wildlife photography, backpacking, hunting, horseback riding, and sightseeing are uses which now 

exist in the area. These uses are compatible with the goals for 

the ACEC. 

Three wilderness study areas overlap the ACEC; thus, the 

ACEC is closed to oil and gas leasing and is also closed to 

surface disturbing activities and motorized vehicle use. 

Red Desert Watershed Area (169,010 acres in 

the planning area) 

About two thirds of the Oregon Buttes ACEC occurs in the 

Red Desert Watershed Area. A portion of the Steamboat 

Mountain ACEC (about 990 acres) also occurs in the area. 

The Watershed Area was identified as a watershed management area in the Green River RMP (USDI 1997). The 

management objective established for the Watershed Area in 

the Green River RMP is to manage for all resource values in 

the Red Desert area with emphasis on protection of visual 

resources, watershed values, and wildlife resources and to 

provide large areas of unobstructed views for enjoyment of 

scenic qualities. The Watershed Area is managed to ensure 

developments and activities conform with the concepts of 

245
AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

open space. Management prescriptions are summarized in 

Appendix 3). 

There has been less formal inventory for cultural resources 

in the Red Desert area than anywhere else in the planning area. 

The limited inventory indicates the same density and diversity 

of sites in the Red Desert area as elsewhere in the planning 

area. Several stone circle sites are located below Steamboat 

Mountain. A very old rock art site exists west of Black Rock. 

Historic resources in the area include the Point of Rocks to 

South Pass freight road and a station at Freighters Gap. This 

historic linear corridor is significant on a regional level. The 

exact location of the Freighter Gap station is not known. 

There are some sites related to early ranching in the Red 

Desert area, but most of these are on private land. A historical 

context for the area has not been written, and the significance 

of particular sites should not be evaluated without some kind 

of areal context. 

The Red Desert area does not seem to have any particular 

unifying settlement pattern reflected in the prehistoric or 

historic record; however, there is a very limited data base to 

analyze. There are undoubtedly important sites in the sand 

dunes within the area. Otherwise, the Red Desert area probably does not differ remarkably from the remainder of the 

planning area. 

The entire Red Desert Watershed Area is open to grazing. 

The BLM-administered public lands within the watershed 

area are open to leasing, except those areas currently managed 

under the Interim Wilderness Management Policy and Guidelines for Lands under Wilderness Review (about 73,080 

acres). Once final wilderness determinations are made, those 

areas not selected will be opened to leasing, although some 

areas may require special stipulations to protect unique resources. 

Most of the watershed area is underlain with deep deposits 

of coal; however, the entire watershed does not have coal at 

depths economically feasible to mine. No coal mining activities are occurring in the watershed area at this time. The Great 

Divide Basin is encumbered by the coal withdrawal, which 

precludes disposal of the coal resource. About 1,710 acres of 

federal coal lands within that portion of the Coal Occurrence 

and Development Potential area would be open to further 

consideration for coal leasing and development (i.e., new 

competitive leasing, emergency leasing, lease modifications, 

and exchange proposals, under the Federal Coal Management 

Program) with appropriate and necessary conditions and 

requirements for protection of other land and resource values 

and uses (see Appendix 3). 

Coal gas is present only where coal is found; thus, the 

potential exists for development in the southern half of the 

watershed area. Limited exploration and no development for 

coalbed methane has occurred. 

Potential exists for development of mineral materials (sand, 

gravel, and volcanic rock). 

A number of current mining claims affect the northeastern 

portion of the planning area, specifically areas north of the 

Honeycomb Buttes and Oregon Buttes (Map 48). No Notices 

or Plans have been received for any of these claims. 

The entire watershed area is open to seismic activity, 

except in wilderness study areas (although seismic activity 

can occur within WSAs depending upon the method used). 

The Red Desert Watershed Area lies within the western 

portion of the Great Divide Basin, a 3,500-square mile internally drained basin. It is dominated by dry, shallow depressions that are the remnants of Pleistocene era lakes. Other 

geologic features found include badlands, flat-topped mesas, 

isolated buttes, and active sand dunes. Over 6 miles of faults 

lie in the northeastern part of the area. Landslides can occur 

around areas of steep terrain. Windblown sand is a common 

occurrence. Vertebrate fossils of scientific significance have 

been found in other parts of the planning area in formations 

like those in the Red Desert Watershed Area. 

The watershed area provides many recreational opportunities. Sight-seeing and hunting are two of the most popular 

forms of recreation, while rock hunters can find a variety of 

interesting rocks, including petrified wood and agates around 

the Oregon Buttes area. Outstanding opportunities exist for 

solitude. Several types of tours are available to individuals or 

groups, including wagon train, horse, and mountain bike 

tours. The Red Desert backcountry byway was identified in 

the Green River RMP. 

The management objectives are to develop, maintain, 

preserve, or enhance the various recreational activities such as 

camping, picnicking, winter sports, and collecting that occur 

in the Red Desert Watershed Area, provide for an optimum 

and satisfying visitor experience, and enhance hunting and 

fishing opportunities to maximize the visitors recreation experience. Camping restrictions limit camping to 14 days. 

ORV use has been limited to existing roads or trails. 

Many roads and trails provide access into the area including a county road network and private and BLM roads. 

The Red Desert Watershed Area is dominated by well to 

excessively drained soils from 10 to 40 inches deep over 

bedrock. The dominant soil types have a sandy loam, fine 

sandy loam, or loam surface and substrata. These soils formed 

on upland plains dissected by rocky ravines, short escarpments, and draws. Slopes range from 5 to 30 percent. 

Scattered throughout the basin are very deep, moderately well 

drained soils dominated by silty clays. These soils formed in 

level basins and on fans derived from alkaline and saline 

lacustrine deposits. Included are areas of playa lakes which 

seasonally retain water. Slopes range from 0 to 3 percent. The 

Killpecker Dune field, composed of active and dormant sand 

dunes, traverses the area. Slopes range from 5 to 30 percent. 

Vegetation in the Red Desert Watershed Area primarily 

consists of big and low sagebrush communities found under 

the low density sagebrush classification (less than 35 percent 

ground cover). The big sagebrush community generally 

occupies areas where precipitation averages 7 to 9 inches per 

year and soils are sandy or loamy, well drained, and nonalkaline. The major shrub component of the big sagebrush 

community is Wyoming big sagebrush; other species com246
AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

monly found in this ecosystem are: rabbitbrush, winterfat, 

sandberg bluegrass, wheatgrasses, ricegrass, sandwort, and 

buckwheat. 

Lesquerella macrocarpa is a candidate plant species under 

review for listing as threatened or endangered under the 

Federal Endangered Species Act, and can be found on Bush 

Rim, Oregon Buttes, and Continental Peak. Lesquerella 

macrocarpa, large-fruited bladderpod, occurs on sparselyvegetated clay flats, benches, slopes, and hills. It is found in 

association with Gardner’s saltbush. 

Visual management classifications of II and III occur in the 

watershed area. The westernmost portion of the area has been 

identified as Class III, encompassing over 63,720 acres, 

although isolated flat-topped mesas and buttes are qualified as 

Class II (105,290 acres). 

The Red Desert Watershed Area falls within the Great 

Divide Basin, hydrologically a closed basin. Most streams are 

intermittent and flow toward the center of the basin into playa 

lakes where they either recharge the aquifers or, more likely, 

evaporate. Artesian groundwater, as well as unconfined 

groundwater, is found throughout the watershed area. Generally, sedimentary rocks associated with the flanks of the 

surrounding uplifts create favorable conditions for extensive 

artesian groundwater systems. Although unconfined groundwater is found, water movement is generally toward the 

central part of the Great Divide Basin. Few studies on 

groundwater occurrence within the Red Desert have been 

conducted to date. Five formations known to contain groundwater within the watershed area include the Bridger, Laney 

Shale, Wilkins Peak, Tipton Shale, and Wasatch formations. 

Water quality ranges from poor to good depending on the 

formation. Generally, the quality of groundwater decreases 

with depth. Most existing wells range from 500 to 1,200 feet 

in depth. The Almond Formation, a good potential source of 

domestic drinking water, is found in the western rim of the 

area. 

All or portions of four Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs), 

encompassing about 73,080 acres, are found within the portion of the Red Desert in the planning area. These are the 

Alkali Basin, South Pinnacles, Oregon Buttes, and Honeycomb Buttes Wilderness Study Areas. WSAs are managed 

under the “Interim Management Policy and Guidelines for 

Lands Under Wilderness Review” (USDI 1995). 

The Red Desert Watershed Area contains a portion of the 

Great Divide Basin Wild Horse Management Area. The wild 

horse area is managed by objectives outlined in the Divide 

Basin Wild Horse Herd Management Plan implemented in 

1982. This plan provides for the protection and management 

of 415 to 600 wild horses. Management objectives of diverse 

age, color, sex, and general good health have been achieved 

and are presently being maintained. 

The Great Divide Basin is a cold, high elevation, desert 

environment that provides habitats for a variety of wildlife 

species. Low precipitation, short growing season, and cool 

average ambient temperature result in limited plant growth 

and forage production. Saline soils also limit forage production and species occurrence of both plants and animals. Along 

Bush Rim, Freighter Gap, and other rims surrounding the 

basin, vegetation is highly variable and provides the most 

cover and forage. Small pockets of aspen, willow, and 

serviceberry are found where snow accumulates. Unique 

plant species occur on clay outcrops of Honeycomb Buttes 

and Continental Peak. Wildlife using the rim habitats include 

elk, deer, porcupine, golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, ferruginous hawks, prairie falcons, bobcat, sage grouse, and a variety 

of songbirds. 

Aspen provide cover for deer and elk fawn to escape from 

predators and people. The aspen also affords nesting areas for 

hawks and songbirds. Limber pine occurs on the southeast 

slope of Steamboat Mountain and Oregon Buttes where flickers, porcupine, Clark’s nutcracker, and Wortman’s goldenmantled squirrel are found. South-facing slopes containing 

serviceberry, mountain mahogany, and currants are favored 

as deer and elk winter range. Deer, elk, and antelope winter 

in various parts of the basin. 

Clay, siltstone, and sandstone outcrops across the basin are 

used by nesting raptors. Golden eagle, great-horned owl, and 

prairie falcon prefer the side slopes and cavities, while ferruginous and red-tailed hawks nest atop pinnacles and rocks. 

Raptors can be found throughout the watershed area, although 

most are concentrated in the Oregon Buttes ACEC and the 

Honeycomb Buttes WSA. Active raptor nests are closed to 

surface disturbing activities and seasonal restrictions apply to 

any construction activity during the period from February 1 

through July 31 within 1/2 mile (or line of sight depending 

upon the topography) of an active nest. 

Below the talus slopes, vegetation is predominately sagebrush, greasewood, saltbush, or forb community. These 

habitats are favored by antelope, prairie dog, jackrabbit, swift 

fox, badger, and short-horned lizard. Snowy plover, northern 

shrike, horned lark, and burrowing owl are common residents. 

Occupied white-tailed prairie dog habitat exists here. Reports 

of black-footed ferret sightings have been recorded near 

Buffalo Hump. A variety of game and non-game species 

inhabit the watershed area. Big game species such as elk, mule 

deer, and antelope can be found. 

Crucial winter range is located mostly along the southern 

and western perimeters. Seasonal restrictions apply to crucial 

winter range or calving areas from November 15 through 

April 30. 

Two sage grouse leks are located on federal lands within 

the watershed area. Seasonal restrictions apply to strutting 

grounds and nesting areas between March 15 and July 31. 

South Pass Historic Landscape ACEC 

(45,830 acres in the planning area) 

The South Pass Historic Landscape ACEC was designated 

in August 1997. Management priority and emphasis was 

given to maintaining and enhancing the visual and historical 

integrity of historic trails and their surrounding viewscape. 

The portion of the ACEC containing the Lander Cutoff of the 

Oregon/Mormon Pioneer/Pony Express/California National 

Historic Trails is not within the planning area. 

247
AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

Management of the ACEC is described in detail in the 

Green River RMP (USDI 1997) and summarized in Appendix 

3). The ACEC is open to consideration of oi land gas leasing 

with appropriate mitigation (Appendix 3). Vibroseis activity 

will not occur within 300 feet of the historic trails. Shothole 

activity would not be allowed along the trails. Other geophysical operations would be allowed within the historic trails 

corridors if site specific analysis determines that no effects 

adverse to the visual integrity of the trails would occur. 

The scenic vista of South Pass is among the most important 

historic landscapes because South Pass served as the primary 

mountain gateway to the West along the Oregon, Mormon 

Pioneer, Pony Express, and California National Historic Trails. 

The pass was the site where emigrant travelers traversed the 

Continental Divide. South Pass thus marks roughly the 

halfway point in the epic westward journey. The topographic 

setting of South Pass facilitated American settlement of the 

Pacific Northwest, thus solidifying United States sovereignty 

over that region. South Pass is located on the northwest edge 

of the Wyoming Basin — a desert-like geographical feature 

which extends south for 150 miles and forms a complete break 

in the Rocky Mountain chain. 

The site on the pass where several commemorative markers have been placed is already listed on the National Register 

of Historic Places. In 1959, the National Park Service designated South Pass a National Historic Landmark (NHL). The 

National Park Service proposed a boundary for the NHL in 

1984. An official boundary has not been delineated. 

The area having the most historic value is the viewscape 

created by the Continental Divide, including the top rim of 

Pacific Butte on the south and the divide between waters 

flowing to Pacific Creek and the Sweetwater River on the 

north and east. 

The ACEC also contains wildlife habitat values. In particular, elk use the area and two elk calving areas occur within 

the ACEC. 

Special Status Plant Species ACEC (0 

acres in the planning area) 

The Special Status Plant Species ACEC was designated in 

August 1997. Management priority and emphasis was given 

to maintaining or enhancing these species and their habitats. 

Although no species associated with the ACEC occur within 

the planning area, there is potential for other sensitive species 

(Lesquerella macrocarpa) to be added to the ACEC (see the 

special status plant species section of the affected environment). The management actions provided in the Green River 

RMP allow for consideration of other species to be added to 

this ACEC. 

Special Status Plant species are those which are proposed 

for listing, officially listed (T&E), or candidates for listing as 

threatened or endangered by the Secretary of the Interior 

under the provisions of the Endangered Species Act; those 

listed or proposed for listing by a state in a category implying 

potential endangerment or extinction; and those designated by 

State Directors as sensitive. 

Steamboat Mountain ACEC (43,310 

acres in the planning area) 

The Steamboat Mountain ACEC was designated in August 

1997 and a notice published in the Federal Register on July 10, 

1998. The Federal Register notice indicated that the ACEC 

was 43,270 acres of BLM-administered public land. Updated 

information shows that there are 43,310 acres in the ACEC. 

The boundary did not change. 

The Steamboat Mountain ACEC area contains approximately 43,310 acres of public lands. Forming the south end of 

the general location area are the talus slopes off the base of 

Steamboat Rim and Steamboat Mountain. Easterly, the area 

follows the road at the head of Split Rock Canyon northerly 

along the Continental Divide to the top of the dugway on Bush 

Rim. Here it follows a two-track trail northwesterly and north 

to Parnell Creek. The north area follows Parnell Creek 

downstream to Jack Morrow Creek, and then follows the road 

all the way to Indian Gap. From Indian Gap, it follows a two 

track southerly along the base of Steamboat Rim until it meets 

the existing Sand Dunes ACEC. From here it follows the Sand 

Dunes ACEC boundary until it reaches the talus slopes at the 

southern boundary. 

The area has highly varied topographic features and ranges 

in elevation from 7,063 to 8,683 feet. Unique habitats of 

stabilized sand dunes occur here that are found nowhere else 

in the Field Office area. Tall sagebrush communities (up to 8-

12 feet tall) provide escape cover, shelter, thermal protection, 

and parturition areas. An understory of bitterbrush and a 

variety of other shrubs and grasses provide forage. Some of 

these sagebrush have been estimated to be over 300 years old. 

Livestock grazing occurs in the ACEC and consists mainly 

of summer use by cattle. Livestock grazing did not occur from 

1991 to 1996. Currently, the vegetation in the ACEC is in 

good condition, partially due to a lack of livestock grazing, 

good yearly precipitation, and good growing seasons. 

Limber pine and aspen communities provide habitat to a 

wide variety of wildlife but are limited in size and localities 

making them extremely important. Browsing by elk is definitely limiting aspen in many locations. Other mountain shrub 

communities such as serviceberry and mountain mahogany 

provide browse in deep snow conditions. Grass-covered 

ridgetops offer additional forage for elk during crucial winter 

periods. 

Because of the terrain (steep slopes with dense sagebrush 

used for elk calving and high ridge tops utilized during the 

winter), elk use the area year round. Elk are the least tolerant 

to human disturbance of any of the big game species that 

inhabit the planning area. Activities tend to displace the elk 

great distances (to 3 miles) due to the extended sight distances 

in this desert terrain. Elk tend to abandon the Steamboat area 

rather than seek shelter in adjacent canyons because of the 

narrowness of benches and canyons and lack of hiding cover. 

Loss of crucial elk winter ranges in the Pine and Cedar Canyon 

areas due to intensive oil and gas development and human 

intrusion make the Steamboat area critical to the survival of 

this elk herd. Intensive development of any kind in the 

248
AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

Steamboat area will displacement of elk from this area for the 

term of the activity. 

Water is abundant and found in good distribution through 

springs, ephemeral and perennial streams, seeps, and reservoirs. Snow pack commonly lies along steep slopes in lee 

areas late into spring. Two supplemental wildlife waters 

(guzzlers) are found in the ACEC. Flockets associated with 

the Greater Sand Dunes ACEC are also extremely important 

to a wide variety of wildlife that inhabit the area. 

The Sands-Steamboat elk herd has fluctuated widely from 

a high population of about 1,100 in the late 1970s to about 245 

in 1979-1980. The Steamboat Herd Unit objective is 500. 

This herd ranges from just north of Green River to Red Hill 

(east of Point of Rocks) and north to Wyoming Highway 28 

and the Sweetwater River. Roughly one-third of the elk are 

found in the special management area yearlong. 

The Sands-Steamboat elk herd is very important to local 

Wyoming residents, and is one of the only true desert elk herds 

in Wyoming. These elk are highly visible and are seen 

frequently by people driving through the sand dunes, Steamboat Mountain, and the Red Desert areas. Past public meetings held for coalbed methane development in the Steamboat 

Mountain area brought up concern over this elk herd being 

displaced from the region. 

Historically, from 400 to 700 deer from the Wind River 

Mountains wintered here. Construction of the Wyoming 

Highway 28 fence in about 1979 apparently interrupted winter 

migration. Less than 250 deer presently winter in this area, 

although it serves as excellent spring-summer-fall deer range. 

Most suitable habitats are occupied by deer during these 

seasons. 

Currently the Steamboat Mountain ACEC has a seasonal 

closure to protect big game birthing areas from May 1 to June 

30. This closure applies to Steamboat proper and associated 

basin big sagebrush areas that provide cover and fawn/calf 

rearing habitat. 

The Steamboat Mountain ACEC, along with the Sand 

Dunes ACEC and overlapping crucial winter ranges is part of 

what is called the “Core Area” within the planning area. The 

“Core Area” is approximately 80,410 acres in size and is 

considered the most crucial habitat for many of the species 

(especially elk and deer) that inhabit the planning area. The 

“Core Area” and much of the entire planning area is relatively 

undisturbed from December through June. Roads in the area 

are limited and are not maintained (no snow removal) during 

this time. 

The Steamboat Mountain ACEC has a high potential for oil 

and gas development. 

About 9,870 acres of federal coal lands within that portion 

of the Coal Occurrence and Development Potential area that 

is within the ACEC, would be open to further consideration 

for coal leasing and development (i.e., new competitive leasing, emergency leasing, lease modifications, and exchange 

proposals, under the Federal Coal Management Program) 

with appropriate and necessary conditions and requirements 

for protection of other land and resource values and uses (see 

Appendix 3). Leasing and development of federal coal in the 

area (approximately 9,870 acres) will be considered for subsurface mining methods only. Development plans (e.g., mine 

plans) would be required to ensure adequate measures are 

taken to protect and maintain the elk herd and habitat. The 

location of surface facilities relating to subsurface mining 

would be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

White Mountain Petroglyphs ACEC (20 

acres in the planning area) 

The White Mountain Petroglyphs ACEC was designated 

to protect Indian drawings associated with the early ancestors 

of the present Shoshone tribe and perhaps other tribes. Common drawings include human figures, elk, buffalo, feather 

head dresses, and human stick figures. The ACEC was 

officially designated on April 16, 1982. 

Management actions are identified in the Green River 

RMP and summarized in Appendix 3). The ACEC is closed 

to surface disturbing activities and is currently unleased. 

The petroglyphs and immediate area are intensively used 

by local schools for environmental education field trips. The 

area below the petroglyph panel, adjacent to the access road, 

has been degraded by uncontrolled off-road vehicle use. 

These impacts will begin to reverse themselves if off-road 

vehicle and foot traffic are channeled by establishing a parking area and access footpath. The surrounding area is also an 

important deer fawning area and an important raptor nesting 

area. Scenic viewing of Boars Tusk and the surrounding area 

is also a popular use. The White Mountain Petroglyphs have 

received a moderate amount of vandalism over the years, 

including bullet holes, modern graffiti, and chalk marks 

within the carvings. 

249
TABLE 3-1 

UNDERGROUND WATER CLASS 

Use Suitability I II III 

Constituent Domestic Agriculture Livestock 

or Parameter Concentration1 Concentration1 Concentration1 

Aluminum (Al) --- 5.0 5.0 

Ammonia (NH3-N) 0.5 --- --­

Arsenic (As) 0.05 0.1 0.2 

Barium (Ba) 1.0 --- --­

Beryllium (Be) --- 0.1 --­

Boron (B) 0.75 0.75 5.0 

Cadmium (Cd) 0.01 0.01 0.05 

Chloride (Cl) 250.0 100.0 2,000.0 

Chromium (Cr) 0.05 0.1 0.05 

Cobalt (Co) --- 0.05 1.0 

Copper (Cu) 1.0 0.2 0.5 

Cyanide (CN) 0.2 --- --­

Fluoride (F) 1.4-2.4 --- --­

Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) 0.05 --- --­

Iron (Fe) 0.3 5.0 --­

Lead (Pb) 0.05 5.0 0.1 

Lithium (Li) --- 2.5 --­

Manganese (Mn) 0.05 0.2 --­

Mercury (Hg) 0.002 --- 0.00005 

Nickel (Ni) --- 0.2 --­

Nitrate (NO3-N) 10.0 --- --­

Nitrite (NO2-N) 1.0 --- 10.0 

Nitrite (NO3+NO2)-N --- --- 100.0 

Oil & Grease Virtually free 10.0 10.0 

Phenol 0.001 --- --­

Selenium (Se) 0.01 0.02 0.05 

Silver (Ag) 0.05 --- --­

Sulfate (SO4) 250.0 200.0 3,000.0 

Total Dissolved Solids 500.0 2,000.0 5,000.0 

Uranium (U) 5.0 5.0 5.0 

Vanadium (V) --- 0.1 0.1 

Zinc (Zn) 5.0 2.0 25.0 

pH2 6.5-9.0 s.u. 4.5-9.0 s.u. 6.5-8.5 s.u. 

SAR --- 8 --­

RSC3 --- 1.25 meq/l --­

Combined Total

 Radium 226 and

 Radium 2284 5 pCi/l 5 pCi/l 5 pCi/l 

Total Strontium 904 8 pCi/l 8 pCi/l 8 pCi/l 

Gross alpha particle

 radioactivity (including Radium 226

 but excluding Radon

 and Uranium)4 15 pCi/l 15 pCi/l 15 pCi/l 

1

 mg/l, unless otherwise indicated

2

 measured in standard units (s.u.)

3

 meq/l = milliequivalents per liter

4

 pCi/l = picoCuries per liter

250
Source: State of Wyoming, Department of Environmental Quality. "Water Quality Rules and Regulations, 

Chapter VIII." 

NOTES: Milligrams Per Liter, abbreviated mg/l, means milligrams of solute per liter of solution -- equivalent to 

parts per million assuming unit density of water. 

Standard Unit, abbreviated s.u., is the unit of measurement used to describe the numerical pH of a 

solution, fluid, or pollutant. 

Milliequivalents Per Liter, abbreviated meq/l, used to report the Residual Sodium Carbonate 

concentration in water used for irrigation, is defined as 0.001 of the equivalent weight of the ion per liter 

volume. 

PicoCuries Per Liter, abbreviated pCi/l, is a measure of radioactivity of waters or fluids. A picoCurie is 

equal to 10-12 curie; a curie is defined as 3.7 x 1010 disintegrations per second. 

pH is a term to express the intensity of the acid or basic condition. A pH value of 7.0 at 25 degrees 

Centigrade is neutral, with pHs of less than 7.0 progressively more acid and pHs of greater than 7.0 

progressively more basic. 

Residual Sodium Carbonate, abbreviated RSC, is defined as twice the concentration of carbonate or 

bicarbonate a water would contain after subtracting an amount equivalent to the calcium plus the 

magnesium, and is a measure of potential hazard which exists when waters high in carbonate and 

bicarbonate and relatively low in calcium and magnesium are used for irrigation. 

Sodium Adsorption Ratio, abbreviated SAR, of a water is defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture 

Laboratory (1954) as: 

SAR ’ (Na%) 

(Ca ±2)%(Mg ±2) 

2

where ion concentrations are expressed in milliequivalents per liter. The SAR predicts reasonably well 

the degree to which irrigation water tends to enter into cation-exchange reactions in soil. 

Total Dissolved Solids, abbreviated TDS, is the sum of the dissolved mineral constituents in water, 

expressed as mg/l. 

The Rock Springs Field Office does not routinely test for all parameters listed in the DEQ guidelines. 

The choice of test parameters is based upon known potential hazards and information needed for 

ongoing studies and monitoring. 

251
TABLE 3-2

ALLOTMENT ACRES LOCATED WITHIN

THE JACK MORROW HILLS PLANNING AREA

Allotment Number Allotment Category Public Lands in 

Entire Allotment 

Public Lands in 

Jack Morrow 

Hills 

% of Public Lands 

in Allotment That 

Are in JMHCAP 

Area 

301600 4th of July I 9,760 3,260 3 

320700 Pacific Springs C 320 320 100 

321400 Johnson Place C 60 60 100 

321500 Crookston Ranch C 10 10 100 

330700 Hay Meadow C 380 380 100 

1300700 Pacific Creek1 M 182,220 182,220 100 

1300800 Bar X M 4,060 4,010 99 

1301100 Continental Peak M 81,970 81,970 100 

1301200 Red Desert M 243,200 73,090 30 

1301300 Bush Rim M 92,710 92,710 100 

1301400 Steamboat Mountain I 33,650 32,610 97 

1301500 Sands I 105,210 100,440 95 

1301800 Rock Springs M 1,009,790 2,230 0.28 

1310700 Middle Hay C 298 298 100 

1311400 Chiltons Place C 140 140 100 

1311500 Houghton Ranch C 270 270 100 

1

 An additional 1,170 acres of Bureau of Recreation Lands occur within the Pacific Creek Allotment (183,390 total federal acres). 

252 
TABLE 3-3 

ALLOTMENT/OPERATOR DATA FOR JMH PLANNING AREA 

Allotment Operator Livestock 

Number 

Class of 

Livestock Use Period AUMs 

Permitted Use Cattle 

AUMs 

Sheep 

AUMs Active Suspended Total 

4th of July 

(numbers 

adjusted by 0.03) 

D. Mines 13 

13 

C 

C 

05/16-07/20 

10/01-12/06 

12 

13 25 16 41 

25 

Pacific Springs Blair & Hay 63 C 06/01-06/30 29 29 29 29 

Johnson Place D. Mines 2 C 05/01-09/30 10 10 10 10 

Crookston Ranch DeLambert 2 C 06/01-07/31 4 4 4 4 

Hay Meadow Blair & Hay 157 C 10/01-11/03 91 91 91 91 

Pacific Creek DeLambert 

Magagna Brothers 

Blair & Hay 

Erramouspe Brothers 

G&E Livestock 

Bar X Sheep 

White Acorn 

75 

220 

949 

750 

2,835 

1,119 

90 

C 

S 

C 

S 

S 

S 

C 

05/01-05/02 

10/01-10/15 

05/01-12/31 

07/15-07/16 

12/01-12/02 

05/25-05/26 

05/01-05/31 

5 

22 

7,032 

10 

37 

15 

92 

5 

22 

7,030 

10 

38 

15 

90 

4,526 

5 

22 

11,556 

10 

38 

15 

90 

5 

7,030 

90 

22 

10 

38 

15 

Bar X 

(numbers 

adjusted by 0.99) 

Bar X Sheep 210 C 06/01-10/15 463 463 463 463 

Continental Peak Magagna Brothers 

Robert Hellyer 

Erramouspe Brothers 

Bar X Sheep 

White Acorn 

572 

293 

531 

1,555 

3,060 

17 

S 

C 

C 

S 

S 

C 

05/01-10/31 

05/01-10/31 

05/11-10/31 

05/19-07/15 

05/25-05/26 

05/01-05/31 

630 

1,631 

2,923 

540 

40 

17 

630 

1,635 

3,463 

40 

17 

41 

613 

347 

671 

2,248 

3,810 

40 

17 

1,635 

2,923 

17 

630 

540 

40 

253
TABLE 3-3 

ALLOTMENT/OPERATOR DATA FOR JMH PLANNING AREA 

Allotment Operator Livestock 

Number 

Class of 

Livestock Use Period AUMs 

Permitted Use Cattle 

AUMs 

Sheep 

AUMs Active Suspended Total 

Red Desert Magagna Brothers 847 S 05/01-10/31 953 946 19 965 946 

(numbers Blair & Hay 175 C 05/01-12/15 1,251 1,251 1,962 3,213 1,251 

adjusted by 0.30) Erramouspe Brothers 1,095 S 05/01-05/06 43 43 43 43 

Bar X Sheep 204 C 05/15-10/14 935 935 266 1,201 935 

White Acorn 8 13 21 8 

Bush Rim Magagna Brothers 640 S 10/01-10/15 63 64 64 64 

(numbers Blair & Hay 815 S 05/02-06/01 166 166 166 166 

adjusted by 0.99) Erramouspe Brothers 3,300 S 04/30-05/01 43 22 22 22 

Bar X Sheep 967 C 05/25-09/15 3,814 3,814 2,456 6,270 3,814 

White Acorn 71 75 146 71 

Steamboat Blair & Hay 378 S 05/02-06/01 78 79 79 79 

Mountain Bar X Sheep 19 19 19 

(numbers D. Mines 413 C 07/21-09/30 821 822 1,174 1,996 822 

adjusted by 0.97) 

Sands 

(numbers 

adjusted by 0.95) 

Midland Dunton 

DeLambert 

G&E Livestock 

GZ Livestock 

White Acorn 

1,647 

269 

199 

7,790 

202 

91 

S 

S 

C 

S 

C 

C 

11/27-11/30 

10/01-12/31 

05/06-11/05 

04/25-04/25 

05/15-12/15 

05/10-11/11 

44 

162 

1,206 

51 

1,696 

558 

44 

206 

1,194 

51 

1,699 

552 

51 

19 

336 

823 

337 

44 

225 

1,530 

51 

2,522 

889 

51 

1,194 

1,699 

552 

51 

44 

206 

51 

Roberts Livestock 1,105 S 11/01-12/14 320 324 39 363 324 

Rock Springs* Blair & Hay 4 S 03/01-04/30 2 2 2 2 

(numbers 1 C 05/01-12/15 1 1 1 1 

adjusted by 4 S 12/16-02/28 2 4 1 5 4 

0.0028) D. Mines 1 C 05/15-12/15 4 4 1 5 4 

Middle Hay Blair & Hay 15 C 06/01-07/31 16 16 16 16 

Chiltons Place D. Mines 3 C 05/01-09/30 15 15 15 15 

254
TABLE 3-3 

ALLOTMENT/OPERATOR DATA FOR JMH PLANNING AREA 

Allotment Operator Livestock 

Number 

Class of 

Livestock Use Period AUMs 

Permitted Use Cattle 

AUMs 

Sheep 

AUMs Active Suspended Total 

Houghton Ranch Chilton Land and 

Livestock 

11 C 05/02-06/01 11 12 12 12 

Total AUMs in Jack Morrow Hills 22,767 3,265 

255
TABLE 3-4 

PREVIOUS 5-YEAR LIVESTOCK GRAZING USE IN JMH PLANNING AREA 

Allotment Operator 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 

Average Use 

Total 

(5 Years) 

Average 

Non-use 

Total 

(5 Years) 

Average Use 

Total for Cattle 

over 5 Years 

Average Use Total 

for Sheep over 

5 Years 

4th of July D. Mines 12 2 2 

Ken Routh 25* 25* 25 

Pacific Springs Blair & Hay 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 

Johnson Place D. Mines 10 2 2 

Chilton Land & Livestock 10 10 10 10 8 8 

Crookston Ranch DeLambert 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 

Hay Meadow Blair & Hay 91 * 91 * 91 * 91 * 91 * 91 

Pacific Creek DeLambert 5 * 5 * 5 * 5 * 5 * 5 

Magagna Brothers 39 54 49 100 81 64.6 65 

Blair & Hay 5,496 4,522 2,187 4,450 3,294 3,990 3,990 

Erramouspe Brothers 10 * 10 * 10 * 10 * 10 * 10 

G&E Livestock 38 * 38 * 38 * 38 * 38 * 38 

Bar X Sheep 15 * 15 * 15 * 15 * 15 * 15 

White Acorn 90 * 90 * 90 * 90 * 90 * 90 

Bar X Bar X Sheep 323 414 439 248 257 336.2 336 

255
TABLE 3-4 

PREVIOUS 5-YEAR LIVESTOCK GRAZING USE IN JMH PLANNING AREA 

Allotment Operator 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 

Average Use 

Total 

(5 Years) 

Average 

Non-use 

Total 

(5 Years) 

Average Use 

Total for Cattle 

over 5 Years 

Average Use Total 

for Sheep over 

5 Years 

Continental Peak Magagna Brothers 198 135 104 177 238 170.4 170 

Robert Hellyer 1,629 1,637 1,485 1,202 1,043 1399.2 1,399 

Erramouspe Brothers 3,463 * 3,463 * 3,463 * 3,463 * 3,463 * 3463 

Bar X Sheep 41 * 41 * 41 * 41 * 41 * 32.8 

White Acorn 17 * 17 * 17 * 17 * 17 * 13.6 

Red Desert Magagna Brothers 223 136 160 211 289 203.8 204 

Blair & Hay 117 375* 375* 375 * 375 * 23.4 300 23 

Erramouspe Brothers 13* 13* 13* 13* 13* 13 

Bar X Sheep 71 37 279 * 55 21 36.8 55.8 37 

White Acorn 2* 2* 2* 2* 2* 2 

Bush Rim Magagna Brothers 33 38 33 58 86 49.6 50 

Blair & Hay 166 * 166 * 166 * 166 * 166 * 132.8 

Erramouspe Brothers 22 * 22 * 22 * 22 * 22 * 17.6 

Bar X Sheep 926 1,152 3,814 * 572 1,063 742.6 762.8 743 

White Acorn 71 * 71 * 71 * 71 * 71 * 56.8 

Steamboat Mountain Blair & Hay 78 78 * 78 * 78 * 78 * 15.6 62.4 16 

Bar X Sheep 19 * 19 * 19 * 19 * 19 * 19 

D. Mines 386 77.2 77 

256
TABLE 3-4 

PREVIOUS 5-YEAR LIVESTOCK GRAZING USE IN JMH PLANNING AREA 

Allotment Operator 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 

Average Use 

Total 

(5 Years) 

Average 

Non-use 

Total 

(5 Years) 

Average Use 

Total for Cattle 

over 5 Years 

Average Use Total 

for Sheep over 

5 Years 

Steamboat Not Leased 822 * 822 * 328.8 

Sands Midland Dunton 184 90 217 76 85 130.4 130 

DeLambert 1,194 1,194 1,194 1,194 1,194 1194 1,194 

G&E Livestock 21 19 36 19 17 22.4 22 

GZ Livestock 1,699 1,552 1,693 988.80 989 

White Acorn 51 * 51 * 51 * 51 * 51 * 51 

Roberts Livestock 320 320 320 320 320 320 320 

Rock Springs* 

figures 

Blair & Hay 5* 5* 5* 5* 5* 4 

D. Mines 4 4 3 2.20 2 

Middle Hay Blair & Hay 16 16 * 16 16 16 12.8 3.2 13 

Chiltons Place D. Mines 15 3 3 

Chilton Land and Livestock 15 15 15 15 12 12 

Houghton Ranch Chilton Land and Livestock 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 

Allotment Total 9851 5,661 8861 990 

Total Active Use 13,038 11,373 8,005 8,767 8,073 

Total Not Scheduled 4,119 5,435 9,512 4,572 4,572 

* non-use/not scheduled

 - Chilton Land and Livestock was suspended until 05/15/1996 Steamboat, 4th of July, Rock Springs, Sands Allotments 

257 
 - Don Mines Rock Springs Allotment 1996-1998

 - Leased 4th of July, Steamboat, Johnson Place Chilton Place, 1998-2000

 - GZ Livestock 1996-1998 Sands 

258
TABLE 3-5

RANGELAND STANDARDS

NOT MET (N) OR UNKNOWN (U)

FY 99

Allotment 

Rangeland Standards Not Met 

or Unknown 

1 2 3 4 5 6 

Bar-X U 

Bush Rim U 

Continental Peak U 

4th of July U 

Pacific Springs U 

Pacific Creek N N U 

Red Desert U 

Sands U 

Steamboat Mountain N U 

258
TABLE 3-6 

WELLS DRILLED IN THE JMH 

SEC. TWN. DIR. RNG. DIR. QTR/QTR FOOTAGE DIR. FOOTAGE DIR. OPERATOR UNIT/FIELD NAME WELL SURF. ELEV. DEEPEST SPUD TOTAL DEEPEST COMPL. COMP. 

NO. ELEV. TYPE FIELD FORMATION DATE DEPTH FORMATION DATE STATUS 

30 27 N 98 W se se 660 fsl 660 fel CHORNEY OIL CO CIRCLE BAR UNIT 1 7163 KB WILDCAT Mesaverde 19710714 10970 Mesaverde 19710914 P&A 

3 27 N 99 W sw nw 1900 fnl 510 fwl EUROPEAN SOUTHWEST CO CONTINENTAL PEAK UNIT 1-3 7389 KB WILDCAT 19820626 5005 Tertiary 19820810 P&A 

25 27 N 99 W nw se 1980 fsl 1780 fel DAVIS OIL CO HONEYCOMB BUTTES UNIT 1 7238 KB WILDCAT Lance 19790722 13984 Rock Springs 19791008 P&A 

26 27 N 99 W sw sw 660 fsl 660 fwl ENERGETICS INC HARRIS SLOUGH UNIT 1-A 7241 KB WILDCAT Lance 19810118 13620 Ericson 19810430 P&A 

17 27 N 100 W sw nw 1461 fnl 1177 fwl AMOCO PRODUCTION CO SOUTH PASS UNIT 1 7428 KB WILDCAT Morrison 19810306 22947 Morrison 19830413 P&A 

30 27 N 100 W c sw 1320 fsl 1320 fwl BRITISH AMER OIL PROD CO 1 7742 KB WILDCAT 19591022 11012 Lewis 19600102 D&A 

9 27 N 101 W nw sw 1980 fsl 460 fwl SKINNER ROBERT E 1-9 7390 GR WILDCAT 0 3004 Tertiary 1978 D&A 

9 27 N 101 W ne sw 1990 fsl 1980 fwl WEST COAST OIL CO iNC 1 7438 KB WILDCAT Precambrian 19770804 9691 19770831 P&A 

24 27 N 101 W ne nw 990 S 990 W SINCLAIR OIL & GAS CO OREGON TRAIL UNIT 1 8085 GR WILDCAT 19470623 1858 Tertiary 19470821 P&A 

24 27 N 101 W sw nw 1980 fnl 660 fwl MOUNTAIN FUEL SUPPLY CO DICKIE SPRINGS UNIT 1 8035 KB DICKIE Lance 19700614 12272 Mesaverde 19701003 P&A 

29 27 N 102 W se nw 1650 fnl 1650 fwl SUPERIOR OIL CO 1 7034 GR WILDCAT Wasatch 19430727 3458 Wasatch 19430825 

32 28 N 101 W se nw 1980 fnl 1980 fwl AMERICAN QUASAR PETR CO 1 7581 KB WILDCAT Hilliard 19740927 15040 Mesaverde 19751106 P&A 

36 28 N 102 W nw se 1961 fsl 2166 fel AMERICAN QUASAR PETR CO MONUMENT DRAW UNIT 36-33 7372 KB WILDCAT Eocene 19810922 3260 Tertiary 19811029 P&A 

5 22 N 104 W se sw 660 fsl 1980 fwl BRITISH AMER OIL PROD CO 1 6694 KB WILDCAT Ericson 19620107 3712 Ericson 19620120 D&A 

1 22 N 105 W sw sw 660 fsl 660 fwl BRITISH AMER OIL PROD CO 1 7044 KB WILDCAT Ericson 19611106 5001 Ericson 19611119 D&A 

5 22 N 105 W lot 11 2051 fnl 1980 fel HUSKY OIL CO EDEN UNIT 7-5 7233 KB WILDCAT Ericson 19721031 11036 Baxter 19730117 D&A 

6 22 N 105 W sw ne 3301 fnl 1818 fel HUSKY OIL CO EDEN UNIT 7-6 6984 KB WILDCAT Mesaverde 19740822 9383 Ericson 19741013 P&A 

11 22 N 105 W sw nw 2334 fnl 306 fwl HUSKY OIL CO EDEN UNIT 5-11 7693 KB WILDCAT Dakota 0 18150 Madison 19751030 D&A 

1 23 N 101 W ne ne 607 fnl 662 fel SUN RAY MID-CONT OIL CO BIG DUNE UNIT 3 6996 KB WILDCAT Almond 19610919 5720 Almond 19610929 D&A 

4 23 N 101 W se ne 1593 fnl 720 fel DAVIS OIL CO TREASURE UNIT 3 7204 KB TREASURE Morrison 19810311 13966 Morrison 19810508 P&A 

4 23 N 101 W nw sw 1525 fsl 1065 fwl CONOCO INC BIG DUNE UNIT 4-1 7202 KB WILDCAT Ericson 19590114 5456 Ericson 19590211 D&A 

3 23 N 102 W se nw 1764 fnl 1938 fwl WOODS PETROLEUM CORP STEAMBOAT MOUNTAIN UNIT/FIELD 1 7632 KB WILDCAT Muddy/upr Dakota 19780630 13044 Morrison 19781030 GAS 

4 23 N 102 W sw ne 2240 fnl 2413 fel WOODS PETROLEUM CORP STEAMBOAT MOUNTAIN UNIT/FIELD 2 7855 KB WILDCAT Morrison 19790710 12850 Morrison 19790824 P&A 

10 23 N 102 W ne ne 660 fnl 660 fel WOODS PETROLEUM CORP 1 7996 KB WILDCAT Almond 19690802 4517 Almond 19690809 D&A 

11 23 N 102 W se nw 2600 fnl 2581 fwl WOODS PETROLEUM CORP STEAMBOAT MOUNTAIN UNIT/FIELD 4 7862 KB WILDCAT Frontier 19810901 13025 Morrison 19811018 P&A 

33 23 N 102 W nw nw 1231 fnl 1308 fwl TRITON OIL & GAS CORP UNNAMED FIELD 3 7109 KB WILDCAT Blair 19900216 4600 Blair 19900801 METH 

33 23 N 102 W ne ne 1145 fnl 1319 fel UNION PACIFIC RESOURCES UNNAMED FIELD 2-33 7061 KB WILDCAT Fox Hills 19950506 4750 Blair 19950912 METH 

1 23 N 103 W se nw 3300 fsl 1980 fwl MESA PETROLEUM CO 1 7980 DF WILDCAT Morrison 19730807 12091 Morrison 19731014 P&A 

3 23 N 103 W c sw 1320 fsl 1320 fwl AQUITAINE OIL CORP NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 13-3 7211 KB NITCHIE GULCH stray 19771007 10090 Lakota 19771118 GAS 

4 23 N 103 W ne sw 2550 fsl 2370 fwl AQUITAINE OIL CORP NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 1-4 7236 KB NITCHIE GULCH Dakota 19770418 10030 Dakota 19780325 GAS 

5 23 N 103 W nw nw 1028 fnl 750 fwl K W B PROPERTY MGMT INC NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 2-5 7130 KB NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 19871103 9520 Morrison 19871229 GAS 

5 23 N 103 W sw ne 1980 fnl 2175 fel OKLAHOMA SILURIAN PTRS NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 3-5 7205 KB NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 19900304 9693 Morrison 19900723 GAS 

5 23 N 103 W se sw 1000 fsl 2020 fwl MCBRIDE W C INC NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 1-5 7104 KB NITCHIE GULCH 3rd Dakota 19660929 9236 Dakota 19661119 GAS 

6 23 N 103 W se nw 2047 fnl 2017 fwl TERRA RESOURCES INC NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 2-6 6978 KB NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 19861219 9150 Morrison 19870222 GAS 

6 23 N 103 W ne ne 1100 fnl 750 fel TERRA RESOURCES INC NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 20-6 7087 KB NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 19890305 9361 Morrison 19890407 GAS 

6 23 N 103 W nw sw 1470 fsl 1125 fwl PACIFIC ENT OIL CO USA NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 30-6 6925 KB NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 19890710 9012 Morrison 19890918 O&G 

6 23 N 103 W c se 1320 fsl 1320 fel MCBRIDE W C INC NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 1 7039 KB NITCHIE GULCH Dakota 19650519 9112 DakotA 19651107 GAS 

7 23 N 103 W se nw 1489 fnl 1393 fwl TERRA RESOURCES INC NITCHIE GULCH UNIT/FIELD 14-7 6999 KB NITCHIE GULCH 2nd stray 19841115 8400 Mowry 19841231 GAS 

7 23 N 103 W se nw 1900 fnl 2300 fwl TERRA RESOURCES INC NITCHIE GULCH UNIT/FIELD 19-7 7037 KB NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 19890125 9010 Morrison 19890315 GAS 

7 23 N 103 W ne se 2357 fsl 911 fel PACIFIC ENT OIL CO USA NITCHIE GULCH UNIT/FIELD 22-8 6954 KB NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 19900203 9086 Morrison 19900411 GAS 

7 23 N 103 W ne se 1990 fsl 660 fel AMAX PETROLEUM CORP NITCHIE GULCH UNIT/FIELD 6-7 6968 KB NITCHIE GULCH stray ss 19641128 8950 Morrison 19650202 GAS 

8 23 N 103 W nw nw 1271 fnl 1293 fwl TERRA RESOURCES INC NITCHIE GULCH UNIT/FIELD 15-8 7002 KB NITCHIE GULCH 19841208 5840 Baxter 19850110 J&A 

8 23 N 103 W nw nw 1176 fnl 1293 fwl TERRA RESOURCES INC NITCHIE GULCH UNIT/FIELD 15-8X 7002 KB NITCHIE GULCH Mowry 19850114 8446 Mowry 19850606 GAS 

8 23 N 103 W nw se 1980 fsl 2280 fel AMAX PETROLEUM CORP NITCHIE GULCH UNIT/FIELD 7-8 7031 KB NITCHIE GULCH 1st Dakota 19651113 8930 Dakota 19651222 GAS 

9 23 N 103 W se nw 1980 fnl 1980 fwl C R A INC NITCHIE GULCH UNIT/FIELD 11-9 7064 KB NITCHIE GULCH Dakota 19680405 9150 Dakota 19680712 GAS 

11 23 N 103 W c nw 1320 fnl 1320 fwl ELF AQUITAINE PETR INC 11-11 7322 KB NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 0 10254 Morrison 19780511 P&A 

16 23 N 103 W nw nw 330 fnl 330 fwl TERRA RESOURCES INC NITCHIE GULCH UNIT/FIELD 17-16 7063 KB NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 19870119 8870 Morrison 19870608 GAS 

16 23 N 103 W nw se 1650 fsl 2310 fel TRIGOOD OIL CO NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 1 7096 GR NITCHIE GULCH 19620314 235 Tertiary 19620501 SUSP 

16 23 N 103 W se ne 1880 fnl 760 fel C R A INC NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 9-16 7184 KB NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 19671026 8966 Morrison 19671208 D&A 

17 23 N 103 W se se 660 fsl 660 fel TRIGOOD OIL CO NITCHIE GULCH UNIT/FIELD 1 7134 KB WILDCAT Morrison 19610918 8713 Morrison 19611115 GAS 

17 23 N 103 W nw sw 1980 fsl 660 fwl AMAX PETROLEUM CORP NITCHIE GULCH UNIT/FIELD 4-17 6949 KB NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 19630831 8750 Morrison 19631003 GAS 

18 23 N 103 W ne ne 818 fnl 527 fel TERRA RESOURCES INC NITCHIE GULCH UNIT/FIELD 12-18 7031 KB NITCHIE GULCH 3rd Frontier 19831029 8200 Frontier 19831209 GAS 

18 23 N 103 W se nw 1550 fnl 1566 fwl AMAX PETROLEUM CORP NITCHIE GULCH UNIT/FIELD 8-18 6923 KB NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 19651212 8923 Morrison 19660124 GAS 

19 23 N 103 W se ne 2500 fnl 80 fel PACIFIC ENT OIL CO USA NITCHIE GULCH UNIT/FIELD 20-19 6925 KB NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 19890503 8660 Morrison 19890614 GAS 

19 23 N 103 W se nw 1980 fnl 1980 fwl AMAX PETROLEUM CORP NITCHIE GULCH UNIT/FIELD 5-19 6849 GR NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 19631031 8850 Morrison 19631231 GAS 

259 
TABLE 3-6 

WELLS DRILLED IN THE JMH 

SEC. TWN. DIR. RNG. DIR. QTR/QTR FOOTAGE DIR. FOOTAGE DIR. OPERATOR UNIT/FIELD NAME WELL SURF. ELEV. DEEPEST SPUD TOTAL DEEPEST COMPL. COMP. 

NO. ELEV. TYPE FIELD FORMATION DATE DEPTH FORMATION DATE STATUS 

20 23 N 103 W nw nw 465 fnl 703 fwl PACIFIC ENT OIL CO USA NITCHIE GULCH UNIT/FIELD 13-20 7017 KB NITCHIE GULCH 3rd Frontier 19831027 8106 Mowry 19831206 GAS 

20 23 N 103 W nw se 1980 fsl 1981 fel TRIGOOD OIL CO NITCHIE GULCH UNIT/FIELD 2-20 7084 KB NITCHIE GULCH Dakota 19620430 8596 Dakota 19620531 GAS 

21 23 N 103 W nw sw 2400 fsl 990 fwl PACIFIC ENT OIL CO USA NITCHIE GULCH UNIT/FIELD 21-21 7145 KB NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 19891028 8620 Morrison 19900104 GAS 

21 23 N 103 W se nw 1860 fnl 1980 fwl TRIGOOD OIL CO NITCHIE GULCH UNIT/FIELD 3-21 7036 KB NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 19620831 8480 Dakota 19621201 GAS 

22 23 N 103 W sw nw 1640 fnl 1298 fwl LUFF EXPL CO PINE CANYON FIELD 3-22 7152 KB PINE CANYON Dakota 19820119 8770 Morrison 19820215 P&A 

22 23 N 103 W se se 1120 fsl 1308 fel LUFF KENNETH INC PINE CANYON FIELD 2-22 7265 KB WILDCAT Morrison 19770908 8849 Morrison 19771004 GAS 

26 23 N 103 W nw nw 1120 fnl 1319 fwl LUFF KENNETH INC PINE CANYON FIELD 4-26 7183 GR WILDCAT Morrison 19771206 8929 Morrison 19780510 GAS 

27 23 N 103 W ne nw 1092 fnl 1381 fwl UNION PACIFIC RESOURCES PINE CANYON FIELD 1 7420 KB NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 19870608 8830 Morrison 19870801 GAS 

28 23 N 103 W sw nw 1434 fnl 1125 fwl TERRA RESOURCES INC NITCHIE GULCH UNIT/FIELD 16-28 7290 KB NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 19860418 8731 Morrison 19860630 GAS 

28 23 N 103 W ne ne 1000 fnl 1050 fel B P EXPL INC PINE CANYON FIELD 1-28 7427 KB PINE CANYON Morrison 19890623 8875 Morrison 19890921 GAS 

1 23 N 104 W n/2 se 1470 fsl 1320 fel TEXAS OIL & GAS CORP NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 1 6911 KB NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 19781028 9308 Morrison 19790303 GAS 

1 23 N 104 W ne ne 1010 fnl 658 fel GULF OIL CORP INDIAN GAP UNIT/NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 1 6936 DF WILDCAT Nugget 19550928 10066 Nugget 19551201 D&A 

2 23 N 104 W se se 660 fsl 660 fel TEXAS OIL & GAS CORP NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 1 6442 GR NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 19790429 9770 Morrison 19790831 GAS 

3 23 N 104 W ne se 1503 fsl 1243 fel TEXAS OIL & GAS CORP NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 1 6810 KB NITCHIE GULCH 19800809 9550 19801107 J&A 

3 23 N 104 W ne se 1403 fsl 1243 fel C & K PETROLEUM INC NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 9-3 6830 KB NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 19810406 10765 Morrison 19810625 GAS 

11 23 N 104 W se ne 1455 fnl 1085 fel TEXAS OIL & GAS CORP BOARS TUSK UNIT/NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 1 6891 KB NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 19800430 9554 Morrison 19810120 GAS 

11 23 N 104 W nw se 2160 fsl 1905 fel SUNSET INTL PETR CORP NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 11-10 6829 KB NITCHIE GULCH stray ss 19661031 9585 Morrison 19670401 GAS 

12 23 N 104 W c ne 1320 fnl 1320 fel GRYNBERG JACK J NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 20-12 6895 KB NITCHIE GULCH Aspen 19890220 8997 19890516 GAS 

12 23 N 104 W se se 1150 fsl 1210 fel AMAX PETROLEUM CORP NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 1-12 6904 KB NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 19650629 8997 Morrison 19650911 GAS 

13 23 N 104 W sw ne 1406 fnl 1515 fel TERRA RESOURCES INC NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 7-13 6876 KB NITCHIE GULCH 3rd Frontier 19730618 8400 Frontier 19730809 O&G 

15 23 N 104 W c se 1320 fsl 1320 fel F M C WYOMING CORP BOARS TUSK UNIT/NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 1-15 6734 KB NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 19791225 10400 Morrison 19800313 D&A 

16 23 N 104 W sw sw 2205 fsl 2115 fel BOARS TUSK OIL CO 1 0 WILDCAT 0 1529 Mesaverde 19271107 D&A 

17 23 N 104 W sw sw 460 fsl 660 fwl HUSKY OIL CO 13-17 6717 KB WILDCAT Lance 19790518 3300 Lance 19790604 P&A 

23 23 N 104 W w/2 se 1320 fsl 1370 fel F M C WYOMING CORP NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 1-23 6763 BB WILDCAT Mowry 19790427 9681 Morrison 19790601 P&A 

26 23 N 104 W w/2 sw 1320 fsl 1316 fwl SOUTHLAND ROYALTY CO NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 1-26 6713 KB WILDCAT Morrison 19770201 9914 Morrison 19770713 O&G 

29 23 N 104 W sw sw 662 fsl 660 fwl HUSKY OIL CO 13-29 6732 GR WILDCAT 19790503 3117 19790514 P&A 

31 23 N 104 W se nw 1980 fnl 1490 fwl HUSKY OIL CO 31-1 6849 KB WILDCAT Lance 19781110 3382 Lance 19781129 P&A 

2 24 N 100 W lot 6 537 fnl 660 fwl ROWAN DRLG CO INC 1 7077 KB WILDCAT Almond 19620711 8970 Ericson 19620807 D&A 

3 24 N 100 W ne se 1980 fsl 660 fel SOHIO PET CO 1 6946 KB WILDCAT Lance 19700604 8660 Ericson 19700626 P&A 

10 24 N 100 W ne ne 660 fnl 660 fel CHEROKEE OIL & GAS CORP 1 6946 DF WILDCAT 19610606 218 19610809 D&A 

12 24 N 100 W sw sw 660 fsl 660 fwl WOLF EXPL CO PINNACLES UNIT 1 6999 KB WILDCAT 19670321 9000 Ericson 19670417 D&A 

22 24 N 100 W ne sw 2588 fsl 2592 fwl WOODS PETROLEUM CORP SADDLE BAG UNIT/FIELD 1 7058 KB WILDCAT Morrison 19810531 16542 Morrison 19821110 P&A 

22 24 N 100 W nw se 2588 fsl 2595 fel MONCRIEF W A JR OASIS UNIT 1 7057 KB WILDCAT Mowry 19831114 16660 Morrison 19840515 P&A 

28 24 N 101 W se ne 2627 fnl 326 fel H P C INC TREASURE UNIT/FIELD 4 7544 KB TREASURE Morrison 19811214 14930 Morrison 19820818 GAS 

31 24 N 101 W se nw 2055 fnl 1970 fwl MOUNTAIN FUEL SUPPLY 1 7486 KB WILDCAT Almond 19640910 5100 Almond 19640920 D&A 

32 24 N 101 W sw ne 1981 fnl 1991 fel HPC INC TREASURE UNIT 2 7402 KB TREASURE Mowry 19800724 14036 Morrison 19810909 P&A 

33 24 N 101 W ne sw 1905 fsl 1986 fwl DAVIS OIL CO TREASURE UNIT/FIELD 1 7673 KB TREASURE Morrison 19790831 14426 Morrison 19800630 GAS 

7 24 N 102 W nw sw 2025 fsl 412 fwl GRYNBERG JACK & ASSOC 1-7 7406 KB WILDCAT Morrison 0 13676 Morrison 19730510 D&A 

11 24 N 102 W sw sw 585 fsl 660 fwl SOUTHLAND ROYALTY CO 1 7267 KB WILDCAT Rock Springs 19730601 7000 Rock Springs 19730617 D&A 

13 24 N 102 W sw ne 2590 fnl 2583 fel WOODS PETROLEUM CORP FREIGHTER GAP UNIT/FIELD 1 7610 KB FREIGHTER GAP Morrison 19810301 14623 Morrison 19810615 O&G 

14 24 N 102 W sw ne 2691 fsl 2540 fel WOODS PETROLEUM CORP FREIGHTER GAP UNIT/FIELD 2 7340 KB WILDCAT Morrison 19810725 14130 Morrison 19840929 P&A 

27 24 N 102 W se ne 2130 fnl 660 fel SAN JACINTO PETR CORP MONUMENT RIDGE UNIT 1 7465 KB WILDCAT Baxter 19630613 7507 Blair 19630708 D&A 

34 24 N 102 W ne sw 1674 fsl 2136 fwl WOODS PETROLEUM CORP STEAMBOAT MOUNTAIN UNIT/FIELD 3 ? KB WILDCAT Morrison 19790803 13004 Morrison 19791129 P&A 

2 24 N 103 W ne nw 626 fnl 1979 fwl SHELL OIL CO PLUNGE UNIT 21-2 7036 KB WILDCAT Ericson 19600301 5021 Ericson 19600316 D&A 

4 24 N 103 W se nw 1169 fnl 1318 fwl WOLD JOHN S INDIAN GAP UNIT 1 7081 DF WILDCAT Mesaverde 19570625 4011 Mesaverde 19570711 D&A 

8 24 N 103 W se nw 1325 fnl 1564 fwl ENRON OIL & GAS CO ESSEX MOUNTAIN FIELD 1-8 7298 KB WILDCAT Morrison 19910829 12281 Morrison 19920107 GAS 

10 24 N 103 W se nw 2310 fnl 2100 fwl WOODS PETROLEUM CORP RIM ROCK UNIT/FIELD 1 7171 KB RIM ROCK Morrison 19800227 12657 Morrison 19801009 GAS 

16 24 N 103 W sw ne 2695 fsl 2589 fel MONCRIEF W A JR RIM ROCK UNIT/FIELD 2 7278 KB WILDCAT Morrison 19870817 12230 Morrison 19871103 O&G 

20 24 N 103 W se nw 1880 fnl 1973 fwl MCBRIDE W C INC 1 7227 KB WILDCAT Morrison 19670608 11421 Morrison 19670814 D&A 

21 24 N 103 W se nw 2042 fnl 2514 fwl WOODS PETROLEUM CORP NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 21-1 7443 KB NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 19811019 12042 Morrison 19820127 GAS 

31 24 N 103 W ne sw 2310 fsl 2310 fwl TERRA RESOURCES INC NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 30-31 6985 KB NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 19870517 9518 Morrison 19870803 GAS 

31 24 N 103 W nw nw 475 fnl 709 fwl TERRA RESOURCES INC NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 10-31 7056 KB NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 19871229 9872 Morrison 19880302 GAS 

31 24 N 103 W se se 750 fsl 1030 fel TERRA RESOURCES INC NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 40-31 7019 KB NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 19880410 9430 Morrison 19880505 P&A 

31 24 N 103 W ne sw 1980 fsl 1420 fwl PACIFIC ENT OIL CO USA NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 30-31F 6968 KB NITCHIE GULCH Frontier 19890712 8435 Frontier 19900504 GAS 

32 24 N 103 W ne nw 1296 fnl 1508 fwl TERRA RESOURCES INC NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 10-32 7065 KB NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 19880203 10038 Morrison 19880412 GAS 

32 24 N 103 W c se 1320 fsl 1320 fel ELF AQUITAINE PETR INC NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 33-32 7098 KB NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 19780527 10051 Morrison 19810917 P&A 

260 
TABLE 3-6 

WELLS DRILLED IN THE JMH 

SEC. TWN. DIR. RNG. DIR. QTR/QTR FOOTAGE DIR. FOOTAGE DIR. OPERATOR UNIT/FIELD NAME WELL SURF. ELEV. DEEPEST SPUD TOTAL DEEPEST COMPL. COMP. 

NO. ELEV. TYPE FIELD FORMATION DATE DEPTH FORMATION DATE STATUS 

32 24 N 103 W se sw 520 fsl 2035 fwl MCBRIDE W C INC NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 1-32 7141 KB NITCHIE GULCH 3rd Dakota 19680520 9732 Dakota 19680623 D&A 

33 24 N 103 W c sw 1320 fsl 1320 fwl AQUITAINE OIL CORP NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 13-33 7215 KB NITCHIE GULCH lwr Dakota 19771201 10465 Dakota 19780323 GAS 

34 24 N 103 W c sw 1320 fsl 1320 fwl ELF AQUITAINE PETR INC NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 13-34 7367 KB NITCHIE GULCH stray ss 19780125 11075 Dakota 19781007 GAS 

1 24 N 104 W se ne 1495 fnl 1270 fel BROWN H L JR 1-1 7605 KB WILDCAT Lewis sh 19831028 8104 19840701 P&A 

24 24 N 104 W se se 848 fsl 848 fel HOUSTON OIL & MIN CORP ESSEX MOUNTAIN UNIT/FIELD 44-24 7056 GR ESSEX MOUNTAIN Morrison 19800628 10700 Morrison 19801210 GAS 

24 24 N 104 W sw se 490 fsl 1520 fel KIRBY ROYALTIES INC 1 7043 KB WILDCAT Baxter 19631030 5500 Baxter 19631114 D&A 

25 24 N 104 W se se 1229 fsl 1180 fel TERRA RESOURCES INC NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 40-25 7046 KB NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 19880611 10049 Morrison 19880926 GAS 

35 24 N 104 W nw se 2180 fsl 2020 fel FLORIDA EXPL CO NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 1-35 7019 KB NITCHIE GULCH Mowry 19801031 10100 Dakota 19810325 O&G 

36 24 N 104 W sw ne 1979 fnl 2170 fel PERTO PACIFIC RESOURCES INC. NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 1 7035 KB WILDCAT Almond 19821019 752 Almond 19821025 P&A 

36 24 N 104 W c se 1320 fsl 1320 fel TERRA RESOURCES INC NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 40-36 7056 KB NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 19870612 9500 Morrison 19870727 GAS 

36 24 N 104 W se ne 1478 fnl 1156 fel TERRA RESOURCES INC NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 20-36 6985 KB NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 19870821 9650 Morrison 19871106 GAS 

36 24 N 104 W se sw 1319 fsl 1475 fwl TERRA RESOURCES INC NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 30-36 7085 KB NITCHIE GULCH Morrison 19880309 9700 Morrison 19880425 GAS 

36 24 N 104 W sw ne 1980 fnl 1980 fel ROCK HILL INDUSTRIES INC NITCHIE GULCH FIELD 36-1 7026 KB WILDCAT Almond 19690318 878 Almond 19690327 P&A 

22 24 N 105 W se nw 3300 fsl 3300 fel DAVIS OIL CO 1-2 6880 KB WILDCAT 19701229 7997 Ericson 19710111 D&A 

20 25 N 99 W ne sw 2761 fnl 2352 fwl WOODS PETROLEUM CORP LOST VALLEY UNIT 3 6944 KB WILDCAT Baxter 19791022 13738 Baxter 19791209 P&A 

20 25 N 99 W ne sw 2761 fnl 2352 fwl MONCRIEF W A JR LOST VALLEY UNIT 3 6944 KB LOST VALLEY Muddy 19821119 18723 Muddy 19830424 P&A 

10 25 N 100 W se ne 1370 fnl 50 fel WOODS PETROLEUM CORP CITATION UNIT 1 7013 KB WILDCAT Lewis 19820225 11000 19820413 P&A 

19 25 N 100 W sw sw 1257 fsl 1230 fwl WOODS PETROLEUM CORP CENTURION UNIT 1 7488 KB WILDCAT Almond 19810430 8613 Almond 19810603 P&A 

26 25 N 100 W nw ne 660 fnl 1980 fel SOHIO OIL CO 2 7037 KB WILDCAT Ericson 19710105 9250 Ericson 19710202 P&A 

27 25 N 101 W se nw 1980 fnl 660 fel HUMBLE OIL & REFG CO PARNELL CREEK UNIT 1 7531 GR WILDCAT Ericson 19611013 8500 Ericson 19611126 D&A 

30 25 N 101 W sw ne 3563 fsl 1497 fel DAVIS OIL CO PIRATE UNIT 1 7339 KB WILDCAT Morrison 19801126 15590 Morrison 19810226 P&A 

3 25 N 102 W sw nw 1780 fnl 660 fwl PAN AMERICAN PETR CORP 1 7451 KB WILDCAT Lance 19630927 5220 Lance 19640817 D&A 

7 25 N 102 W ne sw 1328 fsl 1786 fwl SAXON EXPL CO UNNAMED FIELD 7-11 7628 KB WILDCAT Mesaverde 19900917 6955 Mesaverde 19901111 METH 

7 25 N 102 W ne sw 1990 fsl 1984 fwl H S RESOURCES INC BIG BEAR UNIT/UNNAMED FIELD 11-7 7643 GR WILDCAT Morrison 19950606 15990 Morrison 19960107 OIL 

9 25 N 102 W sw nw 1980 fnl 660 fwl PAN AMERICAN PETR CORP 1 7372 KB WILDCAT Lance 19640724 4901 Lance 19640801 D&A 

17 25 N 102 W sw nw 1980 fnl 660 fwl ATLANTIC REFG CO PLUNGE UNIT 2 7501 KB WILDCAT Mesaverde 19610615 9803 Blair 19610823 D&A 

26 25 N 102 W se nw 1593 fnl 1604 fwl SKELLY OIL CO 1 7229 DF WILDCAT Mesaverde 19581015 6998 Ericson 19581103 D&A 

9 25 N 103 W sw se 1307 fsl 1323 fel KERR MCGEE OIL IND INC MORROW CREEK UNIT 1 7485 KB WILDCAT Lewis 19590915 7050 Lewis 19591019 P&A 

13 25 N 103 W ne ne 750 fnl 660 fel FREEPORT MINERALS CO 1-13 7506 GL WILDCAT Lance 19760629 9868 Blair 19760828 P&A 

23 25 N 103 W sw se 532 fsl 1323 fel SAXON EXPL CO 23-15 7606 GR WILDCAT Mesaverde 19901011 5955 Almond 19910724 P&A 

24 25 N 103 W nw se 2000 fsl 2840 fwl WOODS PETROLEUM CORP PACKSADDLE UNIT 1 7662 KB WILDCAT Morrison 19790421 14850 19790705 P&A 

29 25 N 103 W nw ne 660 fnl 1980 fel EL PASO NATURAL GAS CO MORROW CREEK UNIT 1 7153 KB WILDCAT Baxter 19540830 9598 Baxter 19541228 D&A 

9 26 N 98 W se nw 1980 fnl 1980 fwl DAVIS OIL CO SCOTTY LAKE UNIT 1 7086 KB WILDCAT Lance 19790619 13150 Rock Springs 19790828 P&A 

10 26 N 100 W sw sw 400 fsl 400 fwl WOODS PETROLEUM CORP HOURGLASS UNIT 10-1 7247 KB WILDCAT Baxter 19800722 15300 Baxter 19801027 P&A 

16 26 N 100 W nw ne 1285 fnl 1356 fel MONCRIEF W A JR SANDS OF TIME UNIT 1 7202 KB WILDCAT Rock Springs 19830303 11978 Rock Springs 19830518 P&A 

25 26 N 100 W n/2 ne 1320 fnl 3933 fwl DAVIS OIL CO 1 7067 KB WILDCAT Rock Springs 19770220 11564 Rock Springs 19770408 P&A 

8 26 N 101 W sw sw 807 fsl 763 fwl DAVIS OIL CO MUSKETEER UNIT 1 7543 KB WILDCAT Morrison 19810627 19569 Morrison 19820321 P&A 

23 26 N 102 W sw se 810 fsl 1980 fel DAVIS OIL CO BUCCANEER UNIT/FIELD 1 7346 KB BUCCANEER Dakota 19801231 17844 Dakota 19811114 GAS 

30 26 N 102 W sw sw 660 fsl 660 fwl GULF OIL CORP MORROW CREEK UNIT 1 7214 GR WILDCAT Lance/Lewis 19661109 8212 Ericson 19670116 D&A 

34 26 N 102 W se se 660 fsl 786 fel GULF OIL CORP MORROW CREEK UNIT 2 7301 GR WILDCAT Ericson 19670603 8500 Ericson 19670715 D&A 

3 26 N 103 W n/2 n/2 1000 fnl 2640 fwl RAINBOW RESOURCES INC GREATER PACIFIC CREEK UNIT 1-3 6970 GR PACIFIC CREEK Ericson 19791022 15000 19800623 P&A 

25 26 N 103 W sw ne 1980 fnl 1880 fel WOODS PETROLEUM CORP ROCK CABIN UNIT 1 7258 KB WILDCAT Morrison 19800815 18777 Morrison 19810926 P&A 

261 
TABLE 3-7

AREAS WITH COAL DEVELOPMENT RESTRICTIONS

Area Open/Closed To Exploration Mining Activity Restriction 

Crookston Ranch Closed Closed to surface mining of coal 

and to placement of related 

surface facilities. 

Boars Tusk Closed Open to subsurface mining 

methods only-any activities or 

ancillary facilities related to 

subsurface mining are 

prohibited. Closed to surface 

mining of coal and to placement 

of related surface facilities. 

Eastern Greater Sand Dunes Open Open to subsurface mining 

methods with placement of 

surface facilities extremely 

limited. Closed to surface 

mining methods and related 

surface facilities and activities. 

Native American Burials and 

other Sacred Sites 

Closed Open to subsurface mining 

methods only-surface activities 

and ancillary facilities related to 

subsurface mining will avoid 

burial sites. 

Oregon Buttes ACEC Closed Closed to surface disturbing 

activities that could adversely 

affect the resource values in the 

area. (ACEC is outside the 

Coal Occurrence and 

Development Potential area.) 

Raptor Nesting Closed Avoid nesting sites. If not 

possible, implement intensive 

mitigation. 

Grouse Leks Closed Avoid nesting sites. If not 

possible, implement intensive 

mitigation. 

Steamboat Mountain Deferred until completion of the 

JMHCAP 

Open to subsurface mining 

methods only-location of 

surface facilities relating to 

subsurface mining will be 

considered on a case-by-case 

basis. 

Special Status Pant Species 

Sites 

Closed Sites are outside the Coal 

Occurrence and Development 

Potential area. 

South Pass Historic Landscape Closed ACEC is outside the Coal 

Occurrence and Development 

Potential area. 

263
Area Open/Closed To Exploration Mining Activity Restriction 

Tri-Territory Marker Closed Open to subsurface mining 

methods only-location of 

surface facilities relating to 

subsurface mining will be 

considered on a case-by-case 

basis. 

Floodplains Closed Unsuitable 

TABLE 3-8

AREAS CLOSED TO COAL EXPLORATION AND SODIUM PROSPECTING1

Areas Closed Estimated Acres 

Boars Tusk 90 

Crookston Ranch 40 

Floodplains2 41,170 

Oregon Buttes ACEC 3,450 

Petroglyphs: White Mountain (1/2 mile vista) 480 

Raptor Nesting 83 

Sage Grouse Leks (1/4 mile buffer) 8,170 

South Pass Historic Landscape 23,640 

Special Status Plant Species Sites 2,680 

Steamboat Mountain Area (outside area w/coal recommendation) 33,530 

Tri-Territory Marker 10 

Wilderness Study Areas 117,060 

Estimated Total 3 218,420 

1

 Established in the Green River RMP (USDI 1997).

2

 Floodplains, wetlands, and riparian areas (within 500 feet of 100-year floodplains and waters).

3

 Acres do not add due to overlap of Oregon Buttes ACEC, floodplains, special status plant species, and

WSAs. There are about 11,983 acres of overlap.

264
TABLE 3-9

ORV DESIGNATIONS

Area Designation Approximate 

Acres 

Season/Dates of Restriction and Reason for 

Restriction 

Big Game Winter Ranges Limited through seasonal closures 

(11/15 - 4/30 as needed) 

245,900 To reduce stress to wintering animals. Closure 

to over-the-snow vehicles would be evaluated 

on a case-by-case basis in conjunction with the 

Wyoming Game & Fish Department. 

Crookston Ranch Closed 40 To protect historic site. 

Deer Parturition Areas Limited through seasonal closures 

(May 1 to June 30 as needed) 

23,100 To reduce stress to deer. 

Elk Calving Areas Limited through seasonal closures 

(to be decided by biologist - May 1 

to June 30 as needed) 

58,890 To reduce stress to elk. 

General JMH Area Limited to existing roads and trails 287,180 To reduce resource damage. 

Greater Sand Dunes ACEC 

(Eastern Portion) 

Open 10,500 Area designated open on active sand dunes to 

allow the recreating public a place to play in the 

sand dunes. 

Limited to existing roads and trails 5,810 Limited to protect resource values. 

Closed 90 Closed around Boars Tusk to protect geologic 

values. 

Oregon Buttes ACEC Closed 3,450 All of the ACEC is closed to vehicle traffic to 

protect adjacent WSA values. 

Raptor Nesting Areas Limited through seasonal closures 

(2/1 through 7/31) 

83 To protect nesting raptors. 

Red Desert Limited to designated roads and 

trails 

169,010 Limited to protect scenic resource values. 

265
Area Designation Approximate 

Acres 

Season/Dates of Restriction and Reason for 

Restriction 

Riparian Areas Limited to existing roads and trails 41,170 To protect riparian and watershed values. 

During muddy conditions vehicle travel will be 

limited to existing roads and trails to protect soil 

and watershed values. 

South Pass (Vista) Limited to designated roads and 

trails 

23,640 Limited to protect cultural resource values. 

Special Status Plant Species Closed 2,680 Closed yearlong to protect plant populations. 

(Does not apply to over-the-snow vehicles.) 

Steamboat Mountain ACEC Limited to designated roads and 

trails. Seasonal closures to be 

determined. 

43,310 To protect wildlife values. 

White Mountain Petroglyphs ACEC Closed 20 Closed to maintain integrity of setting and 

protect cultural values. Vehicle travel limited to 

parking area. All other acreage is closed to 

vehicle travel. 

Limited to designated roads and 

trails 

480 Limited within 1⁄2 mile radius. 

Wilderness Study Areas Closed 117,060 To protect naturalness, solitude, and 

opportunities for unconfined recreation. 

NOTE: WSAs are closed to non-motorized mechanical transport, as well as motorized transport. 

266
TABLE 3-10

RECREATION OPPORTUNITY SPECTRUM CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

Opportunity 

Class Experience Opportunity Setting Opportunity Activity Opportunity 

Primitive Opportunity for isolation from the sights 

and sounds of humans, to feel a part of 

the natural environment, to have a high 

degree of challenge and risk, and to 

use outdoor skills. 

Area is characterized by essentially 

unmodified natural environment of fairly 

large size. Concentration of users is 

very low and evidence of other users is 

minimal. The area is managed to be 

essentially free from evidence of humaninduced restrictions and controls. Only 

facilities essential for resource protection 

are used. No facilities for comfort or 

convenience of the user are provided. 

Spacing of groups is informal and 

dispersed to minimize contacts between 

groups. Motorized use within the area is 

not permitted. 

Camping, hiking, climbing, enjoying 

scenery or natural features, nature 

study, photography, spelunking, hunting 

(big game, small game, upland birds, 

waterfowl), ski touring and snowshoeing, 

swimming, diving (skin and scuba), 

fishing, canoeing, sailing, and river 

running (non-motorized craft). 

Semi-Primitive 

Nonmotorized 

Some opportunity for isolation from the 

sights and sounds of humans, but not 

as important as for primitive 

opportunities. Opportunity to have high 

degree of interaction with the natural 

environment, to have moderate 

challenge and risk, and to use outdoor 

skills. 

Area is characterized by a predominantly 

unmodified natural environment of 

moderate to large size. Concentration of 

users is low, but there is often evidence 

of other area users. On-site controls 

and restrictions may be present, but are 

subtle. Facilities are provided for the 

protection of resource values and the 

safety of users only. Spacing of groups 

may be formalized to disperse use and 

limit contacts between groups. 

Motorized use is not permitted. 

Camping, hiking, climbing, enjoying 

scenery or natural features, nature 

study, photography, spelunking, hunting 

(big game, small game, upland birds, 

waterfowl), ski touring and snowshoeing, 

swimming, diving (skin and scuba), 

fishing, canoeing, sailing, and river 

running (non-motorized craft). 

267
Opportunity 

Class Experience Opportunity Setting Opportunity Activity Opportunity 

Semi-Primitive 

Motorized 

Same opportunity for isolation from the 

sights and sounds of humans, but not 

as important as for primitive 

opportunities. Opportunity to have high 

degree of interaction with the natural 

environment, to have moderate 

challenge and risk, and to use outdoor 

skills. Explicit opportunity to use 

motorized equipment while in the area. 

Area is characterized by a predominantly 

unmodified natural environment of 

moderate to large size. Concentration of 

users is low, but there is often evidence 

of other area users. On-site controls 

and restrictions may be present, but are 

subtle. Facilities are provided for the 

protection of resource values and safety 

of users only. Spacing of groups may 

be formalized to disperse use and limit 

contracts between groups. Motorized 

use is permitted. 

Same as the above, plus the following: 

ORV use (4-WD, dune buggy, dirt bike, 

snowmobile, power boating). 

Roaded 

Natural 

About equal opportunities for affiliation 

with other user groups and for isolation 

from sights and sounds of humans. 

Opportunity to have a high degree of 

interaction with the natural 

environment. Challenge and risk 

opportunity are not very important 

except in specific challenging activities. 

Practice of outdoor skills may be 

important. Opportunities for both 

motorized and nonmotorized recreation 

are present. 

Area is characterized by a generally 

natural environment with moderate 

evidence of the sights and sounds of 

humans. Resource modification and 

utilization practices are evident, but 

harmonize with the natural environment. 

Concentration of users is low to 

moderate with facilities sometimes 

provided for group activity. On-site 

controls and restrictions offer a sense of 

security. Rustic facilities are provided 

for user convenience as well as for 

safety and resource protection. 

Conventional motorized use is provided 

for in construction standards and design 

of facilities. 

All activities listed previously plus the 

following: picnicking, rock collecting, 

wood gathering, auto touring, downhill 

skiing, snowplay, ice skating, waterskiing 

and other water sports, hang gliding, 

interpretive use, rustic resorts, and 

organized camps. 

268
Opportunity 

Class Experience Opportunity Setting Opportunity Activity Opportunity 

Rural Opportunities to experience affiliation 

with individuals and groups are 

prevalent as is the convenience of sites 

and opportunities. These factors are 

generally more important than the 

natural setting. Opportunities for 

wildland challenges, risk taking, and 

testing of outdoor skills are 

unimportant, except in those activities 

involving challenge and risk. 

Area is characterized by substantially 

modified natural environment. Resource 

modification and utilization practices are 

obvious. Sights and sounds of humans 

are readily evident, and the 

concentration of users is often moderate 

to high. A considerable number of 

facilities are designed for use by a large 

number of people. Facilities are often 

provided for specific activities. 

Developed sites, roads and trails, are 

designed for moderate to high use. 

Moderate densities are provided far 

away from developed sites. Facilities for 

intensive motorized use are available. 

All activities listed previously plus the 

following competitive games, spectator 

sports, bicycling, jogging, outdoor 

concerts, and modern resorts. 

Modern Urban Opportunities to experience affiliation 

with individuals and groups are 

prevalent as is the convenience of sites 

and opportunities. Experiencing the 

natural environment, and the use of 

outdoor skills are largely unimportant. 

Area is characterized by a highly 

modified environment, although the 

background may have natural elements. 

Vegetation is often exotic and 

manicured. Soil may be protected by 

surfacing. Sights and sounds of 

humans, on-site, predominate. Large 

numbers of users can be expected. 

Modern facilities are provided for the use 

and convenience of large numbers of 

people. Controls and restrictions are 

obvious and numerous. Facilities for 

high intensity motor use and parking are 

present with forms of mass transit often 

available. 

All activities listed previously. 

269
TABLE 3-11

POPULATION OF SWEETWATER COUNTY

Past 

Year Population 

1987 42,118 

1988 40,080 

1989 39,246 

1990 38,823 

1991 39,778 

1992 39,796 

1993 40,387 

1994 40,611 

1995 40,687-40,976 

1996 40,738-41,570 

Future 

Year Population 

1997 39,738-41,790 

1998 39,689-40,450 

1999 40,550-41,435 

2000 40,660-41,721 

2001 40,760-41,721 

2002 40,860-42,260 

2003 40,950 

2004 41,040 

2005 41,130 

2006 41,300 

Sources: Equality State Almanac, U.S. Bureau of Census, Wyoming Department of Administration and Information, Division of 

Economic Analysis, and Sweetwater Economic Development Association. 

TABLE 3-12 

POPULATION OF FREMONT COUNTY 

Past 

Year Population 

1987 34,844 

1988 34,388 

1989 34,192 

1990 33,662 

1991 34,114 

1992 34,283 

1993 34,753 

1994 35,129 

1995 35,680 

1996 35,940 

Future 

Year Population 

1997 36,200 

1998 36,500 

1999 36,820 

2000 37,140 

2001 37,460 

2002 37,780 

2003 38,100 

2004 38,420 

2005 38,750 

2006 39,150 

Source: Equality State Almanac, U.S. Bureau of Census, Wyoming Department of Administration and Information, Division of Economic 

Analysis. 

270
TABLE 3-13

POPULATION OF SUBLETTE COUNTY

Past 

Year Population 

1987 5,358 

1988 4,859 

1989 4,714 

1990 4,843 

1991 4,960 

1992 5,018 

1993 5,179 

1994 5,402 

1995 5,510 

1996 5,577 

Future 

Year Population 

1997 5,640 

1998 5,710 

1999 5,780 

2000 5,850 

2001 5,930 

2002 6,000 

2003 6,080 

2004 6,150 

2005 6,230 

2006 6,320 

Sources: Equality State Almanac, U.S. Bureau of Census, Wyoming Department of Administration and Information, Division of 

Economic Analysis. 

TABLE 3-14 

SWEETWATER COUNTY TOTAL EMPLOYMENT and INCOME 

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 

Total Employed 23,802 24,295 24,310 25,338 24,988 

Total Personal 

Income ($000s) $729,398 $766,512 $797,549 $848,721 $871,472 

Per Capita 

Income $ 18,328 $ 18,979 $ 19,693 $ 20,860 $ 21,392 

Sources: Equality State Almanac, U.S. Bureau of Census, Wyoming Department of Administration and Information, 

Division of Economic Analysis. Residence Adjusted. 

TABLE 3-15

TOTAL EMPLOYMENT BY SECTOR, SWEETWATER COUNTY

Employment Sector* 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 

Mining Sector 5,341 5,419 5,241 5,383 5,121 

Service Sector 3,977 4,240 4,264 4,496 4,539 

Retail Sector 3,905 3,941 3,980 4,137 4,191 

Transportation (TCPU) 

Sector 

1,964 1,937 1,973 1,994 2,033 

Construction Sector 1,460 1,712 1,851 2,128 1,884 

FIRE Sector 1,282 1,101 1,232 1,340 1,337 

271
Employment Sector* 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 

Wholesale Sector 650 674 610 663 723 

Manufacturing Sector 733 772 737 746 712 

Agricultural Service Sector 92 81 102 127 128 

Farm Sector 207 199 199 196 200 

Private Sector Total 19,611 20,076 20,189 21,210 20,868 

Government (all levels) 4,191 4,219 4,121 4,128 4,120 

Total Employment 23,802 24,295 24,310 25,338 24,988 

Source: Equality State Almanac, U.S. Bureau of Census, Wyoming Department of Administration and Information, 

Division of Economic Analysis. 

* Total employment, includes covered and non-covered by employment insurance. TCPU Sector includes 

Transportation, Communication, and Public Utilities. Fire includes Finance , Insurance, and Real Estate. 

TABLE 3-16

TOTAL INDUSTRY EARNINGS, SWEETWATER COUNTY

($000s)

Industry 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 

Mining Sector $274,400 $286,837 $294,982 $302,539 $311,947 

Service Sector 61,649 66,198 66,698 72,869 77,018 

Retail Sector 47,274 50,848 53,558 56,408 57,989 

Transportation (TCPU) 

Sector 

78,396 82,657 86,599 88,439 89,816 

Construction Sector 40,973 50378 57,602 71,715 60,727 

FIRE Sector 10,072 11,497 13,426 14,346 15,405 

Wholesale Sector 17,381 18,342 17,402 18,921 20,197 

Manufacturing Sector 27,964 29,644 30,646 31,835 30,383 

Agricultural Service Sector 697 852 960 1,169 1,224 

Farm Sector 2,111 2,846 4,122 1,153 577 

Government Sector 94,670 97,695 101,059 103,951 105,879 

Total $655,587 $697,794 $726,872 $763,345 $771,162 

Sources: Equality State Almanac, U.S. Bureau of Census, Wyoming Department of Administration and Information, Division of Economic 

Analysis. 

TABLE 3-17

FREMONT COUNTY TOTAL EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME

PER CAPITA INCOME

272 
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 

Total 

Employed 17,432 17,955 18,222 18,993 19,426 

Total Personal 

Income ($000s) $488,986 $507,704 $536,141 $564,200 $597,623 

Per capita 

Income 14,334 14,809 15,427 16,061 16,750 

Sources: Equality State Almanac, U.S. Bureau of Census, Wyoming Department of Administration and Information, Division of 

Economic Analysis. 

TABLE 3-18 

TOTAL EMPLOYMENT BY SECTOR, FREMONT COUNTY 

Total Employment* 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 

Service Sector 4,399 4,572 4,732 5,000 5,113 

Retail 3,148 3,275 3,203 3,387 3,538 

Construction 942 992 1,176 1,337 1,475 

Farm 1,130 1,149 1,152 1,132 1,163 

Manufacturing 814 880 886 935 965 

FIRE 862 875 898 950 935 

Transportation 762 760 809 803 773 

Mining 594 514 579 587 614 

Wholesale 356 346 341 381 393 

Agricultural Service 230 264 297 277 298 

Private Sector Total 13,237 13,670 14,073 14,789 15,267 

Government (all levels) 4,195 4,328 4,149 4,204 4,159 

Total Employment 17,432 17,955 18,222 18,993 19,426 

Sources: Equality State Almanac, U.S. Bureau of Census, Wyoming Department of Administration and Information, Division of 

Economic Analysis. * total employment, include covered and non-covered by employment insurance. 

273
TABLE 3-19

TOTAL INDUSTRY EARNINGS, FREMONT COUNTY

($000s)

Industry Earnings 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 

Service Sector $64,515 $69,845 $74,537 $81,749 $85,482 

Retail Sector 35,693 38,244 39,096 42,671 45,148 

Construction Sector 19,778 21,819 25,831 30,418 33,355 

Farm Sector 18,214 16,663 19,211 5,844 7,939 

Manufacturing Sector 12,403 14,443 13,950 15,046 16,078 

FIRE Sector 6,044 6,992 8,152 8,744 9,249 

Transportation (TCPU) Sector 22,808 23,689 25,044 25,431 25,018 

Mining Sector 22,297 18,026 19,819 21,423 22,587 

Wholesale Sector 8,102 7,646 7,937 9,417 10,482 

Agricultural Service Sector 1,730 2,285 2,778 2,696 2,872 

Government (all levels) 90,316 93,861 93,965 96,556 100,088 

Total $301,900 $313,513 $330,320 $339,995 $358,298 

Sources: Equality State Almanac, U.S. Bureau of Census, Wyoming Department of Administration and Information, Division of 

Economic Analysis. 

TABLE 3-20

SUBLETTE COUNTY TOTAL EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME

PER CAPITA INCOME

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 

Total Employed 3,276 3,295 3,385 3,547 3,537 

Total Personal 

Income ($000s) $94,378 $94,955 $107,969 $108,821 $111,417 

Per capita 

Income $19,028 $18,923 $20,847 $20,145 $20,221 

Sources: Equality State Almanac, U.S. Bureau of Census, Wyoming Department of Administration and Information, Division of 

Economic Analysis. 

274
TABLE 3-21

TOTAL EMPLOYMENT BY SECTOR, SUBLETTE COUNTY

Total Employment 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 

Service Sector 630 669 664 669 691 

Retail Trade Sector 467 480 517 534 551 

Farm Sector 389 394 398 390 410 

Construction Sector 301 324 314 361 366 

Mining Sector 340 286 326 387 317 

FIRE Sector 218 205 204 210 211 

Transportation (TCPU) Sector 134 110 132 134 131 

Manufacturing Sector NA 75 77 87 94 

Agricultural Services Sector 89 82 92 89 90 

Wholesale Trade Sector NA 71 57 59 50 

Total Private Sector 2,718 2,696 2,781 2,920 2,911 

Government (all levels 558 599 604 627 626 

Total Employment 3,276 3,295 3,385 3,547 3,537 

Sources: Equality State Almanac, U.S. Bureau of Census, Wyoming Department of Administration and Information, Division of 

Economic Analysis. * total employment, include covered and non-covered by employment insurance. 

TABLE 3-22

TOTAL INDUSTRY EARNINGS, SUBLETTE COUNTY

($000s)

Industry Earnings 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 

Service Sector $8,194 $8,530 $9,060 $9,538 $10,625 

Retail Trade Sector 4,618 4,997 5,729 6,111 6,601 

Farm Sector 7,917 5,461 13,084 6,062 4,820 

Construction Sector 6,183 6,625 6,149 7,554 7,620 

Mining Sector 11,601 10,354 11,780 14,605 12,632 

FIRE Sector 1,061 1,214 1,490 1,727 2,036 

Transportation (TCPU) Sector 3,492 3,083 3,859 3,938 3,763 

Manufacturing Sector NA 724 601 915 644 

Agricultural Services Sector 665 744 863 848 884 

Wholesale Trade Sector NA 950 921 982 711 

Government (all levels) 11,298 12,971 13,640 14,286 14868 

Total $57,025 $55,473 $66,996 $66,566 $65,204 

Sources: Equality State Almanac, U.S. Bureau of Census, Wyoming Department of Administration and Information, Division of 

Economic Analysis. 

275 
TABLE 3-23

SALES AND USE TAX COLLECTIONS, SWEETWATER COUNTY

Economic Sector Sales Tax Collections Use Tax Collection 

Agriculture Sectors* $29,598 $2,628 

Mining 4,494,113 4,258,872 

Construction 738,823 500,258 

Manufacturing 1,470,678 662,336 

Transportation (TCPU) 2,604,424 507,304 

Wholesale Trade 3,023,324 **141,891 

Retail Trade 12,407,080 

FIRE 30,947 8,340 

Service 3,893,058 37,100 

Government (county) 2,821,530 763,373 

Total $31,513,530 $6,882,102 

*includes farm and agricultural Service Sectors. 

** Use taxes for wholesale trade and retail trade combined. 

Source: The Equality State Almanac, 1997 

TABLE 3-24 

SALES AND USE TAX COLLECTIONS, FREMONT COUNTY 

Economic Sector Sales Tax Collections Use Tax Collection 

Agriculture Sectors* $51,126 $12,900 

Mining 318,712 63,923 

Construction 274,501 331,573 

Manufacturing 512,052 69,333 

Transportation (TCPU) 1,506,310 55,247 

Wholesale Trade 829,635 **117,782 

Retail Trade 8,634,942 

FIRE 46,922 1,900 

Service 1,349,060 52,264 

Government (county) 2,165,477 332,410 

Total $15,688,739 $982,085 

* includes farm and agricultural Service Sectors. 

** Use taxes for wholesale trade and retail trade combined. 

Source: The Equality State Almanac, 1997 

276 
TABLE 3-25

SALES AND USE TAX COLLECTIONS, SUBLETTE COUNTY

Economic Sector Sales Tax Collections Use Tax Collection 

Agriculture Sectors* $9,991 $9,382 

Mining 577,186 79,763 

Construction 70,587 14,369 

Manufacturing 75,705 770 

Transportation (TCPU) 307,127 20,079 

Wholesale Trade 206,160 **13,070 

Retail Trade 1,280,720 

FIRE 3,000 42 

Service 395,842 1,230 

Government (county ??) 359,070 118,393 

Total $3,285,389 $257,098 

* includes farm and agricultural Service Sectors. 

** Use taxes for wholesale trade and retail trade combined. 

Source: The Equality State Almanac, 1997 

TABLE 3-26 

PHYSICAL OUTPUTS FOR THE 1998 BASE YEAR 

Sector Units 

Oil and Gas Wells Drilled 3 

Oil and Gas Wells Completed 2 

Oil Production (BBLs) 5,616 

Gas Production (MMCF) 4,060.8 

Livestock Grazing (AUM) 13,038 

Nonresident Hunting Days 952 

Resident Hunting Days 3,576 

Non-resident Non-consumptive Recreation 31,950 

Days 

Resident Non-consumptive Recreation Days 16,750 

277
TABLE 3-27

DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR 1998 BASE YEAR

Oil and Gas $8,603,640 78.2 percent 

Livestock Grazing $422,833 3.8 percent 

Nonresident Hunting $220,561 2.0 percent 

Nonresident Non­ $1,757,250 16.0 percent 

consumptive 

Total Jack Morrow Hills $11,004,284 100.0 percent 

TABLE 3-28 

TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR 1998 BASE YEAR 

Oil and Gas $11,654,180 75.9 percent 

Livestock Grazing $823,349 5.4 percent 

Nonresident Hunting $304,049 2.0 percent 

Nonresident Non- $2,580,921 16.8 percent 

consumptive 

Total Jack Morrow Hills $15,362,499 100.0 percent 

TABLE 3-29

TOTAL LABOR EARNINGS FOR 1998 BASE YEAR

Oil and Gas $1,074,640 63.7 percent 

Livestock Grazing $150,992 8.9 percent 

Nonresident Hunting $41,676 2.5 percent 

Nonresident Non­ $420,462 24.9 percent 

consumptive 

Total Jack Morrow Hills $1,687,770 100.0 percent 

TABLE 3-30

TOTAL EMPLOYMENT IN ANNUAL JOB EQUIVALENTS FOR 1998 BASE YEAR

Oil and Gas 33.2 42.1 percent 

Livestock Grazing 9.2 11.7 percent 

Nonresident Hunting 2.9 3.7 percent 

Nonresident Nonconsumptive 33.6 42.6 percent 

Total Jack Morrow Hills 78.9 100.0 percent 

278
TABLE 3-31

AVERAGE EARNINGS PER JOB FOR 1998 BASE YEAR

Oil and Gas $32,369 151.3 percent 

Livestock Grazing $16,443 76.9 percent 

Nonresident Hunting $14,224 66.5 percent 

Nonresident Non­ $12,521 58.5 percent 

consumptive 

Average Jack Morrow Hills $21,391 100.0 percent 

TABLE 3-32

TOTAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVENUE FOR 1998 BASE YEAR

Oil and Gas $441,659 86.3 percent 

Livestock Grazing $24,051 4.7 percent 

Nonresident Hunting $3,502 0.7 percent 

Nonresident Non-consumptive $42,501 8.3 percent 

Total Jack Morrow Hills $511,713 100.0 percent 

TABLE 3-33

NET ECONOMIC VALUE OF RESIDENT RECREATION FOR 1998 BASE YEAR

Resident Hunting $148,261 25.0 percent 

Resident Non-consumptive $445,047 75.0 percent 

Total Jack Morrow Hills $593,308 100.0 percent 

279
TABLE 3-34 

PLANT SPECIES OF SPECIAL CONCERN OF THE JACK MORROW HILLS ECOSYSTEM 

Name of Plant Heritage WYNDD Range USFWS Other Federal 

Rank List Status Status 

Antennaria arcuata G2/S2 GR R * SS-BLM 

Meadow pussytoes 

Astragalus nelsonianus G3/S2 LD R 

Nelson's milkvetch 

Carex parryana var. parryana G4T4/S2 SR P 

Parry sedge 

Cryptantha scoparia G3/S1 SR R 

Desert cryptantha 

Eriastrurn wilcoxii G5/S1S2 SR P 

Wilcox eriastrurn 

Erigeron uintahensis G4/S1 SR R 

Uintah fleabane (E. speciosus var. uintahensis) 

Eriogonum divaricatum G4G5/S1 SR P 

Divergent buckwheat 

lpomopsis crebrifolia G3/S2S3 LD R 

Compact gilia 

Lesquerella macrocarpa G2/S2 GR E * SS-BLM 

Large-fruited bladderpod 

Monolepis pusilla G5/S1 SR P 

Red poverty-weed 

*Oryzopsis contracta G3/S3 R SS-BLM 

Contracted Indian ricegrass 

Oxytheca dendroidea G4/SH SR P 

280
Tree-like oxytheca 

TABLE 3-34 (continued) 

Name of Plant Heritage 

Rank

WYNDD 

List 

Range USFWS 

Status 

Other Federal 

Status 

Pensternon paysoniorum 

Payson beardtongue 

G3/S3 E 

Phacelia demissa 

Intermountain phacelia 

G5/S1 SR P 

Phacelia salina 

Nelson phacelia 

G3Q/Sl SR P 

Phacelia scopulina var. scopulina 

Prostrate phacelia 

G4/S1 P 

* Formerly designated as a Category 2(C2) candidate by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In July, 1995, USFWS revised its candidate system and eliminated the C2 designation. Oryzopsis 

contracta had previously been recommended for downgrading to 3C status by Fertig (1994). 

Codes (Fertig 1996b): 

Heritage Rank: G = global rank, S=state rank, T=trinomial rank. 

WYNDD List; GR=globally rare, LD=limited distribution, SR=state rare 

Range; R=regional endemic, E=state endemic, P=peripheral 

281
TABLE 3-35

JACK MORROW HILLS STREAM PFC SUMMARY

YEAR Stream Reach 

RATING (miles) 

FAR Total

PFC NF

up n/a down 

1995 Jack Morrow Creek All 18.00 2.00 20.00 

1995 Rock Cabin Creek All 12.8 3.20 16.00 

1995 Pacific Creek Segment 1 1.50 1.50 

1995 Pacific Creek Segment 2 1.20 1.20 

1995 Pacific Creek Segment 3 2.00 2.00 

1995 Parnell Creek Segment 1 - upper 2.00 2.00 

1995 Parnell Creek Segment 2 - lower 8.00 8.00 

1995 Pacific Creek Segment 4 11.00 11.00 

1997 Sand Creek All 1.25 1.25 

1997 Dickie Springs Creek All .50 0.50 

1997 Oregon Slough Creek All 1.00 1.00 

1999 Robin Creek (BLM name) All 1.50 1.50 

1999 Oregon Buttes Creek (BLM name) All 2.50 2.50 

1999 Pacific Creek Project area 4.00 4.00 

1999 Bear Creek All 7.50 7.50 

TOTALS 16.50 32.00 5.25 26.20 0.00 79.95 

Percentage 20.60 40.00 6.60 32.80 100.00 

282
TABLE 3-36

WYOMING DEQ TDS GUIDELINES

Use Domestic1 Agricultural Livestock 

Maximum Concentration ppm2 500 2,000 5,000 

1

 Potability of water is not determined solely by the level of dissolved solids. Additional biological and chemical tests

are required.

2

 ppm = Parts Per Million. Can also be represented as mgl = milligrams per liter.

TABLE 3-37

WATERS SUBJECT TO THE COLORADO RIVER SALINITY COMPACT

Stream Number of 

Samples 

Average TDS 

ppm 

Suggested 

Use 

Pacific Creek 16 1,071 Agricultural 

Jack Morrow Creek 16 3,565 Livestock 

Killpecker Creek 21 1,6441 Agricultural 

Sweetwater River 14 45 Domestic 

1

 The Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) listed for Killpecker Creek is an average that sits towards the high end of the 

agricultural range. Several samples had TDS levels greater (>)2,000 ppm. Therefore, it is not an ideal agricultural 

water. 

TABLE 3-38

CREEK INFORMATION SUMMARY

Miles 

PFC'd1 WGF DEQ Public State Private 

Pacific Creek Drainage 

Pacific Creek Y 4 2 

Jack Morrow Creek Y 5 4 22.5 3.0 0 

Parnell Creek Y 5 42 

Rock Cabin Creek Y 5 3 

Mowing Machine Draw Y 5 32 

Alkali Creek (Wash) N 5 22,3 

White Horse Creek N 5 22,3 

Sweetwater River Drainage 

Sweetwater River Y 3 1 

Oregon Slough N 4 2 

283
Miles 

Dickey Springs Creek 

PFC'd1 

N 

WGF 

5 

DEQ 

22 

Public State Private 

Meadow Creek N 5 22 

Oregon Gulch N 5 22 4.0 2.0 

Long Slough N 5 4 

Harris Slough N 4 2 

Killpecker Drainage 

Killpecker Creek N 5 4 

Nitchie Creek N 5 4 

Red Desert PFC'd1 WGF DEQ 

Alkali Draw N 5 4 

Bush Creek N 5 4 

Bear Creek N 5 4 

Red Creek N 5 4 

Sand Creek (willows) N 5 4 

Flockets (Dune ponds) 

Flockets N ? ? 

1

 Surveyed using the Proper Functioning Condition method as of 1996 

2

 Waters unlisted in Chapter1 Water Quality Rules & Regulations. Wyoming DEQ 1990 3

 Ephemeral channel, May be DEQ class 4 

284
TABLE 3-39

STREAMS CONTAINING FISH LIFE

Streams Fish Life Within 

Sweetwater River 

Rainbow Trout 

Brown Trout 

Brook Trout 

Yellowstone Cutthroat 

Snake River Cutthroat 

White Sucker 

Longnose Sucker 

Mountain Sucker 

Creek Chub 

Lake Chub 

Longnose Dace 

Fathead Minnow 

Harris Slough 

Brook Trout 

Brown Trout 

Oregon Slough 

Brook Trout 

White Sucker 

Longnose Sucker 

Creek Chub 

Lake Chub 

Pacific Creek 

Brook Trout 

Mountain Sucker 

Flannelmouth Sucker 

White Sucker 

Jack Morrow Creek Unidentified Cyprinid species 

285