Most Western counties face unprecedented rural residential growth.
This research is important in helping counties to reduce land use conflicts and maintain public goods associated with private lands. The research began with the Sublette County project funded by Don Kendall through IENR, a UW Faculty Growth Award, and by an Agriculture Experiment Station Competitive Grant in 1996. Subsequent funding has come from participating counties as well as the USDA National Research Initiative in Rural Development. The latter is examined in terms of the participation of, and compensation to, landowners as well as funding opportunities from the general public. Projects in Sheridan and Uinta Counties are complete with the final reports to be released this summer.