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Lisa McGee

After graduating from Miami University in Ohio with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology, Lisa worked as a ranger naturalist in both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. In 2004, she graduated with honors from the University of Wyoming College of Law, where she focused on public lands and natural resource law. She served as a law clerk for a superior court judge in Anchorage, Alaska before returning to Wyoming in June 2005 to direct the Outdoor Council’s national parks and forests program. The majority of Lisa’s work has focused on oil and gas leasing and development proposals on the Bridger-Teton National Forest’s Wyoming Range. Lisa became the Outdoor Council’s program director in 2013, a position she held for nearly four years before becoming Executive Director in late 2017. She lives in Jackson with her husband and son.

Field Notes


Update on the last of the wild film screenings

Posted on by Lisa McGee

Thanks to all of you who joined us in Riverton, Rock Springs, and Laramie for the first three screenings of Last of the Wild: A Red Desert Story. The turnout in these venues was robust and much of the feedback we’ve heard was overwhelmingly positive.

I’m writing to respond to questions about the postponement of the Pinedale and Lander screenings.

Two weeks ago, members of the Restoring Shoshone Ancestral Foods Gathering Group raised concerns about the film’s limited representation of Shoshone Tribal members.

Because the Red Desert is part of their ancestral homeland, they wanted more representation in the film. This was understandable.

We took their concerns seriously, cancelling the Pinedale screening immediately. The earliest meeting Tribal members could have with us was last Thursday, the night before we hoped to screen the film in Lander.

We made edits to the film, which we showed them Thursday evening. We hoped the changes we made would have remedied their concerns. We learned our changes were not sufficient. We listened with open hearts. We apologized for the unintended, but tangible hurt we’d caused. It was evident that additional edits were needed. We are willing to make these changes to ensure Shoshone Tribal members feel respected and better represented in the film.

We didn’t feel like we could show the film in Lander given this feedback. We apologize that this last-minute cancellation didn’t reach some of you in time, and that you made the trip to Lander in the hope of viewing the film.

At the Wyoming Outdoor Council, we foster a workplace culture where we welcome opportunities to learn. We make mistakes. And when we do, we take responsibility for those mistakes. We extend genuine apologies. Then, with the deeper understanding we’ve gained, we commit to moving forward in new and thoughtful ways. For us, the process matters. Relationships matter.

We are grateful to the Shoshone Tribal members who reached out to us. We appreciate the grace they’ve extended us, and their willingness to help us make additional changes to the film to improve upon it.

We’d already planned a fall film tour. Lander and Pinedale will be included in this. Please stay tuned as we settle on new dates and an improved film. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Field Notes


Message from the director: A renewed commitment for 2023

Posted on by Lisa McGee

As the year draws to a close, I hope you’ll join me to reflect on some of the good work we accomplished together in 2022.

We were your source for up-to-date information on issues you cared about at the Wyoming Legislature.

We drafted a conservation vision for the Red Desert and worked to make Indigenous leaders and perspectives central to this work.

We co-hosted a statewide climate summit in Lander with more than 200 attendees and supported new federal rules aimed at reducing methane pollution.

We advanced the idea of a conservation leasing program for state lands in Wyoming.

We defended clean drinking water in the Snake River, Casper, and Madison aquifers.

We strategized about better ways to address new threats to big game migration corridors.

A week ago, an Outdoor Council member reached out to me after renewing her membership. She shared a decades-old, but still vivid, memory about her first time in the Red Desert, and closed the email by saying, “Thank you all for keeping up the vigilance and creativity to keep Wyoming whole.”

Every day we work to protect the Wyoming you love. Like you, we envision a state with clean air and water, open space, thriving wildlife, wildlands, healthy communities, informed and engaged citizens, and a high quality of life for all.

This vision matters. It’s the reason WOC was founded, and it’s the reason for our work today. Your support for this vision matters. It ensures that we have a fighting chance in our collective efforts to keep Wyoming whole.

May this holiday season find you healthy and rested, grateful for the gifts Wyoming’s outdoors offers each of us, and with a renewed commitment to give back to the lands that inspire and sustain us.

Field Notes


A Message from the Director

Posted on by Lisa McGee

Advocating for conservation in Wyoming is demanding work, both for the Wyoming Outdoor Council’s staff and for passionate members like you. Not only are there more issues than we can possibly address as a small organization in a geographically large state, but for people with big hearts and a love for the wild, open spaces of Wyoming, the outcomes are personal. 

We don’t always win. When we do find success, as frequent as it may be, it’s often in the form of a quiet victory or incremental change. The forces working against us — whether it’s government inertia or downright hostile opposition from other stakeholders — can often feel overwhelming. 

But we aren’t in this alone. After all, we have each other. 

Poll after poll shows that the vast majority of our fellow Wyomingites — even if they don’t consider themselves “conservationists” — value public lands, wide open spaces, wildlife, clean air, and clean water. Our challenge is to meet people where they are and attempt to find common ground. The more we make these connections, value multiple perspectives, and seek input from a diversity of people outside of our organization in Wyoming and beyond, the more likely we are to succeed in our mission.

However difficult it may be, an honest and respectful conversation with a person who disagrees with our position does more good than assuming we have all the answers. 

Everything we hope to accomplish depends on relationships. Wyoming is a state where a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can seek creative solutions to tough problems and make a difference. And, as you’ll read in the coming pages, positive things can happen when a group of people with diverse perspectives put their heads together around an issue of mutual concern instead of staying in their own camps. 

Everything we hope to accomplish depends on relationships. Wyoming is a state where a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can seek creative solutions to tough problems and make a difference.

Thank you for being part of the Outdoor Council community in 2022. I take comfort in knowing, despite the obstacles and the slow pace of change, we’re all in this together. I hope you’ll remember that as well. 

Field Notes


Playing the long game for conservation policies that endure

Posted on by Lisa McGee

A change in federal administrations — and the policies that follow — is cause for either excitement or anxiety depending on how you voted. And for good reason: Elections have consequences. National policies affect our health, our economy, and our environment. And in Wyoming, where nearly half of the land is managed by the federal government, national policies have a disproportionate impact. 

Members of the Wyoming Outdoor Council fall all along the political spectrum. We agree to disagree on many issues, but find common ground when it comes to conservation. Conservation is not — and should not be — a partisan issue. 

From the standpoint of conservation and environmental justice, the legacy of the outgoing administration is dire. From climate change denial and the loosening of air and water quality safeguards to oil and gas leasing in areas important to Indigenous people and in crucial wildlife habitats, there have been more than 100 documented rollbacks to existing protections or short-sighted policies that threaten public health and our air, water, wildlife, and lands. 

Many of the administrative wins we celebrated over the last decade were among those rolled back. The fate of others — like the Bureau of Land Management’s methane waste prevention rule — remains uncertain as challenges are still working their way through the courts. And while there are some rules that the incoming administration will be able to restore and it will certainly abandon some public land policies like “energy dominance,” we’ve lost important ground. 

To be sure, the Outdoor Council looks forward to an incoming administration that is less hostile to our mission. At the same time, we are wary of ambitious campaign goals that don’t take Wyoming values into account. For example, in the urgency to transition away from fossil fuels, proposals for industrial-scale wind and solar development on public lands in Wyoming shouldn’t be rushed. Development should be encouraged in already disturbed areas so that, in our effort to mitigate climate impacts, we don’t harm intact habitat and our most cherished open spaces and public lands. 

And we’ll be careful not to rely too heavily on federal policy for solutions to the specific challenges we face in Wyoming. We don’t relish what has come to feel like a game of administrative ping-pong. 

Instead, what we strive for — regardless of who occupies the White House — are common-sense conservation initiatives and environmental policies that endure. Although incremental progress isn’t as newsworthy as sweeping change, we’re playing a long game. We’d much rather build on measured steps forward than have fleeting successes that can’t withstand the next election. 

What we strive for — regardless of who occupies the White House — are common-sense conservation initiatives and environmental policies that endure.

Assuming they work as promised, we support state-level initiatives. Past examples include  rules for detecting and fixing methane leaks in new and modified oil and gas fields and requiring baseline water testing before oil and gas drilling. We’ve also supported executive orders for sage-grouse conservation and big game migration corridors, although we continue to scrutinize their implementation.

And when we advocate for big policy solutions with the power to deliver conservation wins, we also champion strong public processes. We’re dedicated to empowering citizens in local communities to help craft lasting solutions. In the coming year we’ll build on the groundwork we laid in 2020 to seek consensus recommendations for large-scale renewable energy siting, support community-led climate change resolutions like the one recently adopted in Lander, and work with Tribal partners and other citizens toward permanent protection for parts of the incredible Northern Red Desert. 

Our approach to conservation keeps us grounded in Wyoming. This doesn’t mean that we are always successful. There are frequent setbacks, but it’s this approach that accounts for the conservation gains we’ve celebrated over the last 54 years. With your support, I’m confident we’ll continue this progress — not just in the coming year or coming four years, but for the long haul. 

Field Notes


We cannot be “silent about things that matter”

Posted on by Lisa McGee

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Today we honor the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a man who sought to achieve justice for all people regardless of the color of their skin. It is my sincere hope that Dr. King’s leadership — his words and his dedication to non-violence as a means of activism — provide inspiration for us today.

Two days from now the nation’s next president will be inaugurated. There is reason to fear that this will reignite the kind of unlawful, violent, and terror-inducing action that supporters of our current president inflicted on police officers, members of Congress, Congressional staffers, and others who work in the nation’s Capitol — actions that left five people dead.

Some of you might wonder why a conservation group like the Wyoming Outdoor Council is speaking out on issues of racial justice and the state of our democracy. It’s simple. We believe, as Dr. King said, that: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

We are proud to join with numerous Wyoming-based organizations in issuing the following statement, which appeared in Sunday’s Casper Star-Tribune. We invite you to add your name by visiting this link. 

 

Wyoming Groups Call for Transparency and Accountability in the Aftermath of the Attack on the Capitol

Last week, horrified Americans watched as a violent assault was staged in our nation’s capital, putting the lives of our elected leaders and other public servants in danger, and disrupting a constitutionally mandated meeting of Congress to advance the peaceful transfer of presidential power. Here in Wyoming, we watched the shocking footage and share in the sentiment of former Sen. Hank Coe, who told the Cody Enterprise: “It was absolutely the most disgusting, heartbreaking production I’ve ever seen in my life. It did its best to destroy the American values.”

We are asking our state and national elected leaders to demand full accountability for those who incited, abetted, and participated in the attack. There cannot be healing without accountability.

And we cannot ignore the truth: The insurrection last week was the direct result of an ongoing campaign of lies and deliberate misinformation coming primarily from the President of the United States. As Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney put it: “We just had a violent mob assault the Capitol in an attempt to prevent [Congress] from carrying out our Constitutional duty. There is no question that the President formed the mob, the President incited the mob, the President addressed the mob. He lit the flame.”

We are grateful to Congresswoman Cheney. She was one of a terrifyingly small number of leaders in the president’s party who—prior to the attack on the Capitol—had the courage to stand up to him, to stand up to the threats and bullying, and speak up for the U.S. Constitution and core American values about democracy. She warned, prior to the violence, that the president’s lies, toxic rhetoric, and attempts to thwart the will of the people were not only wrong but dangerous to the future of our republic.

We need a national reckoning. Not only with this violent insurrection but with what led to it. We have yet to fully grapple with the anti-democratic, pro-authoritarian political movements that have gone from the fringes to the mainstream in this country. And we have yet to honestly address the role of white supremacists and racist ideologues that have long been promoting the kind of violent insurrection and domestic terrorism we’re witnessing today.

The facts are that over 60 court cases and multiple state-level recounts have uncovered no meaningful “fraud” and no so-called “irregularities” that would have even come close to changing the results of any presidential, legislative, or other election. In a country governed by the rule of law, respecting the role of the courts and the authority of states to administer and certify their elections is not optional. It is the foundation of American democracy.

If we fail as political leaders and as a people to coalesce around the truth, we will continue to allow the lies and disinformation to fracture and polarize our society. If our democracy is to survive and prosper, we will require courageous, patriotic leaders who will stand up for our system of elections and who will not lie to us about the integrity of American voters and the legitimacy of election results.

We, the people are responsible for the durability of our democracy. We must rise to this occasion and find the courage to speak out against those who, in the interest of power, embrace conspiracy theories, white supremacy, lies, and violence. As former U.S. Secretary of State Madeline Albright said: “While democracy in the long run is the most stable form of government, in the short run, it is the most fragile.”

And as the late Rep. John Lewis wrote: “The truth is a powerful force. It is the foundation of all things. The truth is so all-consuming that it cannot be denied. You cannot erase the truth. You cannot tarnish the truth. You cannot whitewash the truth. It is bigger than the sum of us all, and whole, even in its parts.”

Together, we stand for the truth. We expect all our elected officials to do the same.

 

Wyoming State Legislative Board, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen
Wyoming Public Employees Association
Wyoming Outdoor Council
Wyoming Interfaith Network
Wyoming Education Association
Wyoming Equality
Wyoming Coalition for a Healthy Retirement
Wyoming Association of Activists
Wind River Native Advocacy Center
SMART Transportation Union
Sierra Club Wyoming Chapter
Matthew Shepard Foundation
Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance
International Union of Operating Engineers Local 800
Equality State Policy Center

 

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Field Notes


Court’s decision on methane rule is win for Wyoming air quality, taxpayers

Posted on by Lisa McGee
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On Wednesday, July 15, we received some good news. 

In a series of challenges that have been ongoing for nearly four years, a federal district court in California found that the Bureau of Land Management illegally repealed a 2016 rule designed to improve air quality, slow the progress of climate change, and provide a fair return for taxpayers by reducing the amount of natural gas lost through leaks, venting, and flaring from oil and gas development on public and tribal lands. 

The BLM’s 2016 methane waste prevention rule updated 30-year-old regulations regarding the agency’s congressional mandate to prevent waste of publicly owned oil and gas resources. This common-sense and much needed update protects our public lands, air quality, and our health by requiring oil and gas companies to conduct inspections and repair leaks that endanger human health and contribute to climate change. Because the pollution captured is also the product to be sold, these inspections and fixes end up paying for themselves. The rule helps ensure that natural gas owned by the American taxpayers generates revenue for our schools, public infrastructure, and social services, instead of literally being cast to the wind. 

But oil and gas industry groups — as well as Wyoming, Montana, and North Dakota — challenged the rule. The Wyoming Outdoor Council joined 17 public health, Indigenous rights, and conservation organizations, along with New Mexico and California, to help the BLM defend the rule in Wyoming federal district court. 

When President Donald Trump was elected, the BLM changed course. At industry’s urging, the BLM first sought to not enforce the rule and then took steps to repeal it altogether. We soon found ourselves on the other side of the courtroom as plaintiffs challenging the BLM’s 2018 “rescission rule.” The court’s decision on Wednesday means that the 2016 rule will be reinstated. 

While industry lobbying groups will likely challenge the 2016 rule — and we’ll be back in Wyoming district court to defend the rule again — the decision to reinstate it represents a huge victory for common-sense management of a valuable public resource. Notably, during the legal limbo of the past four years, more and more oil and gas companies have voluntarily adopted the requirements of the rule — because they’re cost effective and good PR for an industry under scrutiny for its contributions to climate change. 

More than $2.5 billion in natural gas has been lost to venting, flaring, or fugitive emissions on public and tribal lands since 2013. This loss also contributes to climate change — methane is a greenhouse gas and a serious contributor to global warming — and releases pollutants such as benzene into the air. 

As a 53-year old organization, the Wyoming Outdoor Council learned long ago not to rely exclusively on federal administrative rules for lasting policy change. This is a textbook example of why we don’t. The shifting politics of Washington D.C. mean any victories gained under one administration could be on the chopping block during the next. 

For this reason, even while we sought to defend the BLM’s national rule, we worked tirelessly with the state of Wyoming, the Department of Environmental Quality, and operators here in Wyoming to ensure state-level standards for leak detection and repair of fugitive emissions. In 2018, the DEQ finalized these requirements and they apply statewide in new and modified oil and gas fields. Ultimately, we’d like the state to require the same practices for existing oil and gas fields. 

Our work to combat climate change, protect public health, and support policies that reduce unnecessary lost revenue for the state of Wyoming will continue and we’ll keep you posted on our progress.

 

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Field Notes


In times of uncertainty, your voice is critical to conservation

Posted on by Lisa McGee

Like you, we at the Wyoming Outdoor Council are learning to cope with the changes to our everyday lives brought on by the spread of COVID-19. Most of our staff are working from home as a precaution and we’re all doing our best to practice social distancing, which includes a stop to all work-related travel. Some are juggling children who aren’t able to go to school or sharing tight quarters with spouses or partners. And we’re naturally all worried about the future and the health of our communities, neighbors and loved ones. 

(You can find information about COVID-19 treatment and prevention at the Centers for Disease Control website.)

But because our purpose is to conserve Wyoming’s natural resources and wild places forever, this isn’t the time to soften our efforts. Threats to Wyoming’s public lands, wildlife, air, and water will persist long after we’ve addressed the very real threats this illness poses today. As health professionals and public officials concentrate on treating and preventing COVID-19, we’ll remain focused on our mission. 

We’re grateful for your continued support to safeguard the Wyoming we love — now and for future generations — as we navigate these difficult times together. 

In the midst of escalating coronavirus concerns, we wrapped up a productive session of conservation advocacy at the Wyoming Legislature, submitted public comments on an upcoming oil and gas lease sale and solar energy development, and continued work on Teton County wastewater issues. 

So far in 2020, your voices have helped shape the governor’s executive order on big game migration corridors, defeat ill conceived bills in the legislature, and convince the DEQ not to allow more polluted wastewater to flow into Boysen Reservoir. Thank you. I hope your engagement doesn’t waver. 

In the near term, we’ll be exploring opportunities to host online trainings in grassroots advocacy, interactive Q&A sessions on topics like migration corridors, chronic wasting disease and climate change, a post-session (online) Beers & Bills, and educational resources for kids. Stay tuned for what we have in store, and feel free to send us your suggestions. 

Through the struggles and uncertainty that too often dominate our lives, the outdoors is what restores us mentally and physically. I hope you’re able to spend some outside — away from crowds, of course — to take care of yourself and those you love.

Thank you for being part of the Wyoming Outdoor Council community. 

Field Notes


Charting a path for Wyoming

Posted on by Lisa McGee

In the Winter 2020 issue of Frontline, we address the future of Wyoming in the context of the ever-growing threat of climate change, and the associated impacts that market shifts are having on our communities.

Our state’s budget and local government revenue have long been dependent on taxes and royalties that flow from extracting coal, oil, and natural gas. As U.S. consumers and markets respond to irrefutable scientific data linking fossil fuel emissions to a warming climate, and with more competitive and abundant natural gas production in other states, Wyoming’s primary revenue streams will continue to wane. 

What does this mean for conservation? For one thing, state agencies like the Department of Environmental Quality will continue to have to work with shrinking budgets. Last month, we urged Gov. Mark Gordon not to cut funding for an air quality inspector — a position desperately needed in Sublette County with its dangerous spikes in ground-level ozone — from the state’s proposed budget. 

For another, it means short-sighted ideas — ideas inspired not by what’s best for Wyoming, but rather by the prospect of quick income — will gain traction. Bills that would transfer our public lands to the state or invite storage of the nation’s nuclear waste are two recent examples of this type of thinking we’ve worked successfully to defeat. 

The economic vulnerability of a state so reliant on one sector also means that decision makers are more susceptible to industry lobbyists who promise increased revenues and new jobs, while demanding fewer regulations. How else to explain the state’s ambivalence about a proposal to discharge 8 million gallons a day of oil and gas wastewater into Boysen Reservoir and its tributaries — threatening downstream drinking water and the Wind River’s prized fishery? Or the proposed legislation based on a wish list from the petroleum industry that would take away the Game and Fish Department’s authority to identify big game habitat? Or the Wyoming State Legislature’s attack on rooftop solar — the fastest growing industry in the nation? 

As national and global markets shift away from coal and other fossil fuels, Wyoming will be dealt a significant blow not only to our state’s budget, but also to families and communities who have built livelihoods and identities around this once-thriving industry. Wyoming governors, at least since the 1970s, have talked about the need to diversify the state’s economy. We understand that, if this were easy, it would have already been done. 

We at the Wyoming Outdoor Council certainly don’t have all the answers. That’s one of the reasons we asked several guest authors to give us their perspectives on the future they see for Wyoming. 

What we do know is this: We can’t ignore the reality of climate change. We have to support our friends and neighbors who have lost jobs and whose communities are struggling. And, as we look for answers to our state’s economic challenges, we can’t sacrifice our public lands, our wildlife, or our clean air and water in the process.

As the Code of the West wisely reminds us: We have to know where to draw the line. We also need to remember that some things aren’t for sale.

Throughout 2020 and beyond, we’ll continue to invite perspectives on these topics — dedicating space on our website and on social media for discussion. We’ll begin conversations in communities around the state and engage decision makers. With support and input from our members, we’ll address topics like our state’s tax structure, ideas for sustainable revenue generation, economic diversification, and initiatives that ensure that Wyoming remains a place where people want to live and can make a living. And we’ll never lose sight of our mission to protect Wyoming’s environment and quality of life now and for future generations. 

We’re all in this together — all of us who live in and love Wyoming — and it’s up to all of us to demand that our elected officials help us chart a courageous path forward. I welcome your thoughts and am grateful for your continued support of the Wyoming Outdoor Council. 

Field Notes


Welcome to two new Wyoming Outdoor Council staff

Posted on by Lisa McGee

As we start a new year and a new decade, the Wyoming Outdoor Council is even more committed to building relationships — with members, partners, decision makers, and the general public alike — led in part by Kristen Brown, who was promoted to associate director in November, and Alan Rogers, our new communications director who joined the staff on the first of the year. 

Kristen joined the Outdoor Council at the end of 2018 as the membership director after working at NOLS for 11 years. Kristen has a successful history of administrative work for small businesses and nonprofits, and is excited to apply these skills to protect the landscapes she loves. As associate director, Kristen will continue her work to grow WOC’s member base and strengthen the internal operations of the organization. 

Alan comes to the team following a 15-year career in journalism, including eight years as an editor at the Casper Star-Tribune. A love of wilderness and the desire to make enjoying the outdoors a full-time pursuit brought him to Wyoming, and the drive to take an active role in safeguarding those places landed him at the Outdoor Council. As communications director he’ll juggle a variety of tasks, but it all comes down to keeping our members and the public informed and empowered to make their voices heard. 

As Kristen and Alan continue to get settled into their new roles, we pulled them aside to talk about their road to the Outdoor Council and what they have planned for the year to come. 

What do you love about the outdoors? 

ALAN: First off, when I was growing up, being outside was priority No. 1. My dad had been a backpacker and climber during his bachelor days, and my mom grew up being hauled across the country on summer-long camping trips. So outdoor recreation was just the default activity when my brothers and I came along. We camped, hiked, and fished but some of my best times were during elementary school, when I could spend my entire summer vacation catching minnows, frogs, and turtles in our pond with a battle-worn butterfly net. 

KRISTEN: My family didn’t spend a lot of time outside, but every summer we would travel a few hours north to a lake for camping and boating. It was a great escape from city life and introduced me to wildlife (bears, deer, and so many birds) that we didn’t have in my hometown. I loved fishing, swimming, and riding in the boat. The roar of the motor drowned out all other sounds, but I loved the opportunity to be alone with my thoughts. 

Since those childhood camping trips, I’ve grown to love spending time outdoors. My first ever backpacking trip was in the Anza Borrego Desert State Park in southern California. While a short trip, it amazed me to be so far out of sight and sound of other people. I’ve come to cherish those moments and rely on even the memories of solitude to bring peace to my life. In addition to hiking and backpacking, I enjoy long distance cycling, birding, and learning new skills like cross-country skiing. 

ALAN: As an adult, getting outdoors is still my way of recharging mentally. Spending a decade and a half in daily journalism meant that I was constantly connected to technology and being bombarded by negativity. When you’re hiking up a mountain or listening to the swish of your skis that all disappears. 

Any favorite memories? 

KRISTEN: One favorite memory I have is on a backpacking trip with a friend in Kings Canyon National Park in California. I had found a lovely hillside to watch the sunset over the mountain. Downhill from me was a large boulder with a u-shaped slot in it’s top. Not long before the sun went down a yellow-bellied marmot hopped right up onto the boulder and nestled itself on its side right in that slot as if it was a nightly ritual. It looked over its shoulder at me and I like to think it was encouraging me to enjoy the sunset right along with it. 

ALAN: It’s hard to choose one in particular, but a few memories stand out. About twenty years ago I did my first extended backpacking trip, which was a week on Isle Royale National Park in the middle of Lake Superior. It was my first experience in a wilderness area and the first time I ever felt completely removed from civilization. I realized I could be self-sufficient. 

Around that same time I became infatuated with the Wind River Range. It seemed like the most beautiful and remote place I could imagine. When I moved to Wyoming years later I finally got up into the Winds for the first time. I’ll never forget that. Not long after, I asked my wife to marry me in the Cirque of the Towers. Luckily she said yes … it would have been a long walk home otherwise. 

KRISTEN: My son, Rowan, was born not long after we moved to Lander so my favorite memories of Wyoming revolve around exploring with family. When he was little, it was amazing to be able to take a short car ride, pack him in a baby pack, and be hiking up the Falls Trail in Sinks Canyon in no time. Now that he’s older, I’m looking forward to exploring the Winds on longer trips together. 

What drew you to conservation work, and to WOC in particular?

KRISTEN: From a young age I felt a strong connection with wildlife. I poured over my Ranger Rick magazines in my room and in 1987 when the California Condors were being removed from the wild I joined my first conservation organization to support their recovery. I mourned the listing of the Przewalski’s horse and even drafted a letter to President Reagan to make sure he knew it was an issue. So, I guess it’s really no surprise that I ended up studying ecology in college and interned at a local environmental nonprofit. 

ALAN: The main reason I took this step is because I came to realize that enjoying the outdoors and being a cheerleader for conservation wasn’t enough. I always considered myself a conservationist because I valued our wild places and natural resources, and wanted them to be treated with care so they could remain forever. But what difference was I making? Not much. 

KRISTEN: My partner, Eric, and I became members of the Outdoor Council soon after moving to Lander. It was really no question for us, even though we both were making small nonprofit salaries at the time. We knew that WOC was doing the work that would protect wildlife, public lands, and our clean air and water. Being a member of WOC’s community was an important and rewarding way that we could play a part in conservation in Wyoming. 

ALAN: We’re incredibly blessed to live in a country with such a wealth of public land, which we can all enjoy for free. The trade off is that an increasing number of people who recreate in the outdoors does not necessarily translate into more funds for land and wildlife management. And a conversation among friends about clean air and water is not going to influence industry or policymakers. Everyone needs to speak up, and this is my way of doing that. 

There are a good number of conservation groups working in Wyoming right now, and it’s been encouraging to find a real sense of community among them. What I respect most about the Outdoor Council is the focus on results. The staff take real pride in serving as a resource to help other groups and individuals make a difference. And the overriding culture at WOC is that we can best protect Wyoming’s environment and quality of life by bringing people together to find solutions. Conservation issues can be polarizing, but reasonable people can find common ground. In a place as small as Wyoming that’s very important. 

KRISTEN: When an opportunity opened for me to work at the Outdoor Council, I was excited to play a larger role in the WOC community. Early on, it became clear that the staff at WOC is stellar. There are so many committed individuals working together to move our goals forward; it’s really inspiring. Now that I’ve been at WOC for a little over a year, I understand so much more about what goes into meeting our goals. Whether it’s reading legal documents, talking to legislators about upcoming bills, making sure our members and the public know what’s happening around the state, or taking care of the many logistics needed to keep everything running behind the scenes, everyone has an important role to play.

What do you want to accomplish in the coming year? 

KRISTEN: I’m looking forward to playing more of a leadership role at the Outdoor Council. As we continue to grow our team, I hope to provide a base of support for employees so we continue to work well together and do good work for conservation in Wyoming. 

ALAN: I’m transitioning to a completely new field, so I have my work cut out for me. Right now I’m focused on getting up to speed on our advocacy programs, as well as the nuts and bolts of the print and online publications I’ll be responsible for. I have a background in social media management and would like to leverage that to help build more awareness of the Outdoor Council’s work and foster public discussion about the issues. And our advocacy staff does some impressive work outside the public eye. I’d like to help share it with more folks around the state. 

Why are you excited about the future of conservation in Wyoming?

ALAN: Wyoming is unique in that so many people are tied to the landscape in one way or another. And, for the most part, there’s an understanding that what we have here is special. People might have different opinions on how much loss of wildlife habitat is acceptable, or what level of methane emissions can be justified by the economic benefit of an oil and gas project, but at least we’re speaking the same language. 

KRISTEN: We are heading into uncertain times. I don’t know what the future will hold for conservation in Wyoming. We are facing the impacts of climate change at the same time as we are seeing coal companies closing in Wyoming and throughout the country. I think Wyoming has an opportunity to lead the country in the way that we handle our transition away from a carbon-based economy. As a state with a smaller population, I think we can be more nimble, innovative, and forward-thinking. While I don’t know what the answers will be, I am excited to be part of the conversation.

ALAN: I work for a conservation group, but my kids will attend great schools funded by coal royalties. Guys working in the oilfield are probably some of the biggest contributors to science-based wildlife management in the form of hunting and fishing license fees. Our interests are intertwined more than most people realize and there’s so much potential to work together.

Field Notes


Teton County and the Wyoming Public Lands Initiative

Posted on by Lisa McGee
[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.5″] More than two years ago, at the invitation of the Wyoming County Commission Association, Teton County and nine other counties opted to participate in the Wyoming Public Lands Initiative. This effort sought to resolve how wilderness study areas and other public lands on BLM and national forest land should be managed in the long term. Counties would appoint citizens representing various user groups (recreation, agriculture, oil and gas, conservation, sportsmen, etc.) to seek common ground and come up with a management recommendation for these public lands. If an advisory group reached consensus, its recommendations would be sent to the WCCA, which would package it, along with recommendations from other counties, into legislation that Senator Barrasso could introduce in Congress as a comprehensive Wyoming public lands bill.

Wilderness Study Areas and Their Uses

Many of the uses currently allowed in WSAs would be prohibited if these areas were formally designated as wilderness. An example is Palisades, straddling Teton and Lincoln counties. First made a WSA under the 1984 Wyoming Wilderness Act, Palisades is managed to maintain its wilderness character and its potential for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System. The Act allowed the possibility of oil and gas exploration, and determined that snowmobiling could legally continue “in the same manner and degree” as it had before 1984. Today, of course, oil and gas exploration is no longer a threat to Palisades — but snowmobiling is popular. And despite not being an established or allowable use of these lands under the 1984 Wyoming Wilderness Act, mountain biking has gotten a foothold here. Wilderness supporters look to WSAs and other roadless public lands as places that could, in the future, be given formal wilderness designations — making mountain biking and snowmobiling off limits. Many mountain bikers and snowmobilers believe conservation gains are possible even without a formal wilderness designation. Within the conservation community, it’s a complicated issue with no easy answer.

The Committee: Shared Values and Different Perspectives

On the question of whether to recommend that Palisades be designated as wilderness, the Teton County advisory committee faced a zero-sum game. Because wilderness areas don’t allow for motorized or any kind of wheel-based recreation, one group could only “win” if another group “lost.” Recognizing that from the start, many committee members suggested looking beyond Palisades and Shoal Creek WSAs. Were there other public lands in Teton County that might be designated as wilderness — a solution that would allow biking and snowmobiling to continue in Palisades? Some members of the committee didn’t believe this was a fair outcome. For them, no amount of new wilderness elsewhere would make up for the lack of a wilderness designation in Palisades. Others believed Teton County didn’t “need” any more wilderness. They noted that even if the uses they enjoyed in Palisades continued, they didn’t like the idea that other places might be off limits to those uses. The Wyoming Outdoor Council sought areas of agreement among all 18 committee members. We asked: Does anyone want to see oil and gas development, hard rock mining, or large-scale commercial timber harvest on our public lands in Teton County? The answer was a resounding no. That’s significant: thirty years ago, such consensus would have been nearly impossible. We asked: Does everyone agree that our recreational uses shouldn’t hurt wildlife? A resounding yes. Clearly, the committee shared the most fundamental values.

What’s Next?

Finally, after months of discussion and hard work, the committee put forth a recommendation to prohibit oil and gas development, hard rock mining, and commercial timber harvest and the associated roads necessary for these industrial uses on the national forest lands in Teton County. Does this recommendation resolve the status of Palisades and Shoal Creek WSAs? It doesn’t. But it’s an essential first step to defining a vision for public land management in Teton County that prioritizes wildlife and recreation. Federal legislation is the only way to make this shared vision an enforceable reality. [/et_pb_text][et_pb_cta _builder_version=”3.17.5″ title=”Support recommendations that prioritize wildlife and recreation in Teton County” button_text=”Contact the Teton County Commissioners” button_url=”mailto:commissioners@tetoncountywy.gov” url_new_window=”on”] Please urge the Teton County commissioners to forward this unanimous recommendation to the Wyoming County Commission Association and Senator Barrasso. [/et_pb_cta][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.5″] Please email lisa@wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org with questions. [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]