The Wilderness Society contracted with experts to review existing land management plans as well as oil and gas Environmental Impact Statements and decision documents for the Pinedale Resource Area in the Upper Green River Valley in western Wyoming.

Two reports resulted from this work. The first focussed on big game impacts from oil and gas development, and recommendations for land use planning. The second report focussed on impacts to sage grouse populations from energy developments, with recommendations for land use planning as well.

Big Game
Study title: An evaluation of the 1988 BLM Pinedale Resource Management Plan, 2000 BLM Pinedale Anticline Final EIS and Recommendations for the current revision of the Pinedale Resource Management Plan.

This report a) describes the existing ecology and population status of big game species and existing habitat conditions within the BLM’s Pinedale Resource Area; b) reviews the current Pinedale RMP and the Anticline EIS based on existing scientific literature; and c) provides recommendations on how the Pinedale RMP may be revised to best manage ungulate populations within the BLM Pinedale Resource Area. (Prepared by WEST Inc. of Cheyenne, Wyoming.)
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Sage Grouse
Study title: A review of sage-grouse habitat needs and sage-grouse management issues for the revision of the BLM's Pinedale District Resource Management plan in the Upper Green River Basin in Wyoming.

This scoping letter discusses the ecology and habitat needs of sage-grouse, provides a critique of existing conditions and management for sage grouse, discusses what is presently known, and offers recommendations for monitoring and mitigation for incorporation in the revised Pinedale RMP. Research for this letter included closely reviewing documents relating to the existing Pinedale RMP, Pinedale Anticline EIS, Wyoming Game and Fish Department materials, and applicable peer reviewed articles, theses, and "gray" literature. (Prepared by Dr. Clait Braun of Grouse, Inc.)
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