The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) finalized Rock Springs Resource Management Plan (RMP), which governs the use of 3.6 million acres in southwestern Wyoming, reflects 85% of the recommendations made by a governor-appointed task force, according to a recent analysis by conservation groups.
This comes amid ongoing debates about whether the plan adequately addresses Wyoming’s needs, with some state leaders criticizing the process as flawed.
The plan has been years in the making, with the BLM overseeing public lands that range from sagebrush ecosystems to wildlife corridors and popular recreation areas. The agency’s Rock Springs Field Office last updated its RMP in 1997. When a draft plan was released in 2023, it sparked intense public backlash, especially over proposed limits on energy extraction and increased protections for conservation areas. Critics argued the draft plan would harm the region’s economy and close access to favored outdoor activities.
In response to the outcry, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon formed a task force to collaborate on recommendations. The 11-member group, representing interests like mining, conservation, and hunting, reached consensus on over 100 proposals aimed at balancing conservation with economic activities.
Despite some criticism that the task force process overemphasized environmental viewpoints, the BLM made a strong effort to incorporate the group’s suggestions, according to Alec Underwood, program director at the Wyoming Outdoor Council and a task force member.
“It’s apparent that the agency took seriously [the task force’s] substantive recommendations for management direction,” he said.
Governor Gordon has expressed disappointment with the final plan, stating it does not fully align with Wyoming’s expectations for managing public lands. However, an analysis by the Wyoming Outdoor Council and The Wilderness Society found that the BLM incorporated 85% of the task force’s input into its plan. Additionally, the Center for Western Priorities reviewed 35,000 public comments on the RMP and found 92% were in favor of conservation measures, underscoring significant public support for preserving the area’s wildlands and habitats.
As the process moves forward, the RMP is now undergoing a governor’s consistency review, with final approval expected soon. Despite lingering concerns, the BLM’s efforts to integrate public and task force feedback mark a key step in resolving the long-running debate over how best to manage Wyoming’s public lands.
Oil City News contributed to this report.
