Posted 5-6-08

Governor Visits Wildlife Trust Fund Project in Wheatland

WHEATLAND, Wyo. (Office of the Governor) -- A Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust project that removed thousands of invasive trees from the shores of a popular fishing lake in Platte County got a visit from state officials on Saturday, May 3.

Gov. Dave Freudenthal, Sen. Curt Meier, Rep. Deb Alden, Platte County Commissioners Joe Reichardt and Tim Millikin and local weed and pest officials toured the Laramie River Invasives project at Festo Lake near Wheatland. Also present were two members of the Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust board, Bob Anderson of Casper and Ken Bannister of Torrington.

The project was awarded $30,000 from the Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust and was a joint effort with the Platte County Weed and Pest District to remove thick stands of Russian olive and Saltcedar trees from the shores of the lake. Water loss due to the trees is estimated at 2 acre-feet of water per acre of trees.

"In a year and a half, the Wildlife Trust Fund board has funded 105 projects in the state," the Governor said. "This is above and beyond the expectations that most people had for the program. The board hit the ground running and has put $7 million to work in the state. This project is an example of the kinds of improvements the Wildlife Trust Fund has made across Wyoming."

Bob Shoemaker, supervisor of the Platte County Weed and Pest District, said the work dramatically improved the condition of the lake and the drainage to the east.

"Control projects like this are very expensive and require many good partners as well as sound financial backing," he said. "The Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust is a critical component in our efforts to restore riparian habitat in Platte County. It was impossible to walk through a pasture near the lake because the Russian olives were so thick. This project should return this area into a productive pasture for livestock and wildlife."

The Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust works with local weed and pest districts to accomplish the initial removal of invasive species, with the agreement that the agency maintain control of the species after removal. The trust does not provide funding for the districts' ongoing operational costs.

Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust board member Bob Anderson noted that in addition to the ecological benefits created by the reduction in invasive trees, the state investment was approximately one-fifth of the total cost.

"The board is careful to try and generate as much leverage as we can on all projects," he said.

Board member Ken Bannister said the state's investment allowed for the project to expand from a planned 56 acres to 121 acres.

The effort in Wheatland is one of many projects across the state working to address the invasion of Russian olive and Saltcedar. Goshen County maintains an aggressive effort on the North Platte River and Niobrara County has an equally aggressive effort on the Cheyenne River and its tributaries. Other projects addressing this issue include those underway at Yellowtail Recreation Area, Seminoe Reservoir, the Medicine Bow River, Little Bitter Creek and Gooseberry Creek.

Steve Brill, supervisor of the Goshen County Weed and Pest District, said his Saltcedar control program on the North Platte River and his Russian olive removal project near the Nebraska border would not have been possible without the support from the trust.

Rep. Deborah Alden of Wheatland also said funding from the Wildlife Trust has made a difference on the ground for her constituents.

"This project is just one example of how Platte County has benefitted from the implementation of the Wyoming Wildlife Trust Fund," she said. "I trust that Platte County and other counties across Wyoming will continue to benefit from projects like this that are overseen by the good guidance of the Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust board."

The trust has funded several other projects in Platte County including:

- The Southeast Wyoming Guzzlers project that will provide water for upland game birds, songbirds, and other wildlife by capturing and storing water in tanks in the ground. Sponsor was the Chugwater Chapter of Pheasants Forever.

- The Southeast Laramie Range project involved prescribed fire and invasive control to stimulate the production and quality of mountain mahogany and native grasses. Primary benefits are to mule deer and elk, but local bighorn sheep also gain winter habitat as a result, and grassland birds also benefit greatly.

For more information on the Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust, visit: http://wwnrt.state.wy.us/.