|
Relief available for Roosevelt Fire victims (posted 10/12/18)
The Pinedale Lions Club and the Bondurant Community Club are happy to report that, thanks to the generosity of many individuals and corporate donors, a first round of disbursements can be made from the Roosevelt Fire Recovery Fund and applications are now available for those affected by the Roosevelt Fire.
The Roosevelt Fire Recovery Fundraising Campaign was launched under the auspices of the Pinedale Lions Club (via the Lions of Wyoming Foundation), with support from the Bondurant Community Club. Funds have been collected via the following sites: https://www.gofundme.com/roosevelt-fire-disaster-recovery and https://www.lionsofwyomingfoundation.org/ as well as by check directly to the Lions of Wyoming Foundation. With 55 homes destroyed and many permanent residents displaced, the campaign will be ongoing; this first application period is designed to address the most urgent needs of our friends and neighbors.
The purpose of this fundraising campaign is to offer financial assistance based on need to those who experienced loss as a result of the Roosevelt Fire and to help rebuild core infrastructure for the community. The Roosevelt Fire Recovery Fund Committee has been formed to oversee the systematic, equitable and confidential distribution of funds. The Funds Committee consists of a mix of key stakeholders as well as outside non-partisan volunteers from Bondurant, Hoback Ranches, Jackson, and Pinedale, Wyoming. Guidelines and criteria for distribution have been established, and are based on best practices from other disasters. The Committee will review applications, meet with applicants as needed, and apply the guidelines and criteria in order to distribute funds. It is anticipated that there will be multiple rounds of distributions made. Checks to recipients will come from the Pinedale Lions Club where all donations are being held.
If you would like to support the Roosevelt Fire Recovery Fund, donations may be sent to the Lions of Wyoming Foundation, 224 Talon Ct., Cheyenne, WY 82009 – please put "Roosevelt Fire" in the memo line. Your generosity is greatly appreciated as we work to rebuild the Hoback Ranches community.
Applications and Guidelines are available at the Bondurant Library and Post Office and online here:
• Guidelines: http://bit.ly/roosevelt-guidelines
• Print Form Application: http://bit.ly/roosevelt-print-application
• Electronic Form Applicationhttp://bit.ly/roosevelt-e-application
First round applications must be returned to the Pinedale Lions Club, PO Box 508, Pinedale, WY 82941 by Monday, October 22, 2018. The Committee will work quickly and expect to have checks out to approved recipients by the end of the month. Subsequent application periods will be announced as funds become available. Questions may be sent to rooseveltfirerecoveryfund@gmail.com.
Lion Mindi Crabb, Pinedale Lions Club, (307) 231-0942
Chris Lacinak, Bondurant Community Club, (917) 548-8632
Fire recovery resources (posted 10/12/18)
Guy Cameron, Director, Wyoming Office of Homeland Security
The impacts of the Roosevelt Fire were devastating, and life changing for many. My heart goes out to those affected by the fire and I also thank the dedicated firefighters who battle the fire and those who supported the incident. The true community spirit of Wyoming was apparent as neighbors and communities came together during and following the fire.
This was a large-scale event that brought in more than 1,000 firefighters and destroyed 55 homes. Unfortunately the damage assessments conducted did not reach the requirements for federal disaster relief under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. The number of uninsured, primary homes, did not meet the criteria to provide relief through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Individual Assistance program. As a result, assistance through a federal disaster declaration is not available in this situation.
Individual insurance is normally the first line of assistance in a fire event. The state Insurance Department is available to answer any questions and assure proper practices.
Please know that in recovery from this fire state officials are researching all the options available to assist you.
State agencies are working together to explore all available recovery resources and to make those accessible for Sublette County, Hoback Ranches Service and Improvement District and those impacted by the fire. I encourage those who have suffered damages to look at the available resources at http://hls.wyo.gov. This listing will be updated as new information is received.
A Hazard Mitigation Grant Program – Post Fire Grant was approved. This grant provides mitigation funding to Sublette County and/or its local governmental jurisdictions to support risk reduction of a hazard. This includes projects such as wildfire mitigation (for example: fire-resistant materials used on home exteriors, soil stabilization or watershed protection projects (for example: erosion control mats, large-scale seeding, log terracing to channel flood water, silt fences to prevent sediment runoff, or mulching to protect soil minerals).
A federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) was also approved. The purpose of FMAG is to provide supplemental federal assistance to states and local government to fight fires burning on public (non-federal) or privately owned forest or grassland.
As we move forward in the aftermath of the Roosevelt fire, we will continue to research options available to those impacted.
Sublette County fire ban terminated (posted 10/10/18)
Mary Lankford, Sublette County Clerk
The Sublette County Commissioners met in Special Session, Monday, October 8, 2018 at 5:50 p.m., in the Lovatt Room of the Sublette County Library in Pinedale, to rescind the Fire Restrictions enacted on September 19, 2018. By unanimous motion, the Fire Restrictions are terminated. This action is effective immediately.
Roosevelt Fire. Photo by Rita Donham, Wyoming Aero Photo LLC
|
The Aftermath - Roosevelt Fire (posted 10/8/18)
Photos by Rita Donham, Wyoming Aero Photo LLC
The Roosevelt Fire began on Saturday, September 15th in the Roosevelt Meadows area in the Wyoming Range. What started as an 80 acre fire turned into a two week firestorm that grew to more than 61,000 acres threatening many homes in the Hoback and Rim areas between Daniel and Bondurant. By the end of September more than 1,000 personnel were working on the fire day and night and it was the #1 fire priority in the country for resources. The final toll by Friday, October 5th when the 61,511-acre fire was finally contained was 55 homes were lost in the Hoback Ranches area. Fortunately 95 were saved by the valiant firefighting efforts. The fire was ultimately determined to be human-caused, the result of a warming fire left unattended on the opening day of Wyoming general hunting season.
Click on this link for more photos by Rita Donham, Wyoming Aero Photo LLC: The Aftermath - Roosevelt Fire
Related Links:
www.wyomingaerophoto.com - Wyoming Aero Photo LLC
Go Fund Me fundraising site for Roosevelt fire victims
Roosevelt Fire - Inciweb
Bridger-Teton National Forest Facebook page
Pinedale Online Roosevelt Fire updates
Volunteer Health Services Program offers liability option for those providing volunteer health care services (posted 10/8/18)
Wyoming Department of Health
A new program aims to support providers and facilities interested in offering volunteer healthcare services to low-income patients through a new legal liability option.
The creation of Wyoming’s Volunteer Health Services Program was approved earlier this year by the Wyoming Legislature.
"Many healthcare providers and facility operators may be concerned with legal liability for volunteer services," said Sen. Tara Nethercott (R-04). "Those type of concerns should not be a barrier for someone who wants to share their expertise and time by offering needed medical help."
The program allows licensed healthcare providers and medical facilities to provide volunteer services for low-income Wyoming residents while being protected from liability for medical negligence under the state’s sovereign immunity.
By entering into a contract with the state, volunteer providers are deemed public employees and facilities are deemed state medical facilities for purposes of what’s known as the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act. "Any malpractice claim arising from uncompensated services rendered to eligible patients would be defended and paid by the state under the Governmental Claims Act," said Tom Forslund, Wyoming Department of Health director.
Any healthcare provider, including physicians, dentists, physician assistants, nurses, pharmacists, optometrists, psychiatrists and psychologists, who is licensed or certified by Wyoming law is eligible to enter into a contract under the program. Eligible facilities include hospitals, clinics, medical offices and nursing homes.
Services provided under the program are intended for low-income persons. An eligible patient:
• Has income at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level
• Is not covered under a health insurance or healthcare policy, contract or plan
• Is covered under a health insurance or healthcare policy, contract or plan, but was denied coverage by the policy, contract or plan
Eligibility is determined by volunteer providers or facilities based on information from patients.
More information and important forms can be found on the Wyoming Department of Health website at https://health.wyo.gov/admin/wyomings-volunteer-health-services-program/.
Roosevelt Fire Update - Friday, Oct. 5, 2018 (posted 10/5/18)
Roosevelt Fire Information
As of 8 p.m.
Date of Detection: September 15, 2018
Current Size: 61,511 acres
Location: Bondurant, WY
Cause: Human
Containment: 100%
Structures Lost: 55 confirmed
Injuries: 3
Resources on Fire: There are currently 45 personnel on this incident
• The Forest Service closure were lifted at noon today.
• Stage 1 Fire Restrictions were lifted at noon today.
• Showers will continue across the fire area with some snow possible; minimal fire behavior is expected today.
• Objectives today are focused on fire containment, and continued assessment and implementation of suppression repair activities.
• All Evacuation Zones remain at the READY level.
• The Roosevelt Fire is human-caused, the result of an abandoned warming fire left unattended at mid-slope.
The Roosevelt Fire was deemed 100 percent contained following a recon flight over the fire this afternoon. More resources were released today, leaving only the needed equipment and crews required to patrol, mop-up and suppress any potential threats to containment lines and conduct fire line suppression repair work.
Fire line suppression repair involves pulling back berms from dozer-constructed fire lines, removing handmade fire line and installing water drainage features to prevent natural resource damage from rain and snow. If all fire line repairs are not completed before winter hits, the work will continue in the spring. All fire lines constructed on the Roosevelt Fire have been recorded with GPS, making identification and repair of fire lines more efficient.
With the lifting of the Forest closure, anyone entering the previously closed area should be aware of the hazards inherent with traveling through a recently burned terrain. Visitors should plan more than one travel route through the area, in the event it becomes necessary to escape approaching fire or avoid hot, smoldering fuels within the burn scar.
For some time after the fire, visitors may encounter unpredictable spreading of flames inside the fire perimeter, rolling rocks or logs, falling branches and trees, and flash flooding. Additionally, anyone entering the area may encounter localized pockets of heavy smoke and limited visibility.
Visitors who choose to enter the fire area or use trails in the area do so at their own risk. Fire weakened trees, known as snags, may fall at any time and trails may not be passable due to downed trees and branches.
Up-to-date information relating to the Roosevelt Fire and post-fire activities, will continue to be posted to Inciweb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6212/ as well as the Bridger-Teton Facebook page.
Much colder weather and snow forecast for western Wyoming (posted 10/5/18)
Snow could reach valley floors
The National Weather Service advises that much colder and wet weather are on tap for this weekend into next week for western Wyoming.
A storm system will spread precipitation across western and central Wyoming beginning Saturday and continuing into Monday. Light snow will fall in the western mountains Saturday with generally a cold rain in the valleys. This precipitation will begin to spread into areas east of the Continental Divide and across the I-80 corridor Saturday evening. Lower elevations east of the Divide may see mainly rain or a rain and snow mix into Sunday. Accumulating snow is anticipated above 6000 feet.
A second round of precipitation is expected across central and southern Wyoming Sunday night into early Monday. At the same time, colder air and gusty northeast wind of 15 to 25 mph will push through these areas. Snow accumulations of one to three inches are possible by Monday morning across the lower elevations east of the Divide. This could create travel impacts during the Monday morning commute to work and school. The least likely location for accumulating snow will be in the Big Horn Basin.
Hunters, hikers, and other outdoor enthusiasts should be prepared for accumulating mountain snow and much colder temperatures. Several inches of new mountain snowfall is expected by Monday morning, especially above 6000 feet. Temperatures will be even colder Monday night with overnight lows in the teens.
High temperatures through next week are likely to be 15 to 20 degrees below normal with readings in the 40s to lower 50s. Additional precipitation is likely through Friday with Wednesday possibly presenting the best chance for more rain and snow.
|
Red Cross update for those impacted by Roosevelt Fire (posted 10/5/18)
American Red Cross - Roosevelt Fire
Friday, Oct. 5, 2018:
For those seeking assistance from the Roosevelt Fire:
Anyone who has been directly affected or displaced by the Roosevelt Fire can contact the American Red Cross located at the Distribution Center at 215 Country Club in Pinedale, 307-222-8272.
The American Red Cross can offer the following assistance:
- Financial assistance for families directly affected by the fire through October 13th
- Supplies to aid with clean-up (tarps, rakes, shovels, sifters, gloves, trash bags, totes, etc.) and household items (pots, pans, microwaves, hygiene products, coolers, etc.)
- Referrals to supplementary support agencies
- Disaster Mental health
- Disaster Health Services
- Assistance replacing eye glasses and/or Durable Medical Equipment
Distribution location: 215 Country Club Pinedale, Wyoming
Last day this location will be open – Saturday, October 13th
Hours:
Friday, October 5, 2018: 9am-12/noon, 3pm-6pm
Saturday, October 6, 2018: 9am-12/noon, 3pm-6pm
Closed Sunday, October 7, 2018
Monday, October 8, 2018: 3pm-6:30pm
Tuesday, October 9, 2018: 3pm-6:30pm
Wednesday, October 10, 2018: 3pm-6:30pm
Thursday, October 11, 2018: 3pm-6:30pm
Friday, October 12, 2018: 3pm-6:30pm
Saturday, October 13, 2018: 9am-12/noon, 3pm-6pm
Financial donations:
https://www.lionsofwyomingfoundation.org/donate.html
Thank you so much for your continued support! To make the donated materials most accessible to the impacted families, we are working to get supplies staged closer. This includes staging a trailer with supplies and moving resources to the Bondurant area that can be safely stored during the winter and made immediately available if needed. Plans are also in the works to ensure the remaining supplies are available to those impacted, both now and in the coming months. If you have any questions, please reach out to Gehrig Haberstock at 307-251-2231.
|
Fire Restrictions lifted on Federal Lands (posted 10/5/18)
Bridger-Teton National Forest
WESTERN WYOMING - The Bridger-Teton National Forest and Grand Teton National Park are cancelling fire restrictions as of noon on Friday, October 5, 2018. Due to widespread precipitation received and anticipated, cooler temperatures, and shorter days across the region, fire managers have determined the fire-danger rating will decrease from very high to moderate by Friday. This means that although accidental fires could get established in forested areas, fire intensity and spread would be slow to moderate. Fires are not likely to become serious, and control is relatively easy. However, cured grasses and sagebrush could burn briskly and spread rapidly on windy days.
We want to thank the public for their patience and cooperation with fire restrictions while they were in effect. With public support, fire restrictions in place, and more firefighters prepositioned in the area, human-caused fires were significantly reduced.
Visitors to the area are reminded to always practice fire safety and apply One Less Spark practices:
• Before heading out to camp or hunt, check with public land management agencies for fire danger, regulations, and restrictions. It is the responsibility of the individual to know what public land they are on, and respect private lands- and adhere to respective land management rules/regulations on each.
• Use existing fire rings whenever possible. Wood should never exceed the size fire ring.
• Build your fire away from adjoining or overhanging flammable vegetation. Clear ground vegetation so the fire is on bare mineral soil. Avoid having a fire on windy days.
• Ensure your fire is fully extinguished: Douse the fire or coals with water and dirt. Stir it until completely cold to the touch. Put your hand in the dirt to feel that it's no longer warm. Water in some campgrounds may be turned off for the season so bring water with you for dousing fires.
• Ensure that the area around a portable stove is clear of grasses and other fine vegetation. Stabilize the stove to prevent it from tipping and starting a fire.
• Never throw cigarettes out of a vehicle window. Use and ashtray.
• Practice Leave No Trace principles: Pack out cigarette butts and burned materials from your campsite.
• Never park a vehicle in dead grass; the catalytic converter can ignite the vegetation.
• Use caution when discharging a firearm, operating an internal combustion engine, welding, operating acetylene or other torches with an open flame, or using explosives (where permitted).
• Fireworks are always prohibited on state and federal lands.
For up-to-date fire information on fire-education information within the interagency area, visit tetonfires.com.
USDA Forest Service announces public meetings on Greater Sage-grouse Plan amendments (posted 10/5/18)
Meeting in Cheyenne Oct. 23 and in Pinedale on Oct. 23
OGDEN, Utah – The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) will hold two public meetings in Wyoming regarding the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for its Sage-Grouse Plan Amendments. On October 5, 2018, the USDA Forest Service published a Notice of Availability (NOA) announcing the release of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) with proposed amendments to Forest Service land management plans for greater sage-grouse. The affected plans occur within five western states: Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, and Utah. The purpose of the proposed changes is to improve the clarity, efficiency, and implementation of the current greater sage-grouse plans, including promoting landscape-scale alignment with state efforts.
The USFS is encouraging the public to attend one of the DEIS public comment open house meetings that will be held in Pinedale and Cheyenne, Wyoming. The meeting in Cheyenne will be held at Laramie Community College on October 22 in Room PF 108 at the Pathfinder Building, 1400 East College Drive. The meeting in Pinedale is scheduled for October 23 at the Pinedale Public Library, 155 S. Tyler Avenue. Both meetings will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Several information stations will be located within the meeting venue that will present information on key issues, the planning process, and the public commenting process. Forest Service staff will give a short introduction at 5 p.m. Attendees can learn about the amendment comment process, ask questions, and provide comments on the actions being considered.
To read and comment on the DEIS please visit the Forest Service Intermountain Region Webpage: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r4/home/?cid=stelprd3843381. For more information, please contact: Sandra Underhill, Capitol City Coordinator at 307-777-6087 or John Shivik, National Sage grouse Coordinator at 801-625-5667 or johnashivik@fs.fed.us.
BLM lifts fire restrictions within Sublette, Lincoln Counties (posted 10/5/18)
Bureau of Land Management
ROCK SPRINGS, WYOMING – Due to subsiding fire danger, the Bureau of Land Management High Desert District is rescinding the Stage 1 fire restrictions for public lands within the boundaries of Sublette and Lincoln Counties effective Oct. 8, 2018. This decision was reached in coordination with our county partners. Partnerships and inclusion are vital to managing sustainable, working public lands managed by the BLM.
Please note that this decision does not affect the year-round wildfire prevention restrictions on BLM-administered public lands in Wyoming, which continue to restrict:
• Discharge or use of any fireworks.
• Discharge of a firearm using incendiary or tracer ammunition.
• Burn, ignite or cause to burn any tire, wire, magnesium, or any other hazardous or explosive material.
• Operate any off-road vehicle on public lands unless the vehicle is equipped with a properly installed spark arrester pursuant to 43 CFR 8343.1 (c).
For more information about BLM Wyoming fire restrictions, please visit https://www.blm.gov/wyoming-fire-restrictions.
USFS releases Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for 90 day public comment period for greater sage-grouse (posted 10/5/18)
USDA Forest Service
OGDEN, UTAH – On October 5, 2018, the USDA Forest Service is publishing a Notice of Availability (NOA) in the Federal Register announcing the release of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) with proposed amendments to Forest Service land management plans for greater sage-grouse. The affected plans occur within five western states: Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, and Utah. The purpose of the proposed changes is to improve the clarity, efficiency, and implementation of the current greater sage-grouse plans, including promoting landscape-scale alignment with state efforts.
Greater sage-grouse populations have been impacted by a variety of threats, including the loss of habitat from wildfire and the spread of invasive weeds like cheat grass. The USDA Forest Service, along with the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management, amended land management plans in 2015 to address threats and to improve habitat conservation for greater Sage-grouse. Agency actions in 2015 helped to prevent greater sage-grouse from being listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, but in the three years since the plans were originally implemented, new science and management details have emerged. Lessons-learned will be incorporated into revised plans with the intent to make plans even more efficient and effective.
"All of our stakeholders have been instrumental in our efforts to conserve greater sage-grouse habitat," said John Shivik, the Forest Service Greater Sage-grouse Coordinator. "Our partners, including the general public and specialists from state and local agencies, continue to help us by sharing their observations about the current plans."
United States Department of Agriculture
The comment period will last 90 days from the date of the publication of the NOA in the Federal Register.
The public is encouraged to comment on proposed actions in the DEIS. After reviewing comments on the DEIS, the Forest Service intends to continue the planning process by producing a multi-regional final Environmental Impact Statement in early 2019, and final plan amendments in the summer of 2019.
To read and comment on the DEIS please visit the Forest Service Intermountain Region Webpage: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r4/home/?cid=stelprd3843381
Weather forecast for Pinedale, Wyoming area. Data from National Weather Service.
|
Snow on the way (posted 10/4/18)
For western Wyoming
According to the National Weather Service, the remainder of the week into early next week will be quite unsettled with at least three storm systems impacting the western Wyoming area. A colder storm system impacts the area tonight (Thursday, Oct. 4) with lowering snow levels to near the valley floor across the north half of western Wyoming. The highest parts of the northwest mountains could see 3 to 6 inches of snow this afternoon through tonight with lighter amounts in the Wyoming Range.
A more significant storm system will develop over the Great Basin this weekend with widespread mountain snowfall expected along with periods of lower elevation rain or snow. Some of the mountains of the southwest including the Wind River Mountains and Wyoming Range could see significant snow, especially the east slopes. The east slope of the Wind River Mountains is probably the most likely area for heavy snow late Saturday night through early Monday.
Temperatures for snow at the lower elevations are critical so stay tuned for more details as periods of rain and snow are possible through the weekend and into Monday of next week.
Hunters, hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts should be prepared for the unsettled weather with the potential for significant snow from several storm systems.
Detailed Forecast for Pinedale area
Today, Thursday, October 4:
Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 54. Breezy, with a southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest 11 to 16 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tonight
Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 33. West southwest wind 7 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday, October 5:
A slight chance of rain and snow showers before 8am, then a slight chance of snow showers between 8am and noon. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 50. West northwest wind 7 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 24. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light north northwest in the evening.
Saturday, October 6:
A chance of snow showers before 1pm, then a chance of rain and snow showers between 1pm and 2pm, then a chance of rain showers after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47. Calm wind becoming west southwest around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Saturday Night
A chance of rain showers before 7pm, then a chance of rain and snow showers between 7pm and 2am, then a chance of snow showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. West southwest wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Sunday, October 7:
A 50 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 45. North wind 6 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night
A 50 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25.
Monday, Columbus Day, October 8:
A 30 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 42.
Monday Night
A 30 percent chance of snow before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22.
Tuesday, October 9:
A slight chance of snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 44.
Tuesday Night
A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25.
Wednesday, October 10:
A chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 46.
Forest Service hiring for 2019 summer season (posted 10/3/18)
Bridger-Teton National Forest
JACKSON, WYOMING, October 2, 2018 – The Bridger-Teton National Forest is hiring summer seasonal positions this week for the 2019 summer season. All applications are through the online website USAjobs.gov. Anyone interested in working on the Forest trail crew, working as a wildlife or fisheries technician, river ranger, off-road vehicle patroller, visitor information assistant and a myriad of other positions has until October 10, 2018 to apply.
The Bridger-Teton National Forest is offering assistance to anyone who would like questions answered or help navigating the online application process. No appointments are necessary. Interested applicants can come to the Bridger-Teton National Forest administrative office at 340 N. Cache in Jackson, Wyoming between 8:00 - 4:30 pm through Friday, October 5, 2018 for assistance. Applicants should have with them their current resume, work history, and educational transcripts. Digital is preferred.
Summer employment working in the many aspects of public land management is a rewarding and educational experience. For more information contact the Bridger -Teton at 307-739-5500 or visit the employment section of our website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/btnf/
Marten Creek Fire Closure Area Lifted (posted 10/3/18)
Marten Creek Fire Closure Area Lifted
AFTON, WYOMING October 3, 2018 – Effective immediately, the closure area around the Marten Creek Fire on the Greys River Ranger District has been rescinded by Forest Supervisor Tricia O'Connor.
It is the Forest user's responsibility to know the hazards involved with traversing a recently burned area. Visitors should plan more than one travel route if needed to escape approaching fire, or avoid hot or smoldering areas of the burn. For some time during or after a wildfire, recreationists may encounter rapid and unpredictable spreading of flames, rolling rocks and logs, and falling snags and trees.
Additionally anyone entering the area may experience heavy smoke and limited visibility.
Visitors are also cautioned that when using trails that traverse a fire area that they are doing so at their own risk. Fire weakened trees may fall at any time, and trails may or may not be passable due to falling trees and snags. "The fire may continue to smolder with small smokes in down logs and in the interior for the rest of the season," said Greys River District Ranger Justin Laycock. "Forest fires can spring back to life with changing weather conditions so we are asking recreationists to remain vigilant in the area, and to be aware that larger or black smoke can be a warning to increased fire activity and potential danger," he said.
For more information on conditions across the Bridger-Teton National Forest call https://www.fs.usda.gov/btnf/. For additional information, contact the Bridger-Teton National Forest at (307) 739-5500.
The Red Cross Pinedale Distribution Center is located at 215 Country Club Lane - Unit 7. At this time the Center is not in need of additional donations. They encourage those in need from the wildfire to come in and get basic tools and cleaning supplies. Photo by Bob Rule, KPIN Radio.
|
Red Cross has tools & cleanup equipment for those impacted by wildfire (posted 10/3/18)
The Red Cross has updated their information on what they have available for those impacted by the Roosevelt wildfire. The Pinedale Distribution Center, located at 215 Country Club Lane – Unit 7. is moving out of collection mode for donations and are encouraging those in need to come by and pick up basic tools and cleanup equipment.
Items they have available are:
sifters/ sieves
rakes
shovels
tarps
work gloves
trash bags
hand sanitizer
plastic bins/ totes
bottled water and Gatorade/Poweraid
snacks
a few household items
personal care items such as toothpaste/ soap/ deodorant
Please pass the word about this to anyone who has been impacted by the wildfire and they are welcome to stop by the Pinedale Distribution Center to obtain any of these items.
For more information to contact Red Cross, please get in touch with Gehrig Haberstock, Disaster Program Manager for central Wyoming, 573-337-9804, gehrig.haberstock3@redcross.org.
Wolf News Roundup 10/1/2018 (posted 10/1/18)
Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online!
Wyoming Hunt
The hunting season for wolves in the trophy game area of northwestern Wyoming opened Sept. 1. According to the Wyoming Game & Fish Department, 10 wolves have been harvested as of September 28. The agency set a total quota of 58 wolves in the state’s 14 hunt areas for wolves. There have also been 23 wolves killed in Wyoming’s predator zone so far in 2018.
Isle Royale
The National Park Service is in the process of reintroducing gray wolves onto Isle Royale, but during the process of moving wolves last week, one captured wolf died en route. Two wolves captured on Minnesota’s Grand Portage Indian Reservation were successfully released on the island managed by the National Park Service.
Oregon guardian dog killed
The Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife reports that on Sept. 25: "Sometime between 12:00am and 2:00am on 9/24/18, a livestock owner was awakened by the sound of his livestock guardian dog being attacked approximately 400 yards from his residence in a fenced pasture containing his cattle.
He investigated and found his severely injured adult Tibetan Mastiff limping through the field towards his residence. It died at approximately 9:00pm that night."
The dog had at least 25 canine puncture wound and tooth scrape marks throughout its body, and the location of the kill is within the range of the Rogue wolf pack.
Washington
On Sept. 28, a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) marksman shot and killed an adult female member of a wolf pack that has repeatedly preyed on cattle while occupying the Old Profanity Territory (OPT) in the Kettle River Range of Ferry County.
The wolf was one of two pack members spotted that day by a WDFW helicopter crew. The adult wolf is believed to be the breeding female. WDFW previously removed a juvenile wolf from the OPT pack on Sept. 16.
WDFW Director Kelly Susewind authorized "incremental" removal of wolves from the OPT pack Sept. 12 after confirming that one or more pack members killed one calf and injured five others from Sept. 4-7 on a U.S. Forest Service (USFS) grazing allotment.
One day after the first wolf was removed, WDFW confirmed that an adult cow had been killed a few days earlier by wolves in the same general area. Then, on Sept. 21, WDFW confirmed five additional livestock depredations (that likely occurred 5-7 days earlier) by the OPT pack, bringing the total to 12 wolf depredations. The five most recent depredations were confirmed injuries to calves.
The remaining wolves in the OPT pack appear to be an adult male and one juvenile, although the juvenile was not seen during the removal operation this week.
The livestock producer who owns the affected livestock continues to use contracted range riders to monitor his herd, is removing or securing livestock carcasses to avoid attracting wolves to the rest of the herd, is using foxlights at salting locations in high wolf use areas, and is removing sick and injured livestock from the grazing area until they are healed. The majority of the producer’s livestock will be moved off federal grazing allotments to adjacent private grazing lands by mid-October.
Evaluation period
WDFW’s approach to incremental removal consists of a period of active operations followed by an evaluation period to determine if those actions changed the pack’s behavior. The department has now entered an evaluation period.
If WDFW documents another livestock depredation and confirms that it likely occurred after today’s action, the department may initiate another lethal removal action following the guidelines of the Wolf Plan and 2017 Protocol.
Related Links:
Wyoming - Wyoming Game & Fish Department
Isle Royale - National Park Service
Oregon - Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife
Washington - Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
Wolf Watch - By Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online!
Colorado River Basin Drought Contingency Planning meeting in Pinedale Oct. 11 (posted 9/24/18)
Wyoming State Engineer's Office
The State Engineer’s Office will hold public meetings in western Wyoming in October on Drought Contingency Planning in the Colorado River Basin.
State Engineer Pat Tyrrell will be discussing drought contingency planning efforts in the Colorado River Basin at three upcoming public meetings. The Colorado River is now experiencing its 19th year of drought. Since 2013, officials in the seven Colorado River Basin states, the Department of Interior and the Republic of Mexico have been working on drought contingency plans. Plans in the Lower Basin states of Arizona, California and Nevada have been developed separately, but parallel to, plans developed in the Upper Basin states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. Plans in both basins are now nearing completion.
The State Engineer will discuss the need for these plans, describe the contemplated plans, and answer questions at the three public meetings listed below.
Tuesday, October 9, 2018 – Baggs, Wyoming
Valley Community Center, 255 W. Osborne St., Baggs, WY
Conference Room
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Wednesday, October 10, 2018 – Rock Springs, Wyoming
Western Wyoming Community College, 2500 College Dr., Rock Springs, WY
Lecture Hall #1005
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Thursday, October 11 – Pinedale, Wyoming
Sublette County Library, 155 S. Tyler Ave., Pinedale, WY
Lovatt Room
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM
For additional information, please feel free to contact Steve Wolff at (307) 777-1942 or steve.wolff@wyo.gov.
|
Business
Directory
|
