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Travel advisories are posted all across the state on Wednesday, February 22nd. WYDOT graphic.
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Winter Storm Warning (posted 2/22/12)
South Pass closed
A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 5AM Thursday morning (Feb. 23) for the Upper Green River Basin and surrounding mountains. Snow and blowing snow will continue Wednesday evening, along with strong west to northwest winds. Strong west winds had averages near forty miles per hour today with gusts in the seventies on Rendezvous Mountain. Gusts to 130 mph were recorded on Mount Coffin in the Wyoming Range late this afternoon. An additional 1-3" of snow expected around Pinedale.
Avalanche activity was widespread today. Multiple slides were reported in the mountain country today. Slides were reported on the road in Snake River Canyon early this morning. Highway 191 in Hoback Canyon closed this afternoon due to natural avalanche debris from both Cow and Calf of the Woods slide paths. A car was briefly trapped in one of those slides, fortunately no one was injured.
A High Wind Warning remains in effect until 5AM Thursday including the towns of La Barge, Big Piney and Farson. High winds are expected to continue through the evening hours Wednesday. Winds of 35 to 45 mph, with gusts to 65 mph possible. A peak wind speed of 50 mph was reported at the Big Piney airport this afternoon. Light weight and high profile vehicles may become dangerous along Highways 189, 191 and 28.
Travel and outdoor activity may become hazardous. Travelers should be prepared for road closures. Visibility will be less than ¼ mile at times in blowing snow. South Pass remains closed as of 7:00PM Wednesday. Travel only if necessary and be prepared with emergency food, water and flashlight in your vehicle. The latest road conditions provided by the Wyoming Department of Transportation by calling 5-1-1 or on the internet at www.wyoroad.info.
Josh Romney, son of presidential candidate hopeful Mitt Romney, visits with a crowd gathered at the Pinedale Library Thursday evening. Romney led an informal question and answer forum before speaking at the Sublette County Republican Party Caucus. Questions he answered on his father’s behalf ranged from federal land ranching to foreign policy, national debt and the economy. Photo by Andrew Setterholm, Sublette Examiner.
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Sublette Examiner – Feb. 21, 2012 (posted 2/21/12)
All in the family
’5 to 3’ petition deadline nears
County P & Z debates building permit change
PXP proposal faces 2 new alternatives
Kovach acquittal motion to be argued today
Obituary – Cecil G. Headd
Obituary – Caroline N. Sulenta
Winter Storm Watch for western Wyoming mountains (posted 2/20/12)
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch from late Monday night (Feb. 20) through late Wednesday night for the mountains of western Wyoming (Wyoming and Salt River Ranges, Wind River Mountains West, Teton and Gros Ventre Mountains).
Snowfall is expected to increase through the night with moderate to heavy amounts by Tuesday morning. Winds will increase significantly late Tuesday through Wednesday night.
West winds will start out around 20 to 30 mph, then increase to 40 to 50 mph with gusts as high as 90 mph on the passes and higher peaks of the western slopes of the Wind River Mountains on Wednesday. Visibility will be near zero at times in snow and blowing snow. The heaviest snowfall is expected in the north towards Gannett Peak with lower amounts to the south around South Pass. Snow accumulations of 10 to 20 inches is expected.
As snow and winds increase, travel and outdoor activity may become hazardous. Travelers should be prepared for road closures. Be prepared for winter travel conditions and allow extra time to reach your destination.
Stay tuned for weather and travel updates. In Wyoming, call 5-1-1 or toll-free 1-888-996-7623, or go to www.wyoroad.info. Click here for more Weather, road condition and webcam links.
Sunset magazine "Best Ranchland" award for 2012.
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Sommers-Grindstone Conservation Project wins Sunset magazine 2012 Environmental Award for ‘Best ranchland’ (posted 2/19/12)
Pinedale Online!
Sunset magazine’s March issue has their 2012 Environmental Awards. In it, the Sommers-Grindstone Conservation Project won their choice for "Best ranchland." The magazine gave awards for "Best Shoreline", "Best local landtrust and best visitor center", "Best educational program", "Best addition to a national park", "Best lake", "Best capital of green", "Hero: lifetime achievement", "Hero: 40 and under", "3 most endangered lands in the west". The magazine described the awards as, "Here are the people and organizations working hard to preserve the most special places of the West."
The ranchland award was written by Peter Fish and Sophie Egan.
Click here to view the Sommers-Grindstone Conservation Project Best Ranchland award in the online version of Sunset magazine: http://www.sunset.com/travel/outdoor-adventure/sunset-2012-environmental-awards-00418000074785/page7.html
Our 2012 Environmental Awards
Best ranchland
What didn’t happen here: Nothing against Jackson Hole, but we don’t need two of them so close together.
Why it’s a winner: The 19,000 acres of the Sommers-Grindstone Conservation Project will remain undeveloped, keeping it as it was in the early 1900s. Neighboring properties along the Upper Green River in western Wyoming, Sommers Ranch and Grindstone Cattle Co. are almost as old as the state itself. When the current ranching generation realized they had to keep developers at bay, they joined forces with the Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust. Together they created four conservation easements to keep the land in ranching and preserve valuable wildlife habitat. Costing $19.7 million and stretching nearly 30 square miles, Sommers-Grindstone is Wyoming’s biggest-ever open space project.
Take a ride: The best of Sommers-Grindstone is along the Green River west of Pinedale. The restored 1908 Sommers ranch house opens later this year. In Pinedale, stop at the Wind River Brewing Co. ($$) for food and suds, then hit Museum of the Mountain Man (opens May 1; $5; mmmuseum.com) for early-1800s history.
Click here to view all their 2012 environmental awards.
Related Links:
Extensive Wyoming land conservation project conserves nearly 19,000 acres By Wyoming Stock Growers Agricultural Land Trust, June 29, 2010
2012 nomination for the Leopold Conservation Award (PDF)
Sommers Ranch Homestead Open House September 8, 2011
National sheep magazine moves to Wyoming (posted 2/19/12)
The Shepherd magazine press release
The Shepherd magazine begins its 57th year of publication in a new environment. The national monthly sheep industry magazine is making the move from Ohio to Wyoming this month, with the purchase of the magazine by Long Draw Publishing of Farson.
Long Draw Publishing is a Wyoming corporation owned by western Wyoming sheep producers Pete Arambel of Rock Springs and Cat Urbigkit of Big Piney. The business partners believe that Wyoming is a logical host for a sheep industry magazine, since the industry has such significance to Wyoming rangelands, both in the past and today.
Editorial offices for the magazine have been relocated to western Wyoming, but printing and mailing of the magazine will continue to occur at an Ohio facility.
Arambel is the owner and operator of a large, 100-year old range sheep operation in western Wyoming. His Basque family has extensive reach in the sheep industry. Arambel’s business expertize enabled Long Draw Publishing to launch a new business venture in a short amount of time when it became apparent in December 2011 that the magazine was available for purchase.
Urbigkit is a small sheep producer with a long-standing commitment to educating the public about agriculture. She writes and photographs award-winning agricultural books for kids. Her previous experience as a newspaper publisher helped to ensure the subscribers have the new issue of the magazine in their hands the first week of March.
Annual subscriptions to The Shepherd are $25 and should be sent to P.O. Box 168, Farson, WY 82932. For more information, contact The Shepherd at 307-389-3385 or editor@theshepherdmagazine.com.
Wyoming advances wolf bill (posted 2/19/12)
Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online!
The Associated Press reports that a Wyoming legislative panel has advanced a bill that is aimed at having the state gain control of wolf management.
Related Links:
AP article - Read the article here.
Wolf Watch - by Cat Urbigkit
Ultra Petroleum 2011 4th Quarter earnings – sees 15% growth (posted 2/19/12)
Below are highlights of Ultra Petroleum 2011 4th Quarter earnings report from Mr. Mike Watford, Chairman, President and CEO of Ultra Petroleum Corp on Thursday, February 16, 2012. Click on this link for the full transcript:
- Ultra Petroleum delivered solid results for the fourth quarter and full year 2011. We achieved double-digit growth in production, cash flow and earnings, and met or exceeded all of our targets for the year. We produced 245.3 Bcfe during 2011, a new company record, to achieve a 15% growth rate year-over-year. We also had a new production high of 616 million cubic feet per day in Wyoming and 188 million cubic feet per day in Pennsylvania, and are well on our way to exceeding 200 million a day in Pennsylvania.
- Partner delays: …In getting production on in the Marcellus. Additionally, in December, a compressor station fire and subsequent extended outage in Pinedale, as well as a force majeure event on the Ruby pipeline caused by a blocked valve.
- In spite of these events, our fourth quarter production rose 17% above our fourth quarter 2010 volumes. Our 2011 cash flow of $6.25 per share is an increase of 26% over the prior-year period, and our earnings of $2.52 per share is a 16% increase over the full year 2010.
- Ultra's cash cost for the year were $1.47 per Mcfe, and the total cash and noncash costs was $2.88 per Mcfe. These low costs helped drive our low breakeven levels and superior returns.
- Our net income breakeven is now $2.82 per Mcf, with cash flow breakeven of $1.15. Ultra generated a 73% cash flow margin, a 30% net income margin, a 31% return on equity and a 13% return on capital for 2011, all outstanding metrics regardless of the industry.
- In Wyoming, our fourth quarter Pinedale well results were in line with expectations, and year-to-date in 2012, we are receiving a benefit of moving to better areas of the field. The first 10 wells we have brought online so far averaged 9.4 million a day, with an average EUR in excess of 4.1 Bcfe.
- Capital expenditures in 2011: We exceeded our plan of $1.35 billion by about $180 million primarily due to higher than anticipated efficiency gains and productivity improvements in Wyoming, and significantly higher well costs in Pennsylvania.. As of 2012 capital expenditures…We see limited economic returns in the current natural gas pricing environment for new investments, and thus, see the little reason to grow. So we plan to reduce our net CapEx by 50% in 2012 to $725 million.
Source: http://seekingalpha.com/article/373271-ultra-petroleum-s-ceo-discusses-q4-2011-results-earnings-call-transcript Seeking Alpha
Wyoming Water Supply Outlook, February - July 2012. National Weather Service graphic.
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Wyoming Hydrologic Outlook – February, 2012 (posted 2/18/12)
Spring 2012 Flood and Water Resources Outlook
National Weather Service
Wyoming generally does not see significant mountain snowmelt runoff until middle to late May, with mountain snowmelt runoff peaking around June, and as late as early July. Therefore, at this time, it is way too early to make any long range prediction on the magnitude of flooding due to mountain snowmelt runoff.
Current Wyoming spring flood potential graphic: www.crh.noaa.gov/images/riw/hydro/floodoutlook.png
Current Wyoming water supply graphic:
www.crh.noaa.gov/images/riw/hydro/watersupply.png
Latest Wyoming average monthly precipitation by basin graphic:
www.crh.noaa.gov/images/riw/hydro/wyomingprecip.png
Latest Wyoming hydrologic summary and graphics:
www.crh.noaa.gov/images/riw/hydro/hydro_report.pdf
Graphical forecasts:
http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=riw
For more information contact Jim Fahey, Wyoming NOAA hydrologist, 307-857-3898 ext 493 or cell 307-709-8778.
BLM continues efforts for mule deer and other wildlife (posted 2/18/12)
BLM doing a variety of habitat improvement and protection efforts as well as gas field mitigation
Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Pinedale Field Office (PFO) continues to plan and implement a number of wildlife habitat improvement projects and winter range protection measures with increasing emphasis on mule deer habitat enhancement in 2012 and beyond.
Currently, 500,000 acres of big game winter ranges are closed to all motorized travel annually from Jan. 1 to April 30. These closures have been in effect since 2008 and protect elk, moose, pronghorn, and mule deer from disruptive human activities which, during the difficult winter months, can increase the mortality rate for these animals.
Since 2009, the BLM has patrolled these same winter closure areas with two-person teams and the PFO law enforcement ranger. This year, two additional BLM law enforcement rangers were brought in to help cover more ground. The patrols are intended to educate the public, distribute maps, answer questions, deter violators and encourage the public to report violations; however, citations may be issued to blatant or repeat offenders.
The PFO plans to conduct an approved 300 acre spike treatment for crucial mule deer winter range south of LaBarge in the fall of 2012. This aerially applied pelleted herbicide treatment will reduce the amount of mountain big sagebrush in the project area by 50 percent over a period of one to five years. This treatment will increase forage variety, quantity and quality and improve the big sagebrush and mountain shrub age-class structure. The resultant vegetative diversity will benefit wildlife and livestock and improve winter and transitional habitat for mule deer.
To help mitigate the effects of gas development in the Jonah and Pinedale Anticline project areas, the Jonah Interagency Office (JIO) and the Pinedale Anticline Project Office (PAPO) were created to develop and fund on-site and off-site wildlife habitat improvement projects.
One project includes fertilizing more than 1,400 acres of sagebrush in mule deer crucial winter range with aerially applied nitrogen. Fertilization is designed to help offset direct and indirect habitat losses on and adjacent to natural gas development sites by increasing sagebrush production, enhancing available winter forage and potentially increasing palatability and nutrient quality for wintering mule deer. If this treatment is proven successful, more than 30,000 acres of sagebrush in mule deer crucial winter range could be treated over a 10-year period.
Other JIO and PAPO mitigation projects include the protection of more than 48,000 acres of prime wildlife habitat in perpetuity in western Wyoming through the purchase of conservation easements; 121 miles of wildlife-friendly modifications to fencing in key wildlife migration corridors and winter range areas of 379 miles planned; construction of three raptor nesting platforms; completion of prescribed fire treatment and other vegetative treatments on 21,600 acres to improve wildlife habitat; and conservation plan development on more than 100,000 acres that will also benefit wildlife.
Additionally, the PFO and the PAPO have partnered with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department on two landscape-scale 10-year mule deer habitat improvement projects for the Sublette and Wyoming Range mule deer herds in western Wyoming. Both projects will begin the National Environmental Policy Act process in the near future with initial public scoping.
Pinedale Field Manager, Shane DeForest, is enthusiastic about the PFO’s overall habitat improvement and protection efforts as well as gas field mitigation. "While the BLM continues to explore and implement innovative approaches in addressing complex and ever-changing wildlife issues, we are optimistic for the short and long-term positive effects they will have."
Related Links:
http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en.html Wyoming Bureau of Land Management website – U.S. Department of the Interior
With magic in the air, and many children in the audience, the Pinedale Fine Arts Council closed out its regular season with a production of "Sylvester and the Magic Pebble" last Friday in the Pinedale Auditorium. Both children and adults were dazzled by life-sized puppets, charming characters and the heart-felt story of a young donkey who learns the importance of family and being careful what you wish for. Photo by Matthew Manguso, Pinedale Roundup.
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Pinedale Roundup – Feb. 17, 2012 (posted 2/17/12)
Sly and the Magic Stone
Troy Willoughby found not guilty
Hedonic wage bill fails, may be revived in Senate
Change means PHS campus won’t include Obo’s, Rock Rabbit or Ridleys
Obituary - Donna Jean Brown
Obituary - Rodney H. "Doc" Holliday
Obituary - Lance Koppenhafer
Obituary - Caroline Sulenta
Obituary - Peggy Trachsel
Influenza activity beginning to pick up around Wyoming (posted 2/15/12)
Suggest common-sense measures can slow or prevent influenza’s spread
Wyoming Department of Health
As they begin to see reports of increasing flu activity, Wyoming Department of Health representatives are encouraging residents to take common-sense steps to avoid influenza or spreading it to others.
According to Clay Van Houten, Wyoming Department of Health emerging diseases unit chief, influenza activity is picking up around the country, including in neighboring states. "In Wyoming, we’ve seen more reports of flu-like illness and flu cases recently with a few reported outbreaks in schools and healthcare facilities," he said.
Dr. Tracy Murphy, state epidemiologist with the Wyoming Department of Health, said influenza precautions are most effective before the illness becomes especially widespread in a community.
Basic common-sense measures can slow or prevent influenza’s spread. "Covering your mouth and nose with your sleeve or a tissue when you sneeze and cough; frequently washing your hands; and staying home from work, school, day care and errands when you are ill can help," Murphy said.
Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by a virus. Symptoms include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and muscle aches. Influenza can cause severe illness and complications, particularly among older people.
Murphy said, "If you do become ill, be sure to get lots of rest, drink plenty of liquids and avoid using alcohol or tobacco. You may also take medications to relieve your symptoms, but avoid giving products containing aspirin to children or teens with flu-like symptoms."
Doctors may recommend prescription antiviral medications to help treat influenza. Prescription antiviral medications may be especially helpful for persons at higher risk for complications from flu such as young children, adults 65 years of age or older, persons with chronic medical conditions, persons with altered immune systems, women who are pregnant or soon after delivery, persons less than 19 years of age who are on long-term aspirin therapy for other conditions, those who are extremely overweight, and residents of nursing homes or other chronic-care facilities. "For antiviral medications to be a good option, it is important to seek medical care quickly," Murphy advised.
Flu vaccines are also still available in many locations. "I encourage folks who have not yet received the vaccine for this season to get vaccinated because it may still provide protection," Murphy said. "However, it takes up to two weeks for flu vaccines to offer effective protection. If you’re exposed to the flu virus during the interim you may still become ill with influenza, but it will not be caused by the vaccine."
Bridger-Teton adds new alternative to PXP analysis (posted 2/15/12)
Bridger-Teton National Forest
Big Piney, Wyoming, 2/14/12 – The Bridger-Teton National Forest is conducting a supplemental environmental study of two new alternatives to be considered in a Supplement to the previously released Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) for the Eagle Prospect and Noble Basin areas by Plains Exploration and Production (PXP) company’s oil and gas development proposal.
The need for a supplement to the DEIS and the development of two new alternative was derived after the Forest considered the nearly 60,000 comments submitted on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement that analyzed the potential impacts of an exploration and production plan submitted for federal oil and gas leases by PXP and several alternatives to that plan.
"The Bridger-Teton is expanding the analysis to include analysis of two new alternatives," said Forest Supervisor of the Bridger-Teton National Forest, Jacque Buchanan. "It is with the support of the Intermountain Regional Office of the Forest Service that we will look at two new alternatives in this supplemental EIS" she said. It is anticipated that one alternative will be compliant with both the Jackson Hole Area Oil and Gas Lease Stipulation and other direction in the Forest’s Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan). The Jackson Hole Lease stipulation was included in the Forest Plan of 1990 and was derived from the Krug Memorandum of 1947. The second new alternative will likely be a combination of the first new alternative and alternatives already analyzed in the DEIS.
The SEIS is not a replacement of the Draft EIS. It is an additional document provided to allow public review and comment on two new alternatives that will be included in the Final EIS. Because there is no public comment process for the Final EIS, the B-T will provide this opportunity for the public to assess the new alternatives.
The SEIS is being prepared and circulated to ensure maximum public involvement and awareness of the project details and impacts, and to ensure that the public is able to provide the Bridger-Teton with comments on the new alternatives to consider before making a decision on the project.
"The SEIS is a focused document and will only address the new alternatives and any associated changes in environmental impacts," Buchanan said. "The SEIS will not readdress the information already provided in the Draft EIS," she said.
A 45-day comment period will be provided to gather public comments on the SEIS.
"We have committed all along to let the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act drive the next steps of this process," said Buchanan. "After looking at the comments I decided to supplement the analysis with two additional alternatives," she said. "It is important for me to consider these possibilities in the analysis before I can make a decision on their (PXP) proposal," stated Buchanan.
Comments on the SEIS should address the modified preferred alternative and any changes in environmental concerns resulting from the new alternative. The Final EIS will include a comment response document that addresses the comments received on both the Draft EIS and the Supplemental EIS.
The Final EIS will be a comprehensive document that incorporates the findings of the Draft EIS, the SEIS, and all public comments in analyzing the anticipated direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts of the proposed action and the alternatives. The Final EIS is the environmental review document that the USFS will utilize in making its decision on the project.
The overall timeline for this project has been pushed back due to the additional work associated with this decision to provide an opportunity for public comment on the two new alternatives. It is anticipated that the SDEIS will be release in late spring 2012.
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