Reporter's Notes

Snow

Winter storms in Wyoming have covered the state with snow only sporadically, leaving the snow water equivalent across the state below average for this time of year. The SWE for the State of Wyoming is 82 percent of average for early January, according to the Wyoming Water Supply Outlook Report prepared by Lee Hackleman, water supply specialist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The Green River Basin SWE above Warren Bridge is at 73 percent, which is 68 percent of last year. SWE on the west side of the Upper Green River Basin is about 75 percent of average, while the New Fork River Basin SWE is now about 74 percent of average and the Big Sandy-Eden Valley Basin is at 83 percent. All of these figures are lower than at this time last year.

Storage in Big Sandy Reservoir is 13,500 acre-feet or 35 percent of capacity, which is 74 percent of average. Fontenelle Reservoir is at 181,300 acre-feet or 53 percent of capacity, or 85 percent of average.

Idaho wolf

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports that on Jan. 8, wolf project leader Mike Jimenez responded to a call from a coyote trapper who had incidentally captured an uncollared female pup from the Washakie pack near Dubois. The wolf was collared and released on site. Two days later, the same trapper notified FWS that he had captured an adult black breeding male wolf. The wolf was wearing an ear tag indicating it had been born in 2003 near Boise, Idaho. Both wolves appeared to be in good shape, FWS reported. The federal wildlife agency now plans to monitor these wolves to confirm their pack affiliation.

BLM to hold Informal PAPA Draft Open House

There will be an informal open house from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13 in the Pinedale Library to discuss the Pinedale Anticline Project Area Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement.

A two-hour public forum beginning at 5 p.m. in the library will follow the informal open house. There will be opportunity to give oral comments, however attendees will be asked to submit all comments in writing.

To provide a fair opportunity to hear everyone’s comments, the BLM asks that each person prepare a three-minute summary which captures the essence of their concern.

The PAPA DSEIS was released on Dec 15, 2006. Comments will close March 15, 2007. The DSEIS supplements the 2000 EIS for the PAPA, and analyzes 3 alternatives for continued natural gas development within the project area. The field office wants to include the results of the Cal-Grid Air Quality report and allow the public additional time to offset the holidays and other events which may have limited their opportunity to respond to the SEIS.

For more information or for maps of the area, visit the BLM Pinedale Field Office at 432 East Mill Street, or call Matt Anderson at (307) 367-5328.