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People protecting the lands, waters, and wildlife of the Greater Yellow-stone Ecosystem, now and for future generations.

Gallatin River Spared Sewage
Under intense public pressure, the Big Sky Sewer District abandoned efforts in 2001 to dump treated sewage into this world class fishery, ensuring its outstanding water quality.
Checkerboard Cleaned-Up
Pristine and core habitat in Gallatin National Forest secured for grizzly bears, elk, wolves, and trout by consolidating 50,000 acres. Lands under checkboard ownership by railroads, individuals, and the U.S. Forest Service were permanently protected from logging, mining, and roading.
Yellowstone No Place for Toxics
In 1985, the hauling of toxic and radioactive waste through Yellowstone, including along Highway 191, was prohibited.
Road Access Blocked
Northern Yellowstone's rim was secured from motorized access and logging after a five-year battle, ending in 1986. Ultimately protected were bighorn sheep lambing areas, elk winter range, and habitate for numerous predators.
Lift Pass Pulled
Ski Yellowstone, an all-season ski resort planned for Mt. Hebgen adjacent to Yellowstone National Park was halted, protecting critical grizzly bear habitat.
Buffalo Buffer
In a major victory, approximately 2,000 acres of federal lands on Horse Butte near Yellowstone was set aside for bison. Prohibiting livestock grazing on essential winter range for these magnificent beasts migrating beyond park borders brings this American icon one step closer to ultimate protection.
Duck Creek Development Denied
A proposed golf course and commerical and residential development only yards from Yellowstone's western boundary was halted. Citizens in the Hebgen Lake area continue working to ensure their high quality of life, as well as the integrity of the lands bordering the world's first national park.
Grizzlies Gain Protections
Logging and roading in grizzly bear country was halted on the Targhee National Forest in July 1993. A Forest Plan was required to incorporate grizzly habitat into the plan.
Americans Rally for Clean & Quiet Park
The public responded overwhelmingly to winter use access in Yellowstone, supporting a snowmobile phaseout by a 4-to-1 margin. Breaking all National Park Service records for public input with over 360,000 comments, citizens strongly stated their desire for clean air, natural quiet, undisturbed wildlife, and public health. As a result, 2-stroke snowmobiles are a thing of the past in the park, guides are required for all snowmobiles, and snowcoach use is on the rise.
Phosphate Mining Watchdog
Industrial phosphate mining in southeast Idaho takes place in some of the most ecologically important and biologically rich lands in the ecosystem. By vigilant watchdogging and challenging, agencies and mining companies are on notice to clean up their acts.
Oil and Gas Drilling Banned
Nearly 370,000 acres on the Bridger-Teton National Forest were closed to oil and gas development. In March 2003, this wildlife haven was protected from the industrial activity as a result of years of hard work by a coalition of hunting and conservation groups.
$16 Million for Trout
Relicensing in 2002 of three hydroelectric projects on the Bear River in southeast Idaho included $16 million for Bonneville cutthroat trout restoration in the basin.
Court Backs Grizzly Bears
A major victory ws won in October 1995 when a court ruled that the Recovery Plan was based on faulty science and did not comply with the Endangered Species Act, resulting in grizzly bear habitat protection.
Door Closed to Drilling
In January 2001, local zoning stopped J.M. Huber Corporation from drilling a coalbed methane test well on the Bozeman Pass. Their proposal did not protect the "health, safety, peace, morals, comfort and general welfare" of the district's residents, so the company was sent packing.
Landmark Victory for the Yellowstone River
In May 2000, a landmark lawsuit was won against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for permitting 14 bank stabilization projects along the Yellowstone River. The suit forced the Corps to consider cumulative effects of these activities on the river, its fish, and the wildlife.
$13 Million for Wildlife
An important migration corridor just north of Yellowstone National Park was preserved for bison, elk, bighorn sheep, wolves and bears. With the allocation of $13 million from Congress, checkerboard lands were exchanged and consolidated.
Fragile Alpine Tundra Safeguarded
Over 22,000 acres of the Line Creek Plateau in the Beartooth Mountains were secured in 1988. This ecologically unique environment with many rare plant species, abundant wildlife, and remarkable water quality was designated a Research Natural Area by the U.S. Forest Service in 2000 after decades of effort by conservationists.
Victory for Yellowstone!
New World Mine, a high elevation gold mine owned by a Canadian corporation, was halted in 1996 for being sited in exactly the wrong place - the northeast corner of Yellowstone National Park. Rivers, including the Wild and Scenic Clarks Fork, were spared toxic mine run-off.
Wild and Scenic Clarks Fork
In 1990, the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River was designated as a federal Wild and Scenic River, forever protecting 20.5 miles of spectacular whitewater rapids from dams or other potentially harmful water development projects.
World Heritage Site "In Danger"
Yellowstone National Park was designated an International Biosphere Reserve in 1976 and a World Heritage Site in 1978. The World Heritage Committee added Yellowstone tothe list of World Heritage Sites "In Danger" in 1995. This designation was due specfically to the New World gold mine, slaughter of park bison, and threats to park species and water quality.
Wolves Returned to Yellowstone
After nearly 20 years of public debate, in January 1995 fourteen Canadian wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park after a 60-year absence. Wolves quickly adapted to their new environment and now number over 300 individuals in over 30 packs.
Wyoming Wilderness Designated
In 1984, Congress passed the Wyomng Wilderness Act, desginating over a million acres of Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas on the west slope of the Tetons and in the Gros Ventre, permanently protecting these spectacular lands.


Greater Yellowstone Coalition's History:
Over Twenty Years of Conservation Success

Move your mouse over the stars on the map to catch a glimpse of some of Greater Yellowstone Coalition's successes from the last 20+ years. [Overview of Accomplishments]

Accomplishments as a Conservation Organization, 1983 - present

  • Grew from a fledgling group of 150 members to over 13,000 today
  • Published the first scientific and comprehensive report, Environmental Profile of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, in 1991
  • Established the Stewardship Program in 1992 to focus on private lands, complementing our public lands work
  • Published Sustaining Greater Yellowstone, a Blueprint for the Future in 1994 as a long-term strategy for our work
  • Opened offices in Jackson, Wyoming in 1994, Idaho Falls, Idaho in 1995, and Cody, Wyoming in 2004
  • Printed the Citizens' Plan to Save Yellowstone Buffalo in 1998 detailing the plight of the buffalo and what concerned citizens could do to help - many similar publications were since produced on various issues to help educate and inform the public.
  • Commissioned A Biological Conservation Assessment for the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem by Dr. Reed Noss in 2001 to help guide our work around the region.
  • Throughout our 20+ years, have helped found many local citizen groups to make a positive difference in their communities
  • Plus much, more more!

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