Stories from the field: Finding eligible Wild & Scenic rivers in Wyoming, Part II
The cool, dark-timbered trail along Fontenelle Creek is a welcome respite from the blazing heat and smoky haze of September in Wyoming. As the trail steadily gains elevation, the dense stands of Douglas Fir give way to sparse patches of Aspen, having just begun their ephemeral fall color change. Reaching a highpoint on Commissary Ridge, I am met with a starkly contrasting view of the sagebrush steppe to the south and the high peaks of the Wyoming and Salt River Ranges to the north. Far below my vantage point, Fontenelle Creek abruptly leaves the mountains where its path began, the once swift mountain stream transitioning to serpentine bends on agricultural land. I am mesmerized by the juxtaposition of landscapes.
Fontenelle Creek in the Wyoming Range of the Bridger-Teton National Forest. (Photo Teddy Collins)
At 3.4 million acres, the Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF) is a vast expanse of land. Encompassing a significant portion of northwest Wyoming, the BTNF is a landscape of profound ecologic and geologic diversity. From the high plateaus of the Absaroka Range to the Wyoming Basin shrub steppe, the forest spans across ecoregions and iconic mountain ranges. The immense scope of landscapes within the BTNF are beloved by many, heavily utilized for recreation and livelihoods alike. The rivers and streams of the BTNF share this same diversity as the mountain ranges and valleys in which they reside, many of which are eligible for inclusion into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
Slide Creek in the Wind River Range in Wyoming. (Photo Teddy Collins)
In order for a stream segment to be eligible for Wild and Scenic designation, it must be free-flowing and possess one or more “Outstandingly Remarkable Value” (ORV). ORV’s include scenic, recreational, geologic, fisheries, wildlife, historic and cultural attributes that distinguish the stream segment on a regional or national level. These values represent the heart and soul of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, providing a dynamic framework for eligibility analysis. As the rapidly changing seasons represent the finite timeline of our field analysis of streams within the BTNF, it is astounding to look back on the broad scope of eligible drainages located within this magnificent national forest.
My coworker and I have observed the scenic and geologic wonders of the upper Green River drainage, where granite uplift has created dramatic tilted limestone formations along Slide Creek. We have watched as native Colorado River cutthroat trout feed delicately on mayflies in North Cottonwood Creek, and seen from afar the silent deliberation of a wolf pack crossing a gravel bar on Spread Creek. We have noted the immense recreational values of Big Sandy Creek, one of the most heavily utilized arteries into the high peaks of the Wind River Range. We have also noted the historical values of South Piney Creek in the Wyoming Range, where thousands of emigrants passed through in the late 1850’s along the Lander Cutoff Trail.
From my perch high above Fontenelle Creek, I am amazed that the same national forest where I stand spans to the southern border of Yellowstone National Park, roughly 120 miles to the north. The natural, ecological, cultural, and economic significance of this immense landscape cannot be overstated, and the protection of stream systems through Wild and Scenic designation is one step in achieving future conservation victories. Long live the wild and unhindered waters of the Bridger-Teton National Forest.
- Teddy Collins works for the Greater Yellowstone Coalition as a field technician to inventory potential Eligible Wild and Scenic Rivers on Wyoming’s Bridger-Teton National Forest. The Wild and Scenic Rivers Eligibility Inventory is a project supported in partnership with American Rivers, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, The Pew Charitable Trusts, and the Snake River Fund.
