GYC's biggest wins and favorite moments from 2022
Greater Yellowstone is a remarkable landscape with wide-open spaces, roaring rivers, and iconic wildlife. Those who live here or have visited here know it’s unlike anywhere else on earth. At the Greater Yellowstone Coalition (GYC), it’s our job to keep this place as it is for generations to come.
2022 was an incredible year for conservation victories. Here are some of our most cherished wins and moments for Greater Yellowstone from the last twelve months.
Yellowstone Bison Coexistence Program celebrates ten years of reducing conflicts
For years, we and our conservation partners have been working toward increasing tolerance for wild bison and managing them as wildlife in Montana outside Yellowstone National Park. Recently, the Greater Yellowstone Coalition and our partners celebrated ten years of collaboration with Yellowstone-area landowners and agencies on projects that reduce conflicts with bison.
The program provides financial and technical assistance to build bison exclusion fences on private property to help prevent property damage by roaming wild bison. To date, 58 projects have been completed in Greater Yellowstone.
Restoring forest habitat for grizzly bears and other wildlife
Decades of research shows that one of the biggest predictors of bear mortality is the proximity to human development, such as roads that bisect habitat. Securing habitat is key to bears' ability to thrive.
GYC has partnered with the U.S. Forest Service to identify and decommission illegal, unnecessary, or unsuccessfully closed roads and restore roadbeds to a natural state. The roads were prioritized for restoration according to their potential to benefit grizzly bears and other species.
Wind River Inter-Tribal Gathering draws hundreds to discuss future of conservation within Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
One of our favorite moments from 2022 was hosting the Wind River Inter-Tribal Gathering on the Wind River Indian Reservation to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the creation of Yellowstone National Park.
The Wind River Inter-Tribal Gathering, which was hosted by the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes and GYC, created a space for Tribal leaders, Indigenous activists, federal agency personnel, and non-governmental organizations to come together to discuss conservation and management of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
GYC Senior Wind River Conservation Associate Wes Martel, who leads the organization’s Wind River Indian Reservation office and was a key organizer of the gathering, said of the event, “Our Elders always pray that we respect nature and take care of that which takes care of us and those good thoughts and energy could be felt at this Gathering. Our relatives, the plants, the trees, the birds, the animals, and the water creatures helped us make this Gathering a success. These relatives have no voice and it is up to us to speak up and talk for them. They are already showing us that we must do something before it is too late.”
State, feds announce new conservation partnership in Wyoming
The State of Wyoming and the U.S. Department of Agriculture formalized a partnership to invest significant new resources and funding toward conserving habitat in the state's most important big game migration corridors. This collaboration has the potential to protect tens of thousands of acres across the state and increase resources for wildlife-friendly fencing and habitat restoration.
We look forward to seeing what projects emerge from this innovative partnership!
Yellowstone cutthroat trout refuge surveyed near Yellowstone National Park
In 2022, GYC worked with a hydrological engineering company to complete an engineering survey for a Yellowstone cutthroat trout restoration project on Crandall Creek, a tributary of the Clarks Fork near Yellowstone National Park. The Crandall Creek watershed offers over 60 miles of refuge for Yellowstone cutthroat trout but is currently threatened by hybridization and competition from non-native trout.
Speaking up for bison: Yellowstone concludes comment period of new Bison Management Plan
Earlier this year, Yellowstone National Park began rethinking how it manages its iconic bison herds by updating its Bison Management Plan. To kick off the revision process, Yellowstone officials released three preliminary plan alternatives and encouraged individuals and organizations to submit feedback and recommendations.
GYC's recommendations focused on putting an end to the needless slaughter of bison, prioritizing Tribal engagement and cooperation, and supporting the ecological and cultural restoration of the species to lands outside Yellowstone National Park. We were also thrilled that thousands of our supporters took action and sent in their thoughts as well! An enormous thank you to everyone who participated in this important conservation opportunity for Yellowstone bison.
Fighting for healthy rivers: Over 2,700 comments sent on behalf of the Gallatin River
Thanks to our awesome GYC supporters, over 2,700 comments were submitted asking Montana Department of Environmental Quality to take meaningful action to restore the health of the Gallatin River in southwest Montana!
Noxious, neon-green algal blooms have plagued sections of the Gallatin River for years. These blooms can hurt aquatic habitat, degrade recreational opportunities, and severely alter the Gallatin's overall appearance. To make the Gallatin River healthy again, we need a strong plan of action. Thanks to those that took action, decision-makers received the message loud and clear.
Teton County, Wyoming passes better wildlife regulations
Earlier this year Teton County, Wyoming, adopted new wildlife feeding regulations to reduce human-wildlife conflicts. With less access to unnatural food sources in the Jackson area, we're expecting bears to become less habituated to human foods and shift their behavior away from town.
As the saying goes, "a fed bear is a dead bear," and GYC is committed to keeping bears wild and people safe.
Breaking ground at Wyoming’s newest wildlife crossing
In May 2022, the Wyoming Department of Transportation hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the Dry Piney Connectivity Project. The project was initiated to address the critical issue of wildlife-vehicle collisions on U.S. Highway 189, which will culminate in the construction of nine underpasses and associated wildlife funnel-fencing on the 19-mile stretch of roadway.
GYC assisted in raising the $18 million in funds needed for the project. This project illustrates the power of collaborative fundraising when addressing wildlife-vehicle collisions. Wyoming is a proven leader in protecting ungulate migrations, and GYC looks forward to working with these agencies and organizations on future projects.
Six years later, a new plan offers hope for Gallatin Mountains north of Yellowstone
Early in the year, we arrived at a historic milestone in the path to securing one of the most vulnerable corners of Greater Yellowstone. After six years of work, the Gallatin Mountains—the last mountain range connected to Yellowstone without permanent protections—finally have a modern management plan.
GYC has been working to protect the Gallatins for around 20 years; it’s one of our longest-running campaigns. Thanks largely to public comments from supporters like you, Custer Gallatin National Forest released their final plan with new wilderness recommendations, Wild and Scenic River recommendations, and more. The plan isn’t perfect, but it represents a meaningful step in the right direction for this valuable corner of the ecosystem.
Wyoming invests $75 million in Wyoming Wildlife & Natural Resources Trust
Earlier this year, Wyoming invested $75 million in the Wyoming Wildlife & Natural Resource Trust Fund (WWNRT), securing millions for the trust and nearly tripling its capacity to maintain open space and habitat, water development, eradication of invasive species, ranching and farming operations, and so much more.
With the new budget, the WWNRT can now implement about $10 million per year in projects across the state. Projects like wildlife highway crossings, stream restoration, conservation easements, land acquisition, improving fish passage, invasive species removal, and many others are all eligible to receive WWNRT funding.
GYC has been working with the state of Wyoming, federal and state agencies, landowners, county officials, non-profits, concerned citizens, and other partners to leverage Wyoming Wildlife & Natural Resource Trust dollars to support wildlife crossings work in Wyoming.
A huge thank you to all the donors, advocates, and supporters who showed up for the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in 2022. You make our work possible!
As we look forward to 2023, we know there are more great challenges and conservation wins ahead. Become a part of the dedicated network protecting the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem with a holiday gift to our crucial work. Whatever the amount, it makes a difference for this remarkable landscape and all the wildlife that inhabit it. Here’s to a steadfast and successful new year!
—Scott Christensen, executive director
The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is the land of 49+ Indigenous Tribes who maintain current and ancestral connections to the lands, waters, wildlife, plants, and more.
