Conservation Act, the Nature Conservancy, WY STATE CONTACTS Wyoming Wildlife Natural Resources Trust, U.S

American Wetlands Conservation Act, The Nature Conservancy, WY STATE CONTACTS Wyoming Wildlife Natural Resources Trust, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Major Sponsor information: Service Partners Program, WGFD, Wyoming Wildlife Foundation Chris Hildebrandt and Ducks Unlimited. Dir. of Development - MT, ND, WY [email protected] • (406) 203-2503 “This is an important project for the community, and it would not be possible without such a diverse partnership,” said Martin Grenier, Event fundraising information: Marty Carollo STATE manager of conservation programs for Wyoming. State Chair, WY [email protected] • (307) 870-2338 The Monolith Ranch Meadows project is scheduled to be completed

Robert Hathaway CONSERVATION in early summer. Improvements will enhance more than 600 I Senior Regional Director, WY WYO M I N G 2019 acres of wet meadow and restore the Goforth Reservoir providing [email protected] • (307) 221-2061 REPORT • approximately 18 acres of semi-permanent wetlands. Conservation program information: Martin Grenier Mgr. of Conservation Programs - WY [email protected] • (970) 775-4416 s seasons change in Wyoming, and the state was awarded two large North American Wetlands Conservation Act WY Projects Awe see millions of waterfowl pass grants that will provide $2 million for wetland restorations in the western and 1986-2018 through the state during the spring southeastern parts of the state. In 2019, we will celebrate our successes in Wyoming 12,442 acres conserved since 1986 and fall. When the ground thaws, the as the Rescue Our Wetlands campaign concludes. DU, partners and volunteers skies fill with waterfowl beginning will hold a dedication for the signature campaign project at Ocean Lake Wildlife their annual migration to the breeding Habitat Management Area this summer. grounds. Wyoming welcomes these long- - Martin Grenier distance travelers and we greet them Manager of Conservation Programs for Wyoming with ample food resources and improved wetlands provided by Ducks Unlimited and our partners. Partners leverage strengths for As I reflect on where we have been, I’m Wyoming wetlands proud of our accomplishments in the state during the last four years. With Water is scarce in Wyoming. help from our partners and biologists, The state has lost more than Tom Peterson and Noelle Smith, Ducks a third of its wetlands. The Unlimited increased our wetland loss has brought a decrease Soda Lake in Sublette County is an IWJV partnership project conservation footprint in Wyoming. in water storage, streamflow We impacted more than 5,000 acres and quality that has reduced Completed and invested more than $1.5 million. habitat for Wyoming’s birds and Ducks Unlimited developed a wetland Note: Project points may represent more than one project. DU worked on seven of nine important and other wildlife. program plan. The conservation partnership wetland complexes, as identified by is leveraging DU’s scientific expertise, the Wyoming State Conservation Wildlife agencies and planning, project management and Partnership. Most of these wetland organizations saw a need for engineering skills to lead this endeavor. complexes overlap with DU’s Peaks more capacity and technical to Prairies Initiative (www.ducks.org/ expertise. With support DU is also sponsoring a full-time employee. peakstoprairies). from a federal grant and Noelle Smith, wetlands specialist with the Wyoming Bird Habitat Ducks Unlimited, helps implement the We continued to grow the program Conservation Partnership, project out of a shared office with WGFD Ducks Unlimited conserves, restores, and manages wetlands and expand our influence in Wyoming, the Wyoming Game and regional staff. and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl. Fish Department (WGFD) 2525 River Road • Bismarck, ND 58503 These habitats also benefit other wildlife and people. 701.355.3500 Ducks Unlimited partners “The joint nature of this effort gives it concerns on the landscape, like drought Grenier, DU manager of conservation additional reach and support,” Smith or water quality. EPA Wetland Program programs in Wyoming. “This grant Cheryl Coleman is doing her part for waterfowl habitat with Laramie on Monolith Ranch Meadows restoration said. “We bring multiple perspectives Development grant funding is used to program is an important catalyst Cheryl Coleman and the Freemont County Ducks Unlimited chapter once to the table, which helps guide the make technical expertise accessible to to accelerate the statewide goals promoted their dinner by getting permission to hang 40 DU flags along Riverton, The Monolith Ranch was acquired program in a way that is responsive to other agencies, as well as expanding and objectives of our individual Wyoming’s Main Street. by the City of Laramie in the early new science, concerns and ideas.” and diversifying the partnership. organizations and integrating “The flags got people talking about DU and wondering what 1980s as a long-term investment to groups in the Wyoming Bird Habitat they were about. It was a great way to promote the dinner.” secure additional water. The 11,788- The program’s focus is on multiple- “The key to this endeavor is to Conservation Partnership.” acre ranch is south of Laramie and benefit wetland projects that provide recognize and leverage the strengths Having attended her first DU event in 2015, she has already become an area contains a 2,000-acre parcel known valuable wildlife habitat and address of each organization,” said Martin chair. She likes working with a team to set and achieve goals. With her help, as the Monolith Ranch Meadows, the Freemont County committee has grown their dinner into one of the most - Laurel Anders, Intermountain West Joint Venture, and Noelle Smith, Ducks Unlimited composed of irrigated meadows and successful fundraising events in Wyoming. pasture. In 2016, the Laramie Ranch Advisory Committee asked Ducks Cheryl understands the value of giving her time to an organization like Ducks Unlimited to assist them with a Unlimited. She supports DU because she appreciates the efficiency with which DU gadwall and trumpeter swans were restoration project on the Monolith uses the grassroots money she helps raise. Ducks quick to move in.” Ranch Meadows that focused on Unlimited leverages grassroots money with grant repairing the delipidated Goforth funding and partner support to do the most good According to Peterson, the Reservoir Dam. diversity and quantity of wetland for habitat conservation. plants will increase with the During the past three years, DU and “I don’t have extra money to donate in large improved management capabilities the City of Laramie collaborated amounts, but I have skills with event planning and and provide excellent early season on project planning while building Wetland at Ocean Lake Wildlife Habitat Management Area can contribute that way,” Cheryl said. “It takes fall hunting opportunities and a partnership to help fund the everyone from sponsors who can give more, to the great spring habitat. restoration work. Ducks Unlimited average person who can volunteer time and help and partners plan to build five Rescue Our Wetlands signature project completed raise money.” Funding partners for the project earthen embankments on the Goode Ducks Unlimited will dedicate its pump and levees. Each of the six included the National Fish and Meadow, a section of the Monolith Cheryl and her husband Andrew recently made Rescue Our Wetlands signature project wetland cells now have independent Wildlife Foundation, North Ranch Meadows, that will be separate legacy commitments to DU through a this year. The history of the Northwest water management. Construction crews American Wetlands Conservation Freemont County DU volunteer, managed as seasonal shallow water planned gift from their estates and have achieved Wetlands at Ocean Lake Wildlife Habitat installed 12 water-control structures, Act, Water for Wildlife, WGFD, Tiffany Shroyer, helping to hang wetlands. Repairs and upgrades to the gold level in the Feather Society. She says Management Area seems to have been more than 2,300 linear feet of pipe, and Wyoming Wildlife Natural DU flags on main street. the Goforth Dam will also improve they joined Ducks Unlimited’s Feather Society so lost in time. When Wyoming Game and moved more than 18,000 cubic yards of Resources Trust and Ducks water management on the property. Fish Department (WGFD) approached dirt. They also installed an underground Unlimited donors. their assets can benefit DU when they no longer need them. Ducks Unlimited in 2013 to collaborate powerline and a high-capacity pump. The “The improved water management of on this unique project, everyone was system is a recirculating shallow water the meadows will support important “When I see ducks and geese flying, I know I play a part in giving them habitat,” excited. Prior to the restoration, the site wetland the WGFD will manage as a food resources, such as seeds and she said. had six non-functioning levees. series of seasonal wetlands. aquatic invertebrates, for migratory birds,” said Tom Peterson, Ducks After an initial site survey, the first “Now that we have reliable water Unlimited biologist in Wyoming. objective for the partnership was to management, the site has everything it develop a plan for water management needs to produce quality wetland food The Monolith Ranch Meadows that included a new water rights resources waterfowl seek during spring partnership includes the City application and a complex pumping and fall migration,” said Tom Peterson, of Laramie, Laramie Rivers system. This process took more than DU biologist. “When we filled the Conservation District, North two years. DU installed a high capacity wetlands, green-winged teal, mallards,

Cheryl Coleman hunting with her dog Ruddy. www.ducks.org/wyoming American Wetlands Conservation Act, The Nature Conservancy, WY STATE CONTACTS Wyoming Wildlife Natural Resources Trust, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Major Sponsor information: Service Partners Program, WGFD, Wyoming Wildlife Foundation Chris Hildebrandt and Ducks Unlimited. Dir. of Development - MT, ND, WY [email protected] • (406) 203-2503 “This is an important project for the community, and it would not be possible without such a diverse partnership,” said Martin Grenier, Event fundraising information: Marty Carollo STATE manager of conservation programs for Wyoming. State Chair, WY [email protected] • (307) 870-2338 The Monolith Ranch Meadows project is scheduled to be completed