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USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.” Disclaimer: The Forest Service uses the most current and complete data it has available. GIS data and product accuracy may vary. They may be: developed from sources of differing accuracy, accurate only at certain scales, based on modeling or interpretation, incomplete while being created or revised, have represented features not in accurate geographic locations, etc. The Forest Service makes no expressed or implied warranty, including warranty of merchantability and fitness, with respect to the character, function, or capabilities of the data or their appropriateness for any user's purposes. The Forest Service reserves the right to correct, update, modify, or replace this geospatial information based on new inventories, new or revised information, and if necessary in conjunction with other federal, state or local public agencies or the public in general as required by policy or regulation. Previous recipients of the products may not be notified unless required by policy or regulation. For more information, contact the Medicine Bow - Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland Supervisor's Office (2468 Jackson Street, Laramie, WY 82070, 307-745-2300). Final Analysis of the Management Situation for the Wyoming Sage-Grouse Land and Resource Management Plan Amendments for National Forest System Lands Administered by the Medicine Bow and Bridger-Teton National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland May 2012 Final AMS This page intentionally left blank. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1—INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................... …...1-1 1.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 1-1 1.2 OVERVIEW OF THE FOREST SERVICE PLANNING PROCESS.................................... 1-5 1.3 PURPOSE OF THE ANALYSIS OF THE MANAGEMENT SITUATION .......................... 1-6 CHAPTER 2—AREA PROFILE AND CURRENT MANAGEMENT ................................................ 2-1 2.1 AIR QUALITY ............................................................................................................................. 2-1 2.1.1 Overview ................................................................................................................................ 2-1 2.1.2 Medicine Bow National Forest ............................................................................................ 2-1 2.1.3 Bridger-Teton National Forest ............................................................................................ 2-3 2.1.4 Thunder Basin National Grassland .................................................................................... 2-4 2.2 CULTURAL RESOURCES ....................................................................................................... 2-6 2.2.1 Overview ................................................................................................................................ 2-6 2.2.2 Medicine Bow National Forest ............................................................................................ 2-6 2.2.3 Bridger-Teton National Forest ............................................................................................ 2-8 2.2.4 Thunder Basin National Grassland .................................................................................... 2-8 2.3 FORESTRY ............................................................................................................................... 2-10 2.3.1 Overview .............................................................................................................................. 2-10 2.3.2 Medicine Bow National Forest .......................................................................................... 2-10 2.3.3 Bridger-Teton National Forest .......................................................................................... 2-11 2.3.4 Thunder Basin National Grassland .................................................................................. 2-11 2.4 LANDS, REALTY, AND SPECIAL USES ............................................................................ 2-12 2.4.1 Overview .............................................................................................................................. 2-12 2.4.2 Medicine Bow National Forest .......................................................................................... 2-12 i 2.4.3 Bridger-Teton National Forest .......................................................................................... 2-14 2.4.4 Thunder Basin National Grassland .................................................................................. 2-16 2.5 MINERAL RESOURCES/RENEWABLE ENERGY ............................................................ 2-19 2.5.1 Overview .............................................................................................................................. 2-19 2.5.2 Medicine Bow National Forest .......................................................................................... 2-21 2.5.3 Bridger-Teton National Forest .......................................................................................... 2-24 2.5.4 Thunder Basin National Grassland .................................................................................. 2-27 2.6 RANGELAND MANAGEMENT/LIVESTOCK GRAZING .................................................. 2-43 2.6.1 Overview .............................................................................................................................. 2-43 2.6.2 Medicine Bow National Forest .......................................................................................... 2-43 2.6.3 Bridger-Teton National Forest .......................................................................................... 2-47 2.6.4 Thunder Basin National Grassland .................................................................................. 2-49 2.7 RECREATION ........................................................................................................................... 2-53 2.7.1 Overview .............................................................................................................................. 2-53 2.7.2 Medicine Bow National Forest .......................................................................................... 2-54 2.7.3 Bridger-Teton National Forest .......................................................................................... 2-56 2.7.4 Thunder Basin National Grassland .................................................................................. 2-59 2.8 SOCIOECONOMIC CONDITIONS ........................................................................................ 2-64 2.8.1 Overview .............................................................................................................................. 2-64 2.8.2 Medicine Bow National Forest .......................................................................................... 2-64 2.8.3 Bridger-Teton National Forest .......................................................................................... 2-67 2.8.4 Thunder Basin National Grassland .................................................................................. 2-69 2.9 SOILS ......................................................................................................................................... 2-72 2.9.1 Overview .............................................................................................................................. 2-72 2.9.2 Medicine Bow National Forest .......................................................................................... 2-72 ii 2.9.3 Bridger-Teton National Forest .......................................................................................... 2-73 2.9.4 Thunder Basin National Grassland .................................................................................. 2-77 2.10 SPECIAL DESIGNATION AREAS ........................................................................................ 2-78 2.10.1 Overview .............................................................................................................................. 2-78 2.10.2 Medicine Bow National Forest .......................................................................................... 2-79 2.10.3 Bridger-Teton National Forest .......................................................................................... 2-82 2.10.4 Thunder Basin National Grassland .................................................................................