U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
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In-Progress Plan Status
Winter 2012
Conduct scoping and public meetings
Summer 2013
Prepare draft environmental assessment (EA) and plan
Fall 2013
Release draft EA and plan for public review
Winter 2013
Complete environmental review and final plan
Land Protection Plan
Proposed Expansion of the
Hutton Lake and Mortenson Lake National Wildlife Refuges
Wyoming
Description
We are proposing to establish a conservation area that would expand the boundaries of the Hutton Lake and Mortenson Lake National Wildlife Refuges in southeastern Wyoming.
We would work with private landowners to conserve the natural resources and working landscape of the area. Land protection, with primarily conservation easements, would help maintain important wildlife habitat.
- Comprises a proposed area of about 43,300 acres in Albany County, Wyoming.
- Potential land protection of intact habitats with conservation easements bought from willing sellers.
- Limited fee-title acquisition to protect wildlife and meet management needs of the refuges.
The project area is part of the high plains basin ecosystem known as the Laramie Basin. Shallow depressions in the flat landscape support marshes and lakes unique to the area. Radiating out from the wetlands are alkali flats, shrublands, native shortgrass prairies, manipulated meadows, and scattered trees.
The only wild population of the endangered Wyoming toad is at Mortenson Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Most of the remaining toads, about 500, are in captivity. Recovery requires reintroduction of the toad on Federal lands within its historical range, which the proposed expansion includes. More quality habitat protected for the Wyoming toad would significantly help the recovery of this species.
Large expanses of grassland and shrubland are necessary for other species needing conservation such as burrowing owl, loggerhead shrike, and swift fox. In this semiarid environment, the basin’s wetlands provide a wildlife oasis. Migrating waterfowl and shorebirds head for these areas to rest and refuel. Sandhill cranes, black terns, and other birds nest there.
The Wyoming toad is the most endangered amphibian in North America.
The proposed expansion would be part of the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Two comprehensive conservation plans describe management of Arapaho Refuge and Hutton Lake and Mortenson Lake Refuges.
Conservation easements
As a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and the Service, a conservation easement is a perpetual agreement that we would buy from a willing landowner. Easement prices offered to willing sellers would be determined by an appraisal completed by a Service-contracted appraiser familiar with the local market.
Conservation easement contracts would specify perpetual protection of habitat for trust species. There would be limits on residential, industrial, or commercial development. Contracts would prohibit altering the natural topography, converting native grassland to cropland, and draining or filling wetlands.
Easement land would stay in private ownership. Property taxes and invasive plant control would be the responsibility of landowners, who would continue to control public access to their lands. Contracts would not restrict grazing on easement lands.
Public involvement
To hear from us about this planning effort, you can get on our mailing list.
You can contact us by comment form, email, postal mail, telephone, or fax (refer to "Contacts" below).
Public meetings
None at this time.
Contacts
Planning team leader
Amy Thornburg
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Division of Refuge Planning
134 Union Boulevard, Suite 300
Lakewood, Colorado 80228
303 / 236 4345 telephone
303 / 236 4792 fax
Project email: mrl_comments@fws.gov
Refuge complex email: arapaho@fws.gov
Refuge complex address
Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge Complex
953 County Road 32
Walden, Colorado 80480
Refuge complex telephone: 970 / 723 8202
Refuge Web sites:
Hutton Lake Refuge profile
Mortenson Lake Refuge profile
Documents
Land protection plan (LPP)
None at this time.
Planning process documents
Planning update 1 2012 (1 MB PDF)