April 2024 Newsletter

Happy Earth Month! As we usher in the spring (and hopefully some warmer weather), Earth Month is a great time to reflect on the work we’ve accomplished as well as set our sights on future objectives to further Sierra Club's mission to explore, enjoy, and protect our planet. This month’s newsletter offers a plethora of opportunities to plug into our work, including 2 Earth Day outings – enjoy!
 

Earth Day Festivities

Laramie - Monday, April 22
Join conservation organizer Kaycee Prevedel and the Public Lands and Wildlife volunteer team for an Earth Day hike! ​​We’ll meet at the Lincoln Memorial Monument, exit 323, on the northeast side of Interstate 80 at 4 p.m. Then, we will carpool to the hike location, US Forest Service road 701E, led by Public Lands & Wildlife volunteer Chris Folsom. The hike will consist of a walk along South Crow Creek. The wildflowers should be poppin! Click here to RSVP. 

Jackson - Monday, April 22
Join Jackson organizer Kelsey Yarzab and fellow Sierra Club members and supporters for an evening nature walk along the Snake River! We’ll meet at Emily Stevens Park at 5 p.m. and proceed along the Snake River trail. Join us at Nora’s afterward to share your sightings and a slice of pizza! Click here to RSVP. 

Riverton - Saturday, April 20
If you’re in Riverton, check out the “Fremont County Drive Electric Earth Day” event on April 20th from 10 am - 2 pm at Blossoms and Boba. The event will feature a wide variety of electric vehicles, including electric pickup trucks, SUVs, and cars. Click here to RSVP.  

Finding yourself outside of Wyoming this Earth Day? We’re here to help! Local Sierra Club Chapters are hosting Earth Day events all across the country! Check out this map to find an event near you. 

Support “Smart from the Start” Solar Development

Right now, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is updating its 2012 Western Solar Plan to help meet our nation’s climate goals and ensure that our most important landscapes and wildlife habitats are protected. This is a vital opportunity for BLM to use a “smart from the start” approach to renewable energy development on western public lands, including in Wyoming. 

The BLM is accepting public comment on their plan until April 18th. We encourage you to submit a comment in support of Alternative 5, which prioritizes solar development on previously disturbed or degraded lands close to transmission lines. While not perfect, this management scenario strikes a fine balance, protecting the lands we know are better managed for their wildlife, cultural, and recreation values while leaving BLM with plenty of siting flexibility.  Here are some talking points that can help with your comment and strengthen Alternative 5 even more:

• The BLM should revise its big game development exclusion criteria to protect identified big game migration areas, potential wildlife crossing sites, crucial winter range, and birthing areas. 

• The BLM should not rely solely on existing and largely out-of-date resource management plans for wildland and wildlife habitat information, but include the best available science from local wildlife agencies and citizen-identified lands with wilderness characteristics.

• Lastly, meaningful consultation with Tribal Nations and engagement with local communities is essential throughout this process to ensure transparency and accountability.

Speak Up for Wyoming Wolves

Recently, a Wyoming wolf was intentionally struck with a snowmobile before being tormented and killed by an individual in Northwest Wyoming. Regardless of how you feel about wolves, this kind of cruelty against wildlife is unacceptable and should be condemned by our Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD), the agency in charge of managing and protecting the health of our state's wildlife. Email WGFD Director Brian Nesvik (brian.nesvik@wyo.gov) and ask him to publicly denounce this horrific act. Secondly, you can attend an upcoming Game and Fish Commission meeting in Riverton on April 17th, where this issue will be discussed. Find more information on that meeting here, including how to participate virtually and sign up to provide a comment. Please be polite and respectful in your comments, and thank you for speaking up to protect the dignity of Wyoming wildlife.

Rob Joyce
Chapter Director
Sierra Club Wyoming