“Invasive insects, noxious weeds and plant diseases cost the U.S. an estimated $40 billion annually in damages to our lakes, forests, and farms. They can threaten our state’s economy, food supply, environment and in some cases, even public health,” Darnell said.

The Fontenelle Creek Recreation area is approximately 35 miles north of Kemmerer, Wyoming and 10 miles south of La Barge, Wyoming. The area’s facilities include 55 campsites, paved access roads, three vault toilets, three flush toilets, and a boat ramp. Designated campsite fees are $7 per night. A dump station is available for a $3 fee. The Warren Bridge Campground is approximately 20 miles west of Pinedale, Wyoming. The site’s facilities include 16 pull-through sites, three vault toilets, trash service, a day use area, and a dump station. Designated campsite fees are $10 per night and the dump station fee is $5. Scab Creek Campground is also open to the public, but drinking water is not currently available. The BLM expects to turn on the campground’s water system in mid-June.

“In lieu of an in-person meeting, the BLM Pinedale Field Office has made Pinedale Anticline Project Area planning updates available online. Documents typically presented during a meeting, including wildlife, air, water, operator and agency reports, are available at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/77515/510.”

Prescribed burns will take place in two distinct project sites. The Burdick prescribed fire project is located about 13 miles west of La Barge on the east face of Miller Mountain, south of the La Barge Creek drainage. Within this area, 470 acres of slash and standing conifer are targeted to burn. The Deadline Ridge prescribed fire project is located approximately 12 miles northwest of La Barge, on the east face of Deadline Ridge. The BLM has targeted 396 acres of slash and standing conifer to burn on this ridge.

Crews will be utilizing helicopter operations in the Stinking Springs area of Hoback Canyon to do some general maintenance of the avalanche infrastructure known as the O’Bellx units. These units use explosions to trigger smaller, controlled avalanches to prevent dangerous, uncontrolled conditions.

In the Pinedale Field Office area, these areas are closed: The Ryegrass, Bench Corral, Deer Hills, Calpet and Miller Mountain winter ranges including lands north of Fontenelle Creek, east of the Forest Service Boundary, west of U.S. Highway 189 and south of Horse Creek. The Mesa winter range east of County Road 110/East Green River Road, north of County Road 136/Paradise Valley Road, west of the New Fork River and south of U.S. Highway 191.