Dear Supporter,

This month GYC introduces the Greater Yellowstone e-News, a monthly collection of stories and updates. These stories are sometimes political, sometimes ecological, and sometimes personal accounts from Yellowstone National Park and the lands that surround it.

Lands

The Gallatin National Forest has spent 5 years planning how trails and roads will be used in this area north of Yellowstone Park. Now they are putting the plan into place. [Travel]

Wyoming's Senator John Barrasso introduced legislation protecting the Wyoming Range from oil and gas development. [Wyoming]

Waters

Congress overrides veto to authorize $30 million to protect the Yellowstone River. [Yellowstone]

Citizens fight a proposal to dam the Oneida Narrows section of the Bear River in Idaho, a local recreational paradise. [Bear]

Wildlife

A rare and elusive lynx was spotted, and photographed, in Yellowstone Park. [Lynx]

Slight changes in some Wyoming winter elk feedgrounds may not go far enough. Disease and other impacts necessitate planned phase out rather than status quo. [Feedgrounds]

Community Events

Mark your calendars for these upcoming events. Meet members, have fun, and learn more about Greater Yellowstone. [Events]

LANDS

The Gallatin Travel Plan establishes where and how people use roads and trails on the forest while protecting wildlife habitat, clean water and quiet recreational opportunities. It's a balancing act of managing recreational use on the forest so that it does not harm the land. [more]

Wyoming Range Legislation Introduced- On October 25th, Senator John Barrasso introduced legislation to protect the entire Wyoming Range from further oil and gas drilling. This legislation is exactly what thousands of Wyoming residents want to ensure the protection of their beloved hunting and fishing grounds. The legislation protects over one million acres of pristine unroaded backcountry in the Wyoming Range. A huge thank you to all the citizens who worked so hard to make this legislation a reality. This is an important first step! We will need your continued help to ensure the passage of this landmark legislation. [more]

WATERS

Congress authorizes $30 million to protect Yellowstone River - It's been over a decade since the historic floods of 1996-97 spurred an unprecedented wave of environmentally-destructive bank stabilization activity along the Yellowstone River in Montana. Now, thanks to the new Water Resource Development Act (WRDA), passed by Congress over the objections of President Bush, $30 million has been authorized for restoration projects to repair and protect the river from further damage. [more]

Idaho's Bear River needs free flowing waters not another dam! Late in December, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) formally approved Twin Lakes Canal Company's Study Plan for a proposed dam on the Oneida Narrows of the Bear River. However, FERC has yet to address the concerns of the local public, fishing groups, other environmental groups, and existing water rights holders. [more]

WILDLIFE

Lynx Spotted and Photographed in Yellowstone Park
Lynx are rare. And rarely seen. This reclusive animal had only been tracked in Yellowstone via DNA samples left by scat or hair, until an employee within Yellowstone happened to take some photos of what he thought was a bobcat.

Elk Feedgrounds in Wyoming - The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WYGF) plans on implementing minor changes at five of its 22 elk feedgrounds this winter. However, the changes amount to only cosmetic changes, spreading hay out over a few more acres and slightly shortening the artificial feeding season. Wyoming Game and Fish claims it wants to reduce brucellosis in Wyoming's elk. If the agency is serious, it needs to phase out the feedgrounds. Meanwhile, WYGF plans to continue testing elk for brucellosis and slaughtering the ones that test positive. [more]

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Great Rockies Sports Show- Anglers and hunters love to get out into Greater Yellowstone's wilds, so we're talking with them about our conservation work. Drop by our booth on Feb 8- 10 at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds in Bozeman.

Idaho Roadless Areas- Public Meetings - Idahoans love the open space that their state provides, especially the 9.3 million acres of roadless areas. Learn more about these areas, and the threats they face as a result of proposed changes to the Roadless Rule. Join GYC-Idaho Staff for this discussion of public lands on Feb 6, and attend the state's public meetings throughout Idaho in February, 2008.