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23LSO-0208
ORIGINAL Senate
File No
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SF0106
ENROLLED ACT NO. 50,
SENATE
SIXTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2023 General Session
AN ACT relating to the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Funding Act; providing for funding of large projects under the act; specifying large projects approved for funding in 2023; specifying conditions for large project funding; authorizing distributions from the Wyoming wildlife and natural resource trust income account for approved large projects; providing for the reversion of funds; and providing for an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
Section 1
.
(a)
As used in this section:
(i)
"Board" means the Wyoming wildlife and natural resource trust account board created by W.S. 9
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104;
(ii)
"Income account" means the Wyoming wildlife and natural resource trust income account created by W.S. 9-15-103(b).
(b)
Pursuant to the authority granted under W.S. 9
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104(k) and subject to each recipient's certification under W.S. 9-15-103(r), authorization is granted for funding of the large projects provided for in subsections (c) through (m) of this section.
(c)
Teton Migration:
(i)
Project sponsor: Teton County;
(ii)
Project purpose: Fence construction, roadway replacement and underpass construction on an area of high wildlife and vehicle use west of the town of Jackson in Teton County in order to:
(A)
Allow for the safe movement of moose, elk and deer across a major highway to increase connectivity and maintain populations for a variety of wildlife;
(B)
Reduce and eliminate the potential for catastrophic collisions that damage human life, wildlife and property.
(iii)
Project description: Highway crossing construction;
(iv)
Total project budget: Fifty-nine million seven hundred seventy-seven thousand seven hundred fifteen dollars ($59,777,715.00);
(v)
Project grant: The board is authorized to grant to the sponsor two million dollars ($2,000,000.00) for the purposes specified in this subsection, as follows:
(A)
One million dollars ($1,000,000.00) provided by the board; and
(B)
One million dollars ($1,000,000.00) provided by funding from Teton County held by the board on behalf of Teton County in the income account.
(vi)
Appropriation: There is appropriated from the income account to the board two million dollars ($2,000,000.00) or as much thereof as is necessary to carry out the purposes of this subsection.
(d)
Fish Hook Ranch Conservation Easement:
(i)
Project sponsor: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation;
(ii)
Project purpose: Removal of residential development rights on approximately one thousand two hundred (1,200) acres in Carbon County in order to:
(A)
Maintain key seasonal habitats for mule deer, elk, moose, antelope and wintering eagles;
(B)
Maintain primary migration corridors for native ungulates;
(C)
Maintain core population areas for greater sage-grouse and other sagebrush obligate species;
(D)
Conserve valuable riparian, wetland, grassland and intermediate shrubland ecotypes;
(E)
Maintain agricultural production and opportunity on high-quality farm and ranch lands.
(iii)
Project description: Conservation easement;
(iv)
Total project budget: Four million two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($4,250,000.00);
(v)
Project grant: The board is authorized to grant five hundred twenty-five thousand dollars ($525,000.00) to the sponsor for the purposes specified in this subsection;
(vi)
Appropriation: There is appropriated from the income account to the board five hundred twenty-five thousand dollars ($525,000.00) or as much thereof as is necessary to carry out the purposes of this subsection.
(e)
Lakeview Canal Fish Passage:
(i)
Project sponsor: Wyoming Game and Fish Commission;
(ii)
Project purpose: Restoration of a fish passage to allow migration of spawning fish and the return of juvenile fish on the South Fork of the Shoshone River in Park County in order to:
(A)
Maintain seasonal movement opportunity for native fish;
(B)
Increase the productivity of aquatic ecosystems;
(C)
Maintain and improve irrigation infrastructure for local agricultural operations;
(D)
Prevent entrainment of as many as fifty-one thousand (51,000) fish annually.
(iii)
Project description: River restoration;
(iv)
Total project budget: Two million three hundred twenty-three thousand seventy-six dollars ($2,323,076.00);
(v)
Project grant: The board is authorized to grant to the sponsor four hundred fifty thousand dollars ($450,000.00) for the purposes specified in this subsection;
(vi)
Appropriation: There is appropriated from the income account to the board four hundred fifty thousand dollars ($450,000.00) or as much thereof as is necessary to carry out the purposes of this subsection.
(f)
Wind River Feral Horse Removal:
(i)
Project sponsor: Wyoming Wild Sheep Foundation;
(ii)
Project purpose: Restoration of rangelands by removal of feral horse populations on the Wind River Reservation in central Wyoming in order to:
(A)
Maintain seasonal habitats for bighorn sheep, elk, mule deer, antelope and other native ungulates;
(B)
Increase the productivity of rangeland and subalpine habitats;
(C)
Maintain and improve impacted riparian areas and wetlands.
(iii)
Project description: Rangeland improvement;
(iv)
Total project budget: Two million one hundred forty-nine thousand one hundred ninety-eight dollars ($2,149,198.00);
(v)
Project grant: The board is authorized to grant to the sponsor two hundred seventy thousand dollars ($270,000.00) for the purposes specified in this subsection;
(vi)
Appropriation: There is appropriated from the income account to the board two hundred seventy thousand dollars ($270,000.00) or as much thereof as is necessary to carry out the purposes of this subsection.
(g)
SR Cattle Company Conservation Easement:
(i)
Project sponsor: Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust;
(ii)
Project purpose: Removal of residential development rights on approximately two thousand five hundred (2,500) acres in Sheridan County in order to:
(A)
Maintain key seasonal habitats for mule deer, elk, antelope and a variety of native wildlife species;
(B)
Maintain primary seasonal movement for native ungulates;
(C)
Maintain aquatic systems for native fish and other species;
(D)
Conserve valuable riparian, wetland, grassland and intermediate shrubland ecotypes;
(E)
Maintain agricultural production and opportunity on high-quality farm and ranch lands.
(iii)
Project description: Conservation easement;
(iv)
Total project budget: Seven million three hundred ninety-three thousand two hundred dollars ($7,393,200.00);
(v)
Project grant: The board is authorized to grant eight hundred ninety-five thousand five hundred dollars ($895,500.00) to the sponsor for the purposes specified in this subsection;
(vi)
Appropriation: There is appropriated from the income account to the board eight hundred ninety-five thousand five hundred dollars ($895,500.00) or as much thereof as is necessary to carry out the purposes of this subsection.
(h)
Sims Creek Slough:
(i)
Project sponsor: Uinta County Conservation District;
(ii)
Project purpose: Restoration of a fish passage to allow migration of spawning fish and the return of juvenile fish on approximately twelve (12) miles of the Bear River in Uinta County in order to:
(A)
Maintain seasonal movement opportunity for native fish;
(B)
Increase the productivity of aquatic ecosystems;
(C)
Maintain and improve irrigation infrastructure for local agricultural operations.
(iii)
Project description: River restoration;
(iv)
Total project budget: Eight hundred twenty-nine thousand dollars ($829,000.00);
(v)
Project grant: The board is authorized to grant to the sponsor two hundred twenty-five thousand dollars ($225,000.00) for the purposes specified in this subsection;
(vi)
Appropriation: There is appropriated from the income account to the board two hundred twenty-five thousand dollars ($225,000.00) or as much thereof as is necessary to carry out the purposes of this subsection.
(j)
Little Medicine Bow River:
(i)
Project sponsor: Medicine Bow Conservation District;
(ii)
Project purpose: Restoration of the river system to allow migration of spawning fish, maintain stream function and improve adjacent habitats on approximately twenty-five (25) miles of the Little Medicine Bow River in Carbon County in order to:
(A)
Maintain seasonal movement opportunity for native fish;
(B)
Increase the productivity of aquatic and wetland ecosystems;
(C)
Maintain and improve irrigation infrastructure for local agricultural operations;
(D)
Reduce erosion and maintain water quality;
(E)
Maintain uplands to provide habitat for deer, antelope, greater sage-grouse and a variety of migratory songbirds.
(iii)
Project description: River restoration;
(iv)
Total project budget: One million one hundred sixty thousand six hundred dollars ($1,160,600.00);
(v)
Project grant: The board is authorized to grant to the sponsor three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000.00) for the purposes specified in this subsection;
(vi)
Appropriation: There is appropriated from the income account to the board three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000.00) or as much thereof as is necessary to carry out the purposes of this subsection.
(k)
Ellsbury Ranch Conservation Easement:
(i)
Project sponsor: Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust;
(ii)
Project purpose: Removal of residential development rights on approximately two thousand six hundred (2,600) acres in Crook County in order to:
(A)
Maintain key seasonal habitats for deer, elk, antelope and a wide array of migratory birds;
(B)
Maintain primary movement corridors for native ungulates;
(C)
Maintain habitats for a variety of endemic amphibians and reptiles;
(D)
Conserve valuable forest, riparian, wetland, grassland and intermediate shrubland ecotypes;
(E)
Maintain agricultural production and opportunity on high-quality farm and ranch lands.
(iii)
Project description: Conservation easement;
(iv)
Total project budget: Five million three hundred ninety-one thousand two hundred dollars ($5,391,200.00);
(v)
Project grant: The board is authorized to grant six hundred sixty-three thousand five hundred dollars ($663,500.00) to the sponsor for the purposes specified in this subsection;
(vi)
Appropriation: There is appropriated from the income account to the board six hundred sixty-three thousand five hundred dollars ($663,500.00) or as much thereof as is necessary to carry out the purposes of this subsection.
(m)
New Fork 351:
(i)
Project sponsor: Trout Unlimited;
(ii)
Project purpose: Restoration of the river channel to allow migration of fish and stabilize stream function on approximately three (3) miles of the New Fork River in Sublette County in order to:
(A)
Maintain seasonal movement opportunity for native fish;
(B)
Increase the productivity of aquatic ecosystems;
(C)
Maintain and improve irrigation infrastructure for local agricultural operations.
(iii)
Project description: River restoration;
(iv)
Total project budget: Six hundred eighty-five thousand six hundred thirty-six dollars ($685,636.00);
(v)
Project grant: The board is authorized to grant to the sponsor two hundred twenty thousand dollars ($220,000.00) for the purposes specified in this subsection;
(vi)
Appropriation: There is appropriated from the income account to the board two hundred twenty thousand dollars ($220,000.00) or as much thereof as is necessary to carry out the purposes of this subsection.
(n)
Unexpended and unobligated funds appropriated under this section shall revert to the income account on June 30, 2027.
Section 2.
This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.
(END)
Speaker of the House
President of the Senate
Governor
TIME APPROVED: _________
DATE APPROVED: _________
I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.
Chief Clerk
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