The project consists of three distinct conservation projects: 1) the Sommers/Todd Place project, 2) the Scott Place project, and 3) the Duke Place project. All three projects combined encompass approximately 19,000 deeded acres located at two critical locations along the Green River in northern Sublette County and at an important corridor and buffer area between the Bridger-Teton National Forest and the Green River.
Sommers/Todd Place: This portion of the porject encompasses over 5,100 deeded acres along the Green River. The ranches are contiguous and are located on both sides of the Green River. It is located along the west flank of the Pinedale Anticline natural gas field. The project includes a conservation easement on the surface estate, a public fishing easement/access, and conveyance of the mineral rights with a NSO stipulation.
Scott Place: This portion of the project encompasses approximately 2,558 deeded acres. It sits along the Green River, west of the Wyoming Game and Fish Dept. Daniel Fish hatchery location. The project includes a conservation easement on the surface estate. No mineral rights are involved with this portion of the project. No fishing easement or access is involved with this protion of the project.
Duke Place: This protion of the project encompasses approximately 11,304 deeded acres. part of the ranch's western boundary is the Bridger-teton forest boundary. The southeastern boundary is approximately 2 miles northwest of the Scott Place, and the lands separating the Duke Place form the Scott Place are BLM and State lands. The Duke and Scott Places combined provide an approximately 12 mile corridor from the Bridger-Teton forest to the Green River. The project includes a conservation easement on the sruface estate. No mineral rights or fishing access are involved with this portion of the project.
Retention of the three properties as working ranches with quality wildlife habitat will ensure that forage and cover remain available as other lands in the area are developed. Species that would benefit include moose, sage-grouse, mule deer, antelope, elk, bald eagles, raptors, waterfowl, and fish species. The project will provide connectivity for wildlife habitat on about 60,000 acres.