Shoshone National Forest: Yellowstone's Eastern Keystone

The Shoshone National Forest, which borders the Eastern edge of Yellowstone National Park, contains some of the wildest land in the Lower 48 and is a key component of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and the stunning wildlife, fisheries, and incredible recreation that this region is known for.

Now the Shoshone is developing a new management plan and your comments can help influence how this National Forest is protected, or not, for the next fifteen years. Please add a few words of your own to our letter below and then click Send This Message. Thanks!

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Draft Revised Forest Plan

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Dear Mr. Armel:

I am writing to the Shoshone National Forest (SNF) concerning the Draft Revised Forest Plan and in strong support of Option 1, which currently recommends 125,000 acres of new Wilderness and backcountry non-motorized prescriptions for many of the Roadless areas. I also urge the Shoshone to refrain from adding new roads of any kind, whether temporary or permanent, to conduct no new oil and gas leasing or development in Roadless areas, and to have no commercial timber harvest in all Roadless areas.

Right now, much of the Shoshone has seen little or no lasting development and remains largely as it was when the National Forest was first created. As you know, the Shoshone is a treasured wild resource and an important link to Yellowstone's ecosystem, and I respectfully urge the SNF to please keep it that way for all Americans.

I support Option One and additions to Wilderness lands, including: DuNoir Special Management Unit and W. S. & E. DuNoir Additions, High Lakes & Addition, Franc's Peak, Wood River, Trout Creek, plus Clarks Fork, Deep Lake and Middle Fork. The boundaries also should be extended in Franc's Peak and Wood River to meet manageable roads and boundaries. Snowmobiling and mountain biking should be discontinued in these areas.

Also, important wildlife migration corridors, crucial winter, parturition or year-long range for big game should not be developed. Especially, the SNF should maintain secure habitat for grizzly bears even where bears live and need to expand to for enduring survival.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
March 05, 2007

Background Information

Roadless, Wildlife and Quiet Recreation – the Shoshone Has it All:

The Shoshone National Forest is the focal point National Forests in Wyoming; whether it's the threats from oil and gas development and unmanaged ORV use – or the opportunity to protect Roadless lands along with future Wilderness and the wildlife, clean water, and quiet recreation opportunities that these lands represent.

The riches of the Shoshone National Forest quickly are apparent to any visitor. The Forest contains 1.4 million acres of Wilderness and an additional 751 thousand acres of inventoried Roadless areas. All told, approximately 85 percent of the Shoshone has seen little or no lasting human development and is a home for some of America’s most incredible wildlife: wolves, grizzly, lynx and wolverine.

Two years in the making, the Shoshone National Forest’s management plan represents the chance to protect this treasured wild resource and its role in the larger Yellowstone's ecosystem. Of the three options presented, Number One, is clearly the best alternative. It has the key ingredients of a good management plan will protect crucial areas from oil and gas development, halt encroaching unmanaged ORV abuse, and set these lands aside for the enjoyment of Americans today and for future generations.