Event Celebrates Acquisition of 1.5 Miles Along North Platte River

NATRONA COUNTY, Wyo.—The Bureau of Land Management and The Conservation Fund celebrated today the addition of 646 acres near Casper, Wyoming, including 1.5 miles along the North Platte River into America’s public lands. The acquisition of this land, which was made possible by funding from the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), will enhance opportunities for fishing and public recreation along a popular stretch of the river, while also securing an historic battlefield site from the Indian Wars of the northern Great Plains. The BLM will manage these public lands for the benefit of current and future generations, supporting conservation as it pursues its multiple use mission.

“With this acquisition, the BLM will accomplish two key mission objectives,” said  Lonny Bagley, BLM’s Casper Field Manager. “We will open another exceptional segment of the river to public access and recreation use—one that allows quick access for Casper’s residents. The acquisition will also allow us to preserve and interpret the Battle of Red Buttes historic battlefield site, a key element in the history of Casper. We expect to link our interpretive work at the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center with the National Historic Trails System and the battlefield site.”

Known as the Rim Rock property, the newly acquired land is now part of the North Platte River Special Recreation Management Area, which boasts Blue Ribbon trout fishing with the most trout by weight per mile of any stream in Wyoming. Celebrated by locals and visitors alike, the area was named the number one spot in the lower 48 states to catch trophy rainbow and brown trout by American Angler.  Inclusion of this site into the national system of public lands provides an extraordinary opportunity for increased public recreational access in a quiet outdoor setting immediately adjacent to town. 

“The Rim Rock acquisition will provide local citizens with expanded recreational opportunities along the North Platte River. The project also preserves and protects for future generations an important historic and cultural part of our state. Our community and our economy will benefit from this significant conservation effort,” said U.S. Senator John Barrasso.

“As a lifelong Wyoming fisherman, I am pleased to see more recreation and fishing access along the North Platte River,” U.S. Senator Mike Enzi said. “Wyoming is blessed with amazing landscapes and a unique history that can be found nowhere else on earth. I hope that its preservation will serve generations to come.”

The new public land is adjacent to Casper, Wyo., and provides easy recreational access for the city’s 60,000 residents. It’s also a sought-after spot for visitors, creating more opportunities for the tourism and recreation economy in Casper and Natrona County. In 2017, Natrona County received 885,000 overnight visitors, generating a total of $293 million in travel-related spending for the area.

“Wyoming's wide open spaces provide many benefits such as access to wonderful places like this property along the North Platte River,” said Governor Matt Mead. “The history of this location is significant and provides unique links to Wyoming's past and opportunities for education and understanding for future generations.”

“Access to hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation continues to be a high priority with Wyoming residents and is a significant part of our culture,” said Scott Talbott, Director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. “Projects such as this provide additional opportunities for Wyomingites to enjoy one of the most important reasons people choose to live in Wyoming—the great outdoors."

Rim Rock is steeped in historical significance as the site of the Battle of Red Buttes which, along with the nearby Battle at Platte Bridge Station, occurred on July 26, 1865. That battle was among the most significant of the Indian Wars of the northern Great Plains. Lieutenant Caspar Collins was killed in the Platte Bridge battle while leading cavalry to help protect the supply wagons later attacked at Red Buttes. The city of Casper was subsequently named after him to commemorate his efforts in battle. The protection of this site will enable creation of an historical interpretive and educational experience for visitors and residents to learn more about these battles and the Indian Wars.

“Although its general location has been known for years, the specific location of The Battle of Red Buttes was not known,” said Danny Walker, Retired Assistant State Archeologist. “The battlefield was the last major Indian war battlefield in Wyoming to be located by historians and archaeologists. It’s a great relief that the land is now protected, rather than having been sold off for more housing or lost beneath the blade of a bulldozer. This land is full of historical significance, and the conservation of the site will enable the public to learn about this moment in America’s past.”

The Conservation Fund acquired the Rim Rock property in May 2017—including portions from the Shriner’s Hospital for Children—and recently transferred it to the Bureau of Land Management for permanent protection using funding from LWCF.

“Today’s celebration is the culmination of the collaborative efforts of so many outstanding people working toward a common cause,” said Dan Schlager, Wyoming State Director for The Conservation Fund. “We are grateful to the landowners of the Rim Rock property, who stewarded the land for decades to preserve its historical heritage and open space, and to the Bureau of Land Management and Shriner’s Hospital for Children. This effort would not have been possible without federal funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and we are grateful to U.S. Senators Barrasso and Enzi and U.S. Rep. Cheney for their leadership in working to reauthorize LWCF so special places like Rim Rock will contribute to the health and enjoyment of Casper’s citizens, while benefitting its environment and economy for many years to come.”

Established 52 years ago, LWCF is a federal program that uses a percentage of proceeds from offshore oil and gas royalties—not taxpayer dollars—to protect irreplaceable lands and improve outdoor recreation opportunities. LWCF will expire on Sept. 30 unless Congress acts to reauthorize it.

About The Conservation Fund
At The Conservation Fund, we make conservation work for America. By creating solutions that make environmental and economic sense, we are redefining conservation to demonstrate its essential role in our future prosperity. Top-ranked for efficiency and effectiveness, we have worked in all 50 states since 1985 to protect more than eight million acres of land, including more than 185,700 acres in Wyoming. www.conservationfund.org 

Contact
Ann Simonelli | The Conservation Fund | 703-908-5809 | asimonelli@conservationfund.org