Rock Springs Resource
Management Plan

The Rock Springs Resource Management Plan (RMP) defines the priorities, values, use restrictions, and overarching management framework for 3.6 million acres of arid lands administered by the BLM in southwestern Wyoming. A significant portion of the Red Desert falls under the policies set forth in this plan. Land use plans such as these often remain in place for up to 20 years or more, and thus have immense consequences for the lands under their jurisdiction. WWA has been actively involved in the revision of the Rock Springs RMP since that process began in 2011.

Full Plan Here

Historical Background

About the landscape

The Red Desert of Wyoming's Great Divide Basin encompasses one of the last great intact tracts of high desert in the United States. Standing amidst miles of undulating white sand dunes–the largest living dune field in North America–it is possible to gaze at nearby volcanic buttes gushing with springs, candy-colored badlands once deposited beneath an ancient sea and snow-capped granitic mountains a hundred miles away. Dark, starry skies abound, and vastness is tangible. Wildlife is abundant: Wyoming’s largest desert elk herd thrives here. The longest mule deer migration corridor connects the southern reaches of the Red Desert to Wyoming’s high peaks. The highest concentration of sage-grouse in the world call these lands home. And it has one of the highest raptor densities in the United States.

Since time immemorial this region has been the ancestral homelands and migratory territory for numerous Tribal Nations. The Red Desert was originally recognized as Shoshone Territory within the 1863 Fort Bridger Treaty, and today Tribal members including Eastern Shoshone, Northern Arapaho, Ute, and many others continue to use these lands to camp, gather foods, hunt, continue spiritual practices at numerous sacred sites, and share Indigenous Knowledges or Traditional Ecological Knowledge. Local communities treasure this landscape for its opportunities for solitude, responsible recreation, hunting, working grazing lands, energy development, and rich pioneer history touched by outlaws, a gold rush, the Oregon Trail and more.

Rock Springs RMP Revision Timeline

AUGUST 2023

The BLM releases the draft RMP after over 10 years under revision. The release of the draft initiates a 90 day public comment period that was extended in October to include an additional 90 days at the request of Governor Gordon. The BLM’s preferred alternative in the draft proposed significant conservation wins for the Red Desert. WWA and a coalition of conservation non-profits weighed in to make sure the best of those measures remain in place. Read our blog on Wildland Highlights within the draft.

Resource Management
Plans

Resource Management Plans are carefully designed to provide a strategic plan that will ideally remain relevant for at least 10 years. When the plan is no longer relevant or environmentally adequate, the BLM initiates a lengthy revision process that begins with a public scoping period. This is followed by a public release of a draft plan that includes several alternatives for consideration. Once public input is received and edits to the draft are made, a Record of Decision is released announcing the final, approved plan. Public input is gathered throughout the process and helps inform the nature of the plan.