CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Governor Mark Gordon’s Office announced that nearly $50 million in legislatively allocated funds for on-the-ground projects to prevent the spread of invasive annual grasses and to restore resilient grass and rangelands will be deployed mid-May. This is an earlier date than what was originally anticipated, according to the Governor’s Office.
Grant funding for wildfire recovery was one of the Gordon’s “top priorities” during the 68th Legislature, and the funds are projected to aid landscape-scale wildfire restoration and recovery efforts.
“Wyoming’s landscapes are our livelihood,” Gordon said in the announcement. “Wildfires present a tremendous threat, and recovery must be approached thoughtfully and in concert with private landowners. I thank the Legislature for recognizing this need and for putting resources behind a grant program that can enable land managers to get to work on rehabilitation efforts quickly.”
The Governor’s Office wrote via press release that the funds came through Senate Enrolled Act 62, which appropriated $49,479,564 to the Wyoming Wildlife Natural Resources Trust (WWNRT) account. The grants will be distributed to conservation districts, weed and pest districts and the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission for projects that directly address restoration of habitats on both state and private lands. Funded projects must be habitat restoration-focused and/or related to wildfire response. The funding can also be used for equipment or structures.
WWNRT solicited grant applications beginning in mid-March from eligible entities. In the coming weeks, a multi-agency committee will convene to review proposals and make final award recommendations. Announcements are projected for mid-May.
