BUFFALO WYO — The Bureau of Land Management Buffalo Field Office (BFO), Wyoming Conservation Corps(WCC) and Devon Energy’s Gillette field office recently came together for a nine-day preservation, restoration and education project in Burnt Hollow in the Powder River Basin.
The WCC and Devon Energy’s Gillette Field Office and corporate team worked with BLM BFO employees on sage-grouse habitat improvement. This is the seventh year that Devon, WCC and the BLM have partnered together to improve Wyoming’s federal lands.
“We are thrilled to continue our efforts alongside the Wyoming Conservation Corps and Devon Energy, building on the many initiatives we’ve completed in the past,” said BLM BFO Manager Duane Spencer. “These activities are essential to the BLM’s success and truly benefit the entire community.”
BLM BFO employees and 19 Devon Energy executives and Gillette field office team members focused on sage-grouse habitat improvement by thinning and removing 550 juniper and ponderosa pine trees invading 160 acres of priority sage-grouse habitat on BLM lands. This year’s work was part of a multi-year effort to remove invasive trees from sage-grouse habitat across the northern Powder River Basin.
“Each year our staff works side-by-side with the Wyoming Conservation Corp and Bureau of Land Management to preserve the land and protect habitats in our key areas of operation,” said Kevin McAulay, Devon’s production superintendent in the Powder River Basin. “We’re proud of our partnership and are dedicated to being good stewards of the land.”
Devon Energy also hosted an educational day for WCC students, BLM leaders and educators from Wright’s Cottonwood Elementary and Wright Jr/Sr. High School. Students took a field and drilling rig tour, and learned about safety protocol, the area’s geologic formations, how oil and gas are produced and how to work with the federal government on public lands.
“Devon Energy and the BLM continue to invest in our members and contribute to their knowledge base of natural resource conservation across Wyoming,” said Patrick Harrington, WCC project coordinator. “Our program would not be possible without the support of these partners and their commitment to providing experiences for generations of Wyoming Conservation Corps leaders and members.”
BLM welcomes volunteers from all walks of life: whatever your interest, there’s a volunteer opportunity to match. For more information visit https://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/resources/volunteers.html.
About the Bureau of Land Management
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM’s multiple-use mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. In Fiscal Year 2012, activities on public lands generated $4.6 billion in revenue, much of which was shared with the States where the activities occurred. In addition, public lands contributed more than $112 billion to the U.S. economy and helped support more than 500,000 jobs.
Founded in 2006, the WCC builds on the long legacy created by the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s and the Youth Conservation Corps of the 1970s. The WCC continues this legacy by carrying out the highest caliber of service for Wyoming’s public lands. The organization is part of the University of Wyoming and strives to instill the value of education into their students by providing class credits and extended learning opportunities throughout the program year. Participation in the WCC program provides members with an opportunity to learn firsthand the complexity involved with current natural resource management decisions in Wyoming. https://www.uwyo.edu/reslife-dining/wcc/.
About Devon Energy
As a top operator and producer of oil in Wyoming, Devon strives to be a good neighbor by supporting youth and education, civic organizations and emergency responders. We join with partners like these to strengthen the communities where we live and work. Devon operates with respect for the environment and displays a steadfast dedication to insuring the health and safety or our employees and our neighbors. Devon’s environmental stewardship includes supporting and facilitating annual habitat reclamation projects in Wyoming in partnership with the Wyoming Conservation Corps, University of Wyoming, the Bureau of Land Management and the Office of State Lands and Investments.https://www.dvn.com/Pages/devon_energy_home.aspx.
