The Bridger-Teton National Forest is planning for the future, and the Forest needs your help. National forests are required by Policy to update their plans periodically to account for new science, new issues, and changing conditions.
Plans give managers direction for the many resources in the forest like wildlife habitat, livestock grazing, fire, clean water, research, scenery, recreation, and more. Now more than ever, there are many ways for the public to participate and share your thoughts on how we collectively sustain the land, water, and wildlife while providing for a myriad of multiple uses.
“The days have ended when the forest may be viewed only as trees and trees viewed only as timber. The soil and the water, the grasses and the shrubs, the fish and the wildlife, and the beauty of the forest must become integral parts of the resource manager's thinking and actions.” -Senator Hubert Humphrey, 1976, signing the National Forest Management Act
Map of Bridger-Teton National Forest showing adjacent land ownership. Zoom in to see locations of special places on the Forest
No place stays the same; it is always changing and responding to ecological disturbances and evolving socio-economic conditions. Just as the land and communities change, so must forest plans. The purpose of the plan is to establish long-term direction for the entire Forest, providing the foundation to guide all decisions managers make about activities and projects on the ground.
(Subalpine meadows are found where there is deep snow, deep soil, and frequent pocket gopher activity)
Flower meadow and peaks in Upper Shoal Creek, Gros Ventre Mountain Range
The National Forest Management Act and the associated 2012 Planning Rule require Forests to update their plans periodically. The 2012 Planning Rule significantly advances citizen-based land management planning. To ensure that the forest continues to retain important resource values and support multiple uses, we need your input.
(Fire is a key driver of ecological change that shapes vegetation on the Bridger-Teton National Forest)
Firefighter walking with tools in front of fire
Welcome from Forest Supervisor Chad Hudson
Explore the Forest
National Forests exist to care for the land and serve people by sustaining the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands for present and future generations. As a multiple-use agency, the Forst Service manages land for seven general purposes: outdoor recreation, range, timber, watershed, wilderness, wildlife and fish. At the core of the agency's mission is the sustainability of all resources to provide for the greatest good for the greatest number of people in the long run. Sometimes, multiple use is easy to see - think of a groomed winter trail, livestock grazing in a meadow, firewood for the stove, or the perfect Christmas tree. Other uses, such as research or the health benefit associated with clean air and scenic beauty, may be less tangible but equally important.
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The Bridger Teton in Numbers
2.2 millionvisitors per year
3 mountain resorts, 7 guest ranches
94 active grazing allotments
(Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is one of three mountain resorts on the Bridger-Teton National Forest)
Skier on steep slope at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
Highest peak in Wyoming, at 13,804 feet
2 of the largest glaciers in the lower 48 states
315 miles designated wild and scenic rivers
(Some of the largest glaciers in Wyoming are found in the Bridger Wilderness, Wind River Mountain Range)
Sourdough glacier in the Wind River Mountain Range
Habitat that supports 467 species of wildlife and fish (including 7 threatened, endangered, or candidate species)
Several important migration corridors (e.g. Path of the Pronghorn)
2,807 miles of native surface trail
(Threatened wildlife species, like grizzly bears, rely on habitat in the Bridger-Teton National Forest)
Grizzly bear with cub in meadow
4 National System Trails
1,510 miles of open road
1.3 million acres of designated wilderness
(The Teton Wilderness is one of the original Wildernesses designated in 1964 under the Wilderness Act)
8 special areas (research natural areas, national natural landmarks, geologic sites, Kendall warm springs)
668 miles of groomed winter trails
37 campgrounds, 10 rental cabins
(The Togwotee Pass area is one of the most popular destinations for snowmobiling in the western U.S.)
(Harvesting a Christmas tree is a family tradition and an example of one of the many forest products available by permit)
The Vision of the Bridger-Teton
Many people know and care about this land - and likely that includes you. 54% of visitors live within 50 miles of the forest and many people have deep connections with the land. Weaving together the varied hopes and needs of diverse communities is a challenging endeavor but working together, we can preserve our national forest legacy for generations to come.
Every Forest has a unique history. The Bridger-Teton National Forest is particularly known for four distinctive assets - wildlife and fish, water and snow, undeveloped recreation and wild lands, and cultural heritage/community connection.
Two bull elk in early winter
Large beaver dam on Shoal Creek with mountains in background
Trail winding through aspen trees in fall, Teton Pass
Picture of cowboy herding cattle Green River Drift
Elk, water, trails, and a cowboy illustrate the Bridger-Teton Forest's distinctive values
Numerous tribes have ancestral ties with the Bridger-Teton National Forest. However, three tribes have especially deep connections with this landscape - the Shoshone-Bannock tribes, Eastern Shoshone, and Northern Arapaho. These Tribes have been interacting with and stewarding this land for centuries before it was a National Forest. It is essential to respect the relationship that Tribes have with their ancestral homeland, now and in the future.
Tribal Connections: An online map showing tribal lands across the United States.
It's time to update the plan for the Bridger-Teton National Forest.
Woman conducting amphibian survey in wetland on the Bridger-Teton National Forest
Three Phases of Forest Planning
Forest planning is divided into three phases: Assessment, Plan Development, and Monitoring.
Assessment. This phase requires taking an in-depth look at the current social, cultural, economic, and ecological conditions and trends affecting the forest. The assessment builds the framework for what needs to change in the current forest plan.
Plan Development. Much like a county comprehensive plan, the forest plan sets long-term direction for the forest and establishes the management emphasis for different parts of the forest. It also sets standards and guidelines for how projects are carried out.
Monitoring. This phase is on-going and focuses on monitoring to make sure the emphasis (i.e. desired conditions) for specific areas is being met. This information is critical to the ability to adapt so the plan remains relevant over time.
Image that shows three phases of forest planning - assessment, plan development, monitoring
The Bridger-Teton Forest Planning Timeline
Assessment
The Draft Assessment is anticipated to be released for public review in Summer 2024
Public meetings
A Forest Plan Symposium was held January 16th, 2024. This symposium featured panelists who shared their insights from their work with other planning efforts to help us learn about the 2012 Planning Rule, why forest plans matter, and how to make a difference. Many opportunities for public input to shape the future of the Bridger-Teton forest planning effort will be scheduled over the coming years, beginning with the comment form included with this Story Map. Other upcoming opportunities are outlined in the engagement plan found on the Bridger-Teton Forest Plan Revision webpage.
Plan Development
Developing the Plan is expected to begin in the later part of 2024 into 2025. Revising the Forest Plan and preparing the accompanying Environmental Impact Statement is expected to take up to 4 years.
