The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public review and comment on the Draft Programmatic Compatibility Determination for Rights‑of‑Way and Rights to Access for Temporary Disturbances and Minor Impacts on Conservation Easements in the Mountain‑Prairie Region. This draft document evaluates the compatibility of proposed activities that may cause temporary, minor disturbances while supporting necessary public infrastructure needs across conservation easements in the Mountain-Prairie Region. The draft Compatibility Determination will be available for a 30‑day public comment period from April 1 to May 1, 2026. Comments, questions, concerns, or a request for a hard copy can be sent to: MountainPrairieNWRS@fws.gov.
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Wetlands within the Bear River Valley provide excellent habitat for a variety of migratory and resident wildlife species. The area was identified as the number one priority in the Bear River Focus Area Plan for the Inter-Mountain West Joint Venture. The Refuge supports one of the highest densities of nesting waterfowl in Wyoming, species including white-faced ibis, black tern, and numerous other marsh and shorebirds; provides excellent potential for expansion of breeding trumpeter swans; and provides habitat for local resident wildlife such as sage grouse, mule deer, elk, and pronghorn.
Location and Contact Information
Cokeville Meadows National Wildlife Refuge and surrounding lands are part of the ancestral homelands of the Shoshoni tribes. Crow bands frequented the area as well, according to old trapper journals. The Bear River was known in the Goshiute dialect of the Shoshoni language as Ku'i-o-ga, ku'i-o'gwa, or Kwi'o-gwa. (Chamberlin, 1913 -taken from shoshoniproject.utah.edu) The Bear River or Ku'i-o-ga runs through portions of the refuge and supplies most of the water that irrigates the wetlands and wet meadow habitats of the refuge.