Protecting state resources: Updates provided at WACD conference

In March 1941, the state legislature passed an enabling act establishing conservation districts to direct programs protecting local renewable natural resources across Wyoming.

Today, the Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts (WACD) has 34 districts in all 23 counties conserving natural resources in the state for over 79 years.

WACD provides a unified voice for Wyoming’s local conservation districts, and its board of directors selects conservation policy priorities which are used to develop and review environmental and natural resources legislation and to secure adequate federal funding for natural resources conservation programs.

On Nov. 20-22, WACD hosted its annual convention at the Virginian Lodge in Jackson Hole.

President remarks

To kick off the three-day event, WACD President Todd Heward provided opening remarks focusing on mindful choices in regards to protecting the states natural resources, enhanced through partnerships.

“I would like to provide a few updates on the WACD’s current efforts, including our employee and supervisor training,” Heward stated. “It’s extremely beneficial for all of us to be trained and certified, including myself, as we are role models within the state.”

He then explained the agency’s experience this past year investigating district bond requirements and insurance options.

“It’s been kind of a learning curve for us to try and get our heads wrapped around it, and I appreciate all of you who have sat on those committees and worked through it,” he added. “We feel we are getting closer to giving some recommendations as well.”

Heward also reminded everyone to sign up for the WACD monthly newsletter, and if anyone has information they would like to submit to do so.

This year, WACD participated in several national conventions allowing the association to network with other agencies, including federal agencies in Washington, D.C. and other state agencies from around the country.

“We were able to attend the National Association of Conservation Districts Summer Forum in Boston this year and the southwest region meeting which occurred in Alaska,” Heward stated. “We were also able to participate and become a bigger part of the National Grazing Lands Coalition.”

WACD continues to be involved with state legislation and appreciates local representatives and senators who communicate with the districts.

“I can’t say enough for our partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service Office and Wyoming State Conservationist Jackie Byam and her team,” he added. 

Heward took participants on a personal journey, explaining his families’ footsteps homesteading in the Shirley Basin and the conservation steps they have taken over the years.

“How do we mindfully make choices and prepare, protect, manage and be responsible for future resources?” he asked. “It really is about our future and how we preserve our resources and take care of them for future generations down the road.”

DEQ update

Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Water Quality Administrator Jennifer Zygmunt provided an overview of current initiatives involving water quality.

“There is a lot going on with changes in administration after the election, and we will have to wait and see what the new administration does,” Zygmunt stated. “We are very interested to see what rules might be revealed, but we don’t have a good sense of how things might go.”

Zygmunt gave a brief update on the department’s budget and employee changes, along with details on a few current legal cases the DEQ is involved in with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and a few other federal agencies.

“A bill to watch is House Bill LSO-0253, relating to the storage of used nuclear fuel and establishing requirements and standards for storage facilities,” she added. “We have had a lot of good discussion on this bill and there will be more to come.”

Another lawsuit Wyoming is involved in includes new regulations in Waters of the U.S. 

Zygmunt mentioned, “Wyoming is part of a 24-state coalition looking for clarification, as Wyoming is still under the pre-2015 regulations conformed by the Sackett vs. EPA decision.”  

The new definition will subject additional Wyoming water features including those on private land to federal regulation. 

“There is a lot of conversation happening at the national level and between states and federal agencies about jurisdiction,” she stated. “I think those conversations will continue as the next administration tackles the subject.”

Another hot topic Zygmunt discussed was Section 401 certifications of the Clean Water Act (CWA), where a federal agency may not issue a permit or license to conduct any activity which may result in any discharge into waters of the U.S. unless a Section 401 water quality certification is issued or certification is waived. 

Zygmunt said, “The biggest issue we have before us, and the reason Wyoming joined the state of Louisiana, is the EPA’s CWA. It’s concerning because we have had certifications and permits in place for our national park for years, and now the EPA – without any communication – has taken over.”

The Wyoming DEQ’s primary focus with this lawsuit is to make sure all waters in the park can’t have any degradation and they stay at the same level of protection.

WDA update

Wyoming Department of Agriculture (WDA) Director Doug Miyamoto addressed conference participants on highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

“Wyoming does not have many – only a few – dairies, and we had one HPAI case in Wyoming this year. But, Colorado has had a lot of issues with it,” Miyamoto stated. “The good thing with HPAI is it is easy to detect and treat.”

“The USDA is now doing national tracing programs to identify where milk came from if HPAI was detected,” he added. “It is a little nerve-racking because they are using a human health condition and milk as a medium in order to do traceability, so we are watching it very closely.”

The USDA declares HPAI testing is voluntary but continues to ask local dairies to volunteer, and as of today, no dairies in Wyoming have volunteered, according to Miyamoto.

Moving on to legislative updates, Miyamoto briefly discussed the department’s budget and future funding for projects.

Miyamoto said, “We may have some opportunities in the future to assist with land restoration projects, but we will just have to see what can’t be picked up by other agencies.”

He mentioned, over the past year, the department was involved with the EPA on a pesticide strategy program.

The program provides the analytical testing of products to ensure they meet standards and labeling is accurate.

“This is going to take a lot of work from our standpoint, and it is very complicated but there is no other choice because this ruling was the result of a court decision,” he stated.

Keep an eye on future editions of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup for more from the WACD Annual Convention.

Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.