DOI officially purchases the Kelly parcel

On Dec. 30, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) announced the purchase and permanent protection of the 640-acre Kelly parcel, a picturesque landscape known for mountain views and world-class wildlife habitat within Grand Teton National Park. 

According to the DOI press release, the parcel was part of the Wyoming school trust lands and had been the largest remaining piece of unprotected land within the boundaries of Grand Teton National Park, offering essential connectivity for wildlife in the southern Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, which is one of the last remaining, nearly intact temperate ecosystems on the planet.

“Today marks an incredible milestone – decades in the making – to permanently protect an essential wildlife migration corridor and treasured landscape within Grand Teton National Park,” states DOI Secretary Deb Haaland in the press release. “This will benefit our public lands and Wyoming’s public-school students for generations to come.”

The DOI indicates the $100 million sale to preserve the Kelly parcel was made possible through a DOI and National Park Service (NPS) public-private partnership with the Grand Teton National Park Foundation and additional support from the National Park Foundation.

DOI invested $62.4 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, paired with $37.6 million in private donations raised by Grand Teton National Park Foundation.

Support

It was estimated more than 10,000 people from across Wyoming and the U.S. participated in a public comment process in 2023 related to the potential sale of the Kelly parcel. 

The overwhelming response indicated the support for the conservation for wildlife, public enjoyment and strengthening Wyoming’s economy. 

Furthermore, visitors to Grand Teton National Park contributed $935 million and supported 9,370 jobs in gateway economies during 2023, states the NPS website.

“People from every state come to Grand Teton National Park each year to enjoy the stunning landscapes and iconic wildlife protected in the park. We are grateful for the support of countless stewards in the park’s local community, Wyoming and across the nation who contributed their voices leading to this incredible conservation achievement which will benefit generations to come,” NPS Director Chuck Sams states in the press release.

This purchase continues the tradition and generosity which established present-day Grand Teton National Park in 1950, carrying on the vision to protect critical lands for the public. 

The Kelly parcel is located within a key migration corridor for pronghorn, elk and mule deer, providing critical wildlife habitat and extraordinary open spaces. 

Grand Teton National Park anchors this unique landscape, connecting Yellowstone National Park with the Bridger-Teton and Caribou-Targhee national forests, including the Upper Green River Valley and the Wind River, Gros Ventre and Wyoming Range mountains. 

The westernmost extent of the Path of the Pronghorn travels through the Kelly parcel and is a vital link to mule deer migration corridors stretching to public, private and Tribal lands hundreds of miles away.   

Next steps

After the DOI released their statements, Gov. Mark Gordon responded with a few comments as well, stating, “The signing of a letter of intent between the Wyoming Office of State Lands and Investments and the Bureau of Land Management Wyoming Office establishes a deliberate and careful process to pursue the acquisition or exchange of federal land in the state.”

Previously, Gordon indicated he wanted to utilize the $100 million generated by the sale of the Kelly parcel to purchase federal lands and minerals within Wyoming and combine it with an additional $62 million from the sale of other Teton County parcels for this purpose, as directed by the legislature. 

“Along with the protection of an iconic parcel of land, we now begin working to ensure there is no net gain in federal lands in Wyoming,” Gordon continues. “It has been my goal to utilize the proceeds of this sale to expand the state’s portfolio of lands and minerals, and this is the first step towards doing so.”

In addition, Gordon stresses this is the first step in the purchase or exchange process, and there will be opportunities for public comment as well as input from adjoining private land owners and federal and state lease holders who could be affected by a sale or exchange of federal lands.

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