Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, and Trails provide memorable recreational, cultural and educational opportunities and experiences to improve communities and enrich lives. Many visitors to Wyoming’s state parks and historic sites may have noticed increased programming and improvements in recent years. These programs entice people to visit and serve as educational opportunities for families and groups.

These programs and improvements are often developed through a master planning process according to a department release. A master plan is a dynamic, long-term (20-plus years) planning document providing a conceptual layout for future growth and development. According to Carly-Ann Carruthers, planning manager for state parks, the process begins when the Planning Section determines the past master plan is no longer viable and when funding is available for a new plan. 

While the basic process for each strategic plan is mainly the same, how the process plays out differs from park to park and historic site to historic site. Wyoming State Parks generally has one park or historic site undergoing the process at a time.

A good example is Buffalo Bill State Park, which is currently developing a new resource management plan.

“A 20-year plan is a great tool for a superintendent to move forward to provide enhancements and improvements to the park,” said Buffalo Bill State Park Superintendent Dan Marty.

In recent years, summer campsite reservations have ranged from 90% to 100% capacity, creating a demand for campground expansion. Other needs include creating or updating new wayfinding and interpretive signage, adding non-motorized trails, and upgrading infrastructure. The last major upgrades were planned more than 30 years ago and are in need of replacement. 

In conjunction with the Bureau of Reclamation, Wyoming State Parks partnered with Ayres Associates, a national company of engineers and planners, to develop an updated resource management plan for Buffalo Bill Reservoir and State Park. With an office in Cheyenne, Ayres understands the environmental and public’s concerns throughout the surrounding region and brings a wealth of knowledge through their planning experience, landscape architecture, public outreach, communication and environmental services. Ayres’ team manages the overall project direction and ensures it meets the success measures outlined by State Parks and Reclamation. The Ayres team is enhanced by key partners at Logan-Simpson and West, Inc., who will develop the environmental analysis for the project.

Ayres Associates developed a series of public engagements to determine what support and/or opposition park users and neighbors may have. These meetings allow the public to express their ideas, questions, and concerns. Feedback was provided on areas within the park where the public would like to see improvements or changes, such as campground expansion and the creation of the North Fork Trail. This trail is proposed to begin at the Marquette day-use area, traveling to Lakeshore and Eagle Point and continuing on to Shreve’s Lodge.

On federal properties like Buffalo Bill State Park, the proposed resource management plan must fulfill the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). To this end, an Environmental Assessment (EA) will be conducted. An EA is intended to be a concise public document that provides sufficient evidence and analysis regarding the significance of the environmental impacts of the proposed action. Proposed alternatives aid in decision-making when there is an unresolved conflict in the use of resources. A draft EA for Buffalo Bill Reservoir is expected to be available for public comment in the Spring of 2024. After comments from local, state and federal partners as well as the public are addressed and any revisions are made, the plan will be submitted and given a stamp of approval, known federally as a Finding of No Significant Impact.

The public is invited to review the public scoping materials for the Buffalo Bill Resource Management Plan online at this link. 

Written scoping comments will be accepted through: 

• Online Comment Form: forms.gle/5oFUbdTj9YtthA4p7

• E-mail: CarlyAnn.Carruthers@wyo.gov

• Regular Mail: 

• Carly-Ann Carruthers, Planning and Grants Manager

• Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources

• 2301 Central Avenue

• Cheyenne, WY 82002

 Comments will be accepted throughout the 45-day public comment period until Oct. 29, 2023. Comments received after this date will be considered, but it is better to submit them sooner rather than later.

For more information on the Buffalo Bill State Park planning process, contact Carly-Ann Carruthers, Planning Manager, at CarlyAnn.Carruthers@wyo.gov or 307-777-6968.