New Report Confirms Values of Red Desert

By Mac Blewer

Photo by Mike McClure

A new report confirms conservationists' assertions about the Red Desert's cultural, historical and natural values. The report was prepared for the Center for the Wild West by Cheyenne-based Western Eco-Systems Technology, Inc. (WEST).

Titled "Case Studies: Energy and the Land - Red Desert, Wyoming - Energy, Natural and Cultural Resources Evaluation," it is available online and on a new website created by Friends of the Red Desert: www.reddesert.org.

While taking much of its data from another study, "Special Values of the Red Desert," conducted for WOC by Laramie-based Biodiversity Conservation Alliance (also available on WOC's website), WEST's report draws from a large number of other sources, including independent scientific studies and government reports.

WOC will use the report as part of our ongoing efforts to help protect the Jack Morrow Hills Area and other invaluable Red Desert jewels from industrial-scale oil and gas development.