The Mounting Pressure
of Development
Oil-Gas-Mineral Exploration
and Mining
You've read
the bumper stickers - "Wyoming - Like no
Place on Earth." And
"Wyoming Wildlife -
Worth the Watching." The scenery
and solitude of the wildness of
Wyoming is special in the hearts
of residents and nonresidents alike.
Add 100,000 wellheads to a
landscape that is already feeling
the effects of other kinds of energy
developments, and "Wyoming -
Like no Place on Earth," may take
on a new meaning significantly
different from the one bumper
sticker creators had in mind. The
Powder River Basin Oil and Gas
Project could be the catalyst for
that change in meaning.
The project is a proposed
coalbed methane development
that would encompass over
7 million acres in northeastern
Wyoming. Coalbed methane is a
form of natural gas generated in
coal seams. There has always been
an interest in extracting this
resource from the land, but technology
prevented it from happening.
Recent advances in technology
are forcing Wyoming to brace
for unprecedented coalbed
methane production, with an estimated
50,000 to 100,000 wells
drilled in the next several decades.
Development can sometimes
create wildlife habitat, and in the
case of this project, some aboveground
improvements such as
watering sites for wildlife seem
possible.
But there are serious concerns,
as well. Biologists believe that
mule deer and their habitats can
be harmed because of oil, gas and
mineral exploration and extraction.
An increase in mortality, ingestion
of toxins, loss of habitat, barriers to
migratory mule deer that move
from winter to summer ranges,
and disturbance that fragments
and degrades habitats have the
potential to affect mule deer
populations.
Wyoming Game and Fish
Biologist Steve Kilpatrick said oil
and gas exploration in mule deer
winter range may have negative
indirect effects, as well as direct
effects.
 “The direct effects are roads and
disturbance,” said Kilpatrick.
“Once you have those, you have
fragmented the habitat. Big game
can’t always jump roads. Then you
set yourself up for successful fire
suppression operations where you
can intercept fires. We can more
easily control and master natural
processes with roads. And we can’t
go into these places to do prescribed
burns because of the risk.
We’re now limited with going in
there and doing mechanical things
to mimic fire, but these techniques
aren’t as effective because of
reductions in nutrient recycling.”
And there are other issues, as
well. Ground water has to be
removed to extract methane from
coal seams. If this water is contaminated,
where will it be placed? If
it isn't contaminated, where will it
be used? If additional water is
placed above ground, it could
effect a positive change by creating
new wetlands. Or, it could
change stream flow and the
habitats of native fish.
Coalbed methane projects have
the potential to disturb wildlife at
critical times of the year.
Coalbed
methane wellheads are small, but
each comes complete with its own
road and utility line. No one
knows the effect this project would
have on sensitive wildlife such as
sage grouse, a species of concern
throughout the West.
Development has the potential
to affect more than native fish and
wildlife. Development will attract
more people to Wyoming, placing
additional stresses on existing
resources. Construction of new
power plants will place greater
demands on water resources.
One of the most significant
potential impacts is the visual
effect on the landscape of
Wyoming. Visions of breathtaking
landscapes may be cluttered with
the signs of energy exploration.
How do state fish and wildlife
agencies respond to these
challenges?
Dan Stroud, a habitat biologist
with the Wyoming Game and Fish
Department in Pinedale, said
issues concerning shrub habitats,
sensitive species and development
are creating a crisis in agencies
throughout the West.
"We simply are not able to keep
up with the extensive wildlife
habitat management needs we
face across our vast landscape," said Shroud.
Stroud said efforts must be
focused on "larger habitat
assessments coupled with
management solutions," but
that the direct effects of largescale
landscape changes are
difficult to quantity.
"We can't quantify the specific
effects of coalbed
methane development," said
Stroud. "We don't know the
effects on mule deer from a
stress standpoint." As an
example, he added that mule
deer are living in and around
towns that seemingly aren't
stressed by people.
But Stroud said wildlife are
affected by development.
"The direct effects of
development to mule deer are
habitat removal combined
with the pressures of existing
grazing of livestock," said Stroud.
"You're reducing the forage base so
there's more competition for what's
left."
The BLM’s Senior Wildlife
Specialist Cal McCluskey believes it
is important to look at oil, mineral
and gas exploration on a large scale
that crosses political boundaries.
"Places like Powder River basin
and southwestern Wyoming are key
areas, not just for Wyoming, but
regionally, and nationally, because
of the large mule deer winter ranges
they provide," said McCluskey.
McCluskey said the BLM is developing
a sagebrush biome conservation
strategy to help identify key
areas within the landscape throughout
the sagebrush ecosystem. His
agency will use that information to
help influence land use allocations.
"Land use allocation is where the
rubber meets the road," said
McCluskey. "One of the limiting factors
on past land use plans is they've
been developed with blinders on,
ignoring what's going on by looking
at the administrative boundary the
land covers. To make better decisions
that have longer term value
for all resources, you have to
take a broader look on a larger
scale, and ask how it relates to
smaller pieces of land. That will
help influence decisions."
Regardless of the types of decisions
made, diligent, consistent
long-term monitoring of mineral,
oil and gas exploration sites will
be necessary to truly understand
the effects of this type of development
on the landscape, people,
and native fish and wildlife. In the
meantime, Wyoming is one of
many western states and provinces
that has the difficult challenge of
grappling with the energy needs of
its citizens and nation, with the
impressive landscapes that make “Wyoming – Like no Place
on Earth.”
Mule Deer, Changing Landscapes, Changing
Perspectives, is a series of non-technical articles based on
technical papers from the book, “Mule Deer Conservation: Issues and
Management Strategies” Published by The Berryman Institute, Utah
State University.
The contents of this web page may be
photocopied or reprinted for noncommercial purposes using the
citation listed below:
Mule Deer Working Group. 2003. Mule Deer:
Changing landscapes, changing perspectives. Mule Deer Working Group,
Western Association of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies. | 
