LSR PRESERVE

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

The JY Ranch has been used as a private family ranch-retreat since the early 1900s when John D. Rockefeller, Jr. first purchased it. In 2001, after long and careful planning and in the Rockefeller family’s tradition of responsible conservation stewardship and support of public/private partnerships, Laurance S. Rockefeller entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Park Service (NPS). Under the terms of the Memorandum the approximately 1,106 acre private JY Ranch would be developed in accordance with a Plan that will balance conservation and stewardship with public use, and then be gifted to the National Park Service in fall of 2007. Under Mr. Rockefeller’s Plan, except for sections of existing trail corridors, all evidence of the extensive complex of family ranch residences and ranch operations have been removed and reclaimed, and the site opened to the public under careful management. Visitors are able to experience the reclaimed site and its environment through two main elements: a small visitor center (which is closed during winter months) and a trail network.

PIONEER'S ROLE IN THE JY RECLAMATION & CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES:

Reclamation strategies and planning
restoration of cabin sites, ancillary facilities, trail, roads, and power lines
Bridge and elevated walkway construction
Infiltration gallery installation
Pond, stream, and waterfall construction
Re-vegetation and reclamation of disturbed areas
Wetland and wildlife mitigation
Environmental and Wetland permitting
Teton County Environmental Process

DOCUMENTS PREPARED:

Wetland Delineation Report (US Army Corps of Engineers)
Environmental Analysis (Teton County, Wyoming)
Vegetation & Fuels Management Assessment (Teton County, Wyoming)Noxious Weed Management Plan (Teton County, Wyoming)
Monitoring Reports and Photo Documentation

RECLAMATION EFFORTS:

Reclamation efforts included restoration and rehabilitation of: 1) over 35 building sites, 2) over 5.5 miles of asphalt roadway, 3) two large corrals, 4) several miles of unwanted, man-made trail

Other Features & Wildlife:

Below are photographs of other features of the LSR Preserve and some wildlife that we shared the Preserve with.

NEW AQUATIC FEATURES:

New aquatic features created by PIONEER at the LSR Preserve include: 1) new Pioneer Creek, 2) a waterfall, 3) a bioswale/wetland to manage runoff from the parking lot, 4) re-contouring an existing pond to improve wildlife habitat, 5) construction of several elevated boardwalks to span sensitive areas, 6) construction of a 300-foot elevated wetland walk, 7) repair of a sod bridge which allows wildlife to cross Lake Creek. All these features allow visitors to have an personal and educational experience with nature.