Committees

Resource Advisory Committee

The Bighorn National Forest is part of the Greater Rocky Mountain Resource Advisory Committee. The committee recommends projects for funding that was reauthorized under the Secure Rural Schools Act, reauthorized by Congress in 2008 and again in 2012 (Public Law 112-141). The law gives states and counties payments for four years, tied to the amount of national forest land in the county and other factors. Counties designate a portion of the funds to Title II projects which are reviewed by the committee.

There are 14 National Forests covering 25 counties represented in the Greater Rocky Mountain Resource Advisory Committee.  The committee collaborates with the Forest Service to make investments and create employment opportunities by prioritizing and implementing projects that restore and improve land health and water quality, improve the maintenance of existing infrastructure, and implement forest stewardship objectives.

Participants receive Secure Rural Schools funding and include the Rio Grande, San Juan, Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, Gunnison, Arapaho, Routt, Pike, Roosevelt, San Isabel and White River National Forests in Colorado and the Medicine-Bow, Bighorn and Shoshone National Forests in Wyoming. Previous projects in the region included meadow restoration in wetland areas, wildlife habitat improvements, and installing Aquatic Organism Passages to replace undersized culverts.

Developed during the 2005 Revised Land and Resource Managment Plan effort, the Bighorn Steering Committee actively meets to ensure Forest management adheres to the requirements in the plan.  The committee is made up of county commissioners and partner agency representatives such as NRCS, conservation districts, and Wyoming Game and Fish.  The committee gathers in the spring to review Bighorn National Forest work planned for the season and meets again in the late summer or fall for a visit to project areas in the Forest.  Committee meetings are open to the public.