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Teton County Commissioners are now counting on U.S. Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) to transfer most of the nearly square mile of land in total through an act of Congress.
A unanimous vote on Aug. 5 sets up five parcels totaling about 400 acres to be included in legislation. They make up nearly half of the scattered land the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) owns in Teton County.
The riverside property is already public but relatively inaccessible. The BLM has wanted to hand over the parcels to local control and “dispose” of them for over two decades, saying they’re too far away from its Pinedale office.
The most contentious land expected to be included in legislation is known as parcel 9/10, which borders the Snake River levy, state Highway 22 and the Walton Ranch.
The ranch’s reportedly billionaire landowner operates a grazing lease on the parcel. The ranch is represented by attorney Stefan Fodor, who, alongside pathway advocates, pushed commissioners for the legislative route. They say it’s the best option to move forward with an overdue and urgent transfer.
“I can’t guarantee the Walton ranch will remain involved for nine more years, nine more months, or nine more days,” Fodor told commissioners. “It’s time for this body to make a decision.”
Fodor represented the ranch when it sought to buy 23 acres of the riverfront land, backtracking after a public outcry.
Executive Director of the Snake River Fund, Orion Hatch, disagrees.
He has long advocated for the transfer, and at last week’s meeting, told commissioners that the legislative route skirts necessary public scrutiny.
“Why should any private entity dictate in perpetuity how 340 million Americans enjoy their public land?” Hatch asked.
He would have preferred a public process through the Recreation and Public Purposes Act. Hatch and other environmental advocates like the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance hope to keep public pressure on the expected legislation.
Despite environmental and public concerns, county commissioners feel they struck a deal.
The Walton Ranch gets to keep a smaller grazing lease in exchange for the potential to secure a pathway along highway 22, should it be expanded to up to five lanes. The deal also includes area for recreation, wildlife and the potential burial of power lines.
“Once we have a wider highway, we do want to ensure that we have a viable pathway that cements our place as a nationally, in fact, an internationally renowned bicycle-friendly community,” County Commission Chair Mark Newcomb said.
Barrasso is prepared to introduce legislation as soon as this year, according to Fodor.
This story has been updated to reflect that the Greater Yellowstone Coalition did not provide a comment on the land transfer. A group employee who commented was representing his own private interests. -Ed.
