Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit

Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Name	Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Established	1950s
Location	Laramie, Wyoming
Affiliations	United States Geological Survey; University of Wyoming; United States Fish and Wildlife Service; Wyoming Game and Fish Department; Alumni associations

Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit is a research unit embedded at the University of Wyoming in Laramie that conducts applied science on freshwater fisheries, terrestrial wildlife, and conservation biology. The unit operates within a network of Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units created to bridge United States Geological Survey science, state natural resource agencies such as the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and federal partners including the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Its work informs management of species such as cutthroat trout, pronghorn, elk, and sage grouse across landscapes from the Rocky Mountains to the Great Plains.

History

The unit traces origins to the national Cooperative Research Unit Program initiated in the 1930s and expanded post‑World War II under leaders connected to the Bureau of Biological Survey and later the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Early collaborations involved faculty from the University of Wyoming and state biologists from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, with funding and scientific coordination from the United States Geological Survey and programmatic guidance influenced by federal conservation actions such as the North American Wildlife Conservation Model. Notable historical partners include the National Wildlife Federation and regional agencies in the Intermountain West, with projects addressing fisheries restoration after interventions linked to the Civilian Conservation Corps era and landscape changes following the Homestead Acts and energy development in Wyoming.

Mission and Objectives

The unit's mission aligns with the Cooperative Research Unit Program to provide science for decision-makers through applied research, technical assistance, and training. Objectives emphasize producing peer-reviewed science for species management (e.g., cutthroat trout, brown trout), advancing population ecology methods used by agencies like the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and supporting policy-relevant assessments related to public lands managed under laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act and statutes administered by the Bureau of Land Management.

Organization and Governance

Governance derives from a partnership model involving the United States Geological Survey, the University of Wyoming, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and funding contributors including federal competitive programs and state interagency agreements. The unit is staffed by federal scientists, university faculty joint appointees affiliated with departments such as the College of Engineering and Applied Science (University of Wyoming) and the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, graduate students supported by agencies like the National Science Foundation and project sponsors including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Advisory roles have included representatives from conservation NGOs such as The Nature Conservancy and regional entities like the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

Research Programs and Projects

Research spans aquatic systems, terrestrial species, and landscape ecology. Representative topics include population dynamics of trout influenced by restoration policies informed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recovery plans, habitat selection studies for greater sage‑grouse tied to Sagebrush Ecosystem Initiative priorities, and movement ecology of pronghorn with implications for transportation planning and wildlife corridors associated with projects by the Federal Highway Administration. Methods integrate telemetry technologies used in studies funded by agencies such as the Department of Defense for training area conservation, genetic analyses comparable to work cited in conservation genetics literature, and spatial modeling techniques aligned with Geographic Information Systems applications in natural resource management. Past and ongoing collaborations include invasive species research responding to issues tracked by the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force and fisheries assessments informing restoration programs connected to the Bonneville Power Administration and regional water resource stakeholders.

Education and Student Training

The unit provides graduate training through thesis and dissertation research with students enrolled in the University of Wyoming graduate programs, often co‑advised by unit scientists and faculty from departments such as the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management. Students receive experiential training during internships sponsored by partners including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and NGOs like Trout Unlimited. Alumni have moved into careers at institutions such as the U.S. Geological Survey, state wildlife agencies, academic appointments, and conservation organizations including World Wildlife Fund and Audubon Society affiliates.

Partnerships and Collaborations

Strategic partnerships extend to federal agencies (e.g., United States Geological Survey, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management), state agencies (e.g., Wyoming Game and Fish Department), academic units (e.g., University of Wyoming colleges and research centers), and non‑governmental organizations (e.g., The Nature Conservancy, Trout Unlimited). Multijurisdictional projects often involve interstate coordination with agencies and entities from neighboring states such as Montana, Colorado, Idaho, and South Dakota, and engage national funders including the National Science Foundation and private foundations related to natural resource conservation.

Facilities and Field Sites

Physical facilities are located on the University of Wyoming campus in Laramie, with laboratory space, telemetry and molecular analysis equipment, and meeting venues used for workshops with partners like the Western Governors' Association. Field sites span Wyoming ecosystems including alpine watersheds in the Wind River Range, sagebrush steppe across the Red Desert and Great Divide Basin, and riparian systems on rivers such as the North Platte River and Green River. Long‑term monitoring plots and collaborative restoration sites have been established in cooperation with entities such as the Bureau of Land Management and local conservation districts, supporting applied studies that inform management at scales from state to interstate compacts like those administered under western water law.

Category:University of Wyoming