A win for Munger, a model for Kelly
Victory for the Munger Mountain state lease agreement isn’t just a win for Teton County; it’s a triumph for conservation, community and education.
Last week, the State Board of Land Commissioners unanimously approved a 35-year lease plan to protect the 640-acre tract of state trust land on Munger Mountain. This decision marks a shift in an oft-contentious relationship between state land managers and Jackson Hole residents, demonstrating the power of collaborative, forward-thinking solutions.
The approval by Wyoming’s top five elected officials is a testament to the compelling vision set forth by the Jackson Hole Land Trust, Friends of Munger Mountain and the local and state elected officials. It was endorsed by a majority of county voters who approved an $8 million specific purpose excise tax item on the ballot to help conserve the land.
This plan, which ensures the land remains free from commercial development, promises to enhance recreational opportunities, control invasive species and improve habitats for elk and other wildlife. It’s a holistic approach that respects the land’s ecological importance while providing significant funding for Wyoming’s K-12 students.
As we celebrate one solution, it’s crucial to turn our attention to another pressing issue: the fate of the Kelly parcel. Another 640-acre, state-owned inholding farther to the north, the parcel is surrounded by the wildlife and viewshed of Grand Teton National Park and is entangled in a web of conditions and increasing greed among some legislators and state officials. The Legislature has tied the land’s potential sale to the National Park Service to the outcome of the Rock Springs Resource Management Plan and to a cost of $100 million, conditions that could jeopardize its permanent preservation.
The Kelly parcel is critical habitat for mule deer, pronghorn and elk, serving as a vital migration corridor and winter range. People from across Wyoming overwhelmingly have supported selling this land to Grand Teton park to ensure its forever protection. It is indeed a priceless piece of park and forest inholding due to its natural values and views. But if this public land is sold to the highest bidder for billionaires to develop, those qualities will serve not the common good, but rather just a few with the right amount of money to enjoy it privately.
The recent unanimous decision on Munger Mountain shows that Wyoming’s leaders can come together to support a cause that benefits the community, environment and education. We hope they will be able to move beyond past controversy over the Kelly parcel and apply the same cooperative spirit and cowboy sense there. Ensuring its sale to the National Park Service would be another step in preserving Wyoming’s unique and treasured landscapes for generations to come.