Exchange Details
Details of proposed Notch Peak Ranch – Devil’s Canyon Land Exchange:
New developments are under consideration which may alter the following details of the original exchange proposal. They are noted.
United States acquires from Notch Peak Ranch
- 2,979 acres of the Devil’s Canyon Ranch in Bighorn County, Wyoming. Premier outdoor recreation land, new
public access.
- 320-acre Rattlesnake Draw parcel adjacent to the Laramie Peak roadless area of the Medicine Bow National Forest in Albany County, Wyoming. Significant elk and mule deer habitat.
- 360-acre Soldier Creek parcel and riparian lands straddling the Harris Park Road in the Medicine Bow National Forest in Albany County, Wyoming. Significant elk and mule deer habitat and riparian habitat.
- 124-acre Tecumseh Claims parcel near Continental Divide and Bridger Peak in the Medicine Bow National Forest in Carbon County, Wyoming. Significant elk and mule deer habitat and riparian habitat.
Total: 3,783 acres offered to the United States*
Notch Peak Ranch acquires from Forest Service and BLM
Scattered and isolated Forest Service (approximately 4,597.35 acres) and BLM (approximately 483.49 acres) lands in 17 separated parcels in Albany County, Wyoming. All of the parcels are either: adjacent to, intermingled with, or partially/entirely surrounded by private lands owned by Notch Peak Ranch. Many of the parcels have recently been burned by wildfire. Most are difficult to access and administer, given their scattered, narrowly configured, or isolated nature. The proposed exchange is consistent with the Medicine Bow National Forest Management Plan.
On November 9, 2005 Pat Broe announced a donation from the above acreage which will give back to the public approximately 1,100 acres of the Reese Mountain parcel.
Total: 5,080.84 acres acquired by Notch Peak Ranch*
*The exchange must be of equal value.
Additional provisions
- Exchange value of Devil's Canyon Ranch parcel going to BLM cannot exceed $1,485,000. If it appraises higher, any additional value will be donated to the U.S.
- Exchange provisions will require Notch Peak Ranch to grant a permanent conservation easement on a large portion of the land it acquires limiting future uses to agricultural, silvicultural/wildfire management, recreational, wildlife or open space purposes, with an emphasis on bighorn sheep conservation. The easement requirement will not reduce the Federal land value for appraisal or exchange purposes.
- Any cash equalization money received by the United States will be placed in the Sisk Act fund to acquire additional National Forest lands in Wyoming.
- Devil’s Canyon lands acquired by BLM will be permanently withdrawn from mining, mineral leasing and other forms of appropriation.
- Standard pre-exchange clearances will be performed prior to exchange consummation.
