LANDER - The Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust board will consider a variety of wildlife preservation and habitat improvement projects Monday, including several large conservation easements.

The trust board will review and decide on 37 projects that have already been subject to site visits from trust officials this fall.

In all, applicants are asking for nearly $9 million in funds from the trust, but the board will only be able to allocate about $5 million to $6 million this time around, according to Delaine Roberts, chairman of the board.

Among the projects to be considered are conservation easements in Goshen, Fremont and Sublette counties, where applicants are asking for anywhere from $39,000 to $1.7 million from the trust board.

The board uses its annual December meeting to allocate funds for so-called large projects - those that receive more than $200,000. All projects funded at this level or above need legislative approval, by law.

Fourteen of the 37 projects being considered Monday would, if approved, exceed that threshold.

Some of the large, non-easement projects up for review include a proposed removal of invasive, water-sucking salt cedar from along streams in Washakie County, the revival of aspen habitats in the Wyoming and Laramie ranges and a deer crossing project north of Baggs, said Bob Budd, executive director of the trust.

The state Legislature created the wildlife trust fund in 2005, with the support of Gov. Dave Freudenthal, and with the intent of eventually endowing the trust with $200 million.

The total endowment, after last winter's legislative session, is about $88 million. At this level, the trust earns enough in its interest-bearing accounts to contribute about $4 million a year to projects designed to improve irrigation systems, to preserve or revive plant, animal and fish habitats and otherwise conserve natural resources throughout the state, Budd said.

The trust will be able this year to allocate more than its basic yield thanks to a contribution from the state Legislature during last session, Budd said.

Trust fund contributions are matched and usually are exceeded by other private and public entities. Currently, on average, outside groups and individuals contribute about $6 for every $1 spent by the trust, Budd said.

Once the trust is fully funded, it should be self-sufficient, according to the law, allocating money for conservation and improvement projects solely from interest earned.

In his supplemental budget this year Freudenthal is recommending the Legislature add an additional $20 million to the wildlife trust, during the coming legislative session.

The governor made several visits to wildlife trust projects this year, where he has repeatedly touted the value of the fund.

In a statement released through his press secretary on Thursday, Freudenthal said the success of the trust thus far has been its ability to forge partnerships between the state, the counties, local conservation districts, industry and landowners."

The board has taken its job seriously, Freudenthal said, and has funded a diverse set of projects in 22 of Wyoming's 23 counties.

"I appreciate the support that the Legislature has given the trust and hope that it will continue so that we can keep investing in the state's natural resources, improving them, and making them better for the long run," the governor said.

In May, Republican John Turner of Moose, former president of the Wyoming Senate, and a previous director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in front of an audience of sportsmen's groups, challenged the state Legislature to increase the trust fund to a minimum of $1 billion.

"We have a chance to do something special, before it's too late," Turner told the audience.

Although the trust has generally garnered support since its inception, not all legislators are sold on the idea, and some are concerned about the practice of contributing state money for the purchase of easements.

Rep. Bob Brechtel, R-Casper, said as a lawmaker he is intent on making sure the Legislature "meets all the needs of government" before looking to add more funds to the trust this year.

"I think I would be a little bit uncommitted about making (the trust fund) a first priority. We (already) put a lot of money into this thing," Brechtel said. "I'm a little concerned about things like health care and insurance and keeping our doctors. I think it's too early for us as a legislative body to say, yeah, we really support funding this to any great extent right now."

State lawmakers should probably think about the needs of the people, first, Brechtel said.

Some legislators, such as Rep. Mark Semlek, R-Moorcroft, have previously told the Star-Tribune they worry about the long-term ramifications of establishing a trust fund to allocate state dollars.

"I resist the trust fund concept in state government, except for savings, as a means of providing a guaranteed revenue stream for any program or project," Semlek said. "I believe it should be a legislative prerogative to fund state government and have the trust in future legislators to review spending priorities and expect them to do the right thing."

Many other lawmakers have repeatedly expressed vigorous support for "fully funding" the trust.

The trust meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. in Douglas at the Holiday Inn Express.

Contact environment reporter Chris Merrill at (307) 267-6722 or chris.merrill@trib.com

Conservation easements funded by the trust since its inception:

Currant Creek - Southwest Wyoming

Trust contribution: $150,000.

Total estimated investment (including outside funding sources): $700,000

Peterson Easement - Southwest Wyoming Trust contribution: $150,000.

Total investment: $600,000

Diamond H Easement - Southwest Wyoming Trust contribution: $300,000.

Total investment $2 million.

Carney Ranch Easement - Western Wyoming Trust contribution: $200,000.

Total investment: $6 million.

Cross Lazy Two Easement - Western Wyoming Trust contribution: $400,000.

Total investment: $4.5 million.

MJ Ranch - Western Wyoming

Trust contribution: $143,171.

Total investment: $1.4 million.

Cottonwood Ranch - Western Wyoming

Trust contribution: $195,000.

Total investment: $1.2 million.

Hansen Ranch Easement - Central Wyoming Trust contribution: $100,000.

Total investment: $1.6 million.

Double Bar E Ranch - Western Wyoming

Trust contribution: $185,000.

Total cost: $1.6 million.

Knapp Ranch Easement - Northwest Wyoming Trust contribution: $112,500.

Total investment: $250,000.

Gooseberry Creek Watershed project (three easements) - Northwest Wyoming Trust contribution: $160,000.

Flying A Ranch Easement - Central Wyoming Trust contribution: $190,000.

Total investment: $1 million.

Ladder Livestock Conservation easement - Southern Wyoming Trust contribution: $300,000.

Total investment: $2.5 million.

Clarendon-Morrison Conservation easement - Northern Wyoming Trust contribution: $185,000.

Total investment: $750,000.

Total contribution for conservation easements: $2.77 million.

Estimated total value for easements: >$24 million.

Source: Bob Budd, Executive Director, Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust Fund.]]->