Two organizations give updates at July chamber luncheon

On Monday, July 21, the Lovell Area Chamber of Commerce held their monthly chamber luncheon at the Mustang Cafe. Bill Hayes of Big Horn Citizens for Economic Development and Rick Tryder of the Bureau of Land Management Cody Field Office presented updates on local projects.

Up first, Hayes addressed the chamber members present about the development of a conservation guide for Big Horn County that is meant to be a comprehensive document that combines information from a variety of agencies into one easy-to-read publication.

The guide is available free to all Big Horn County residents and is also available online.

It contains information from BLM, Forest Service, National Park Service, conservation districts, Wyoming Game and Fish, the University of Wyoming Extension Service, WyDOT, sheriff’s office, Weed and Pest and more.

It also explains rules and regulations and contains safety tips for travelling. 

Town administrator Jed Nebel told the group that the guidebooks have been very beneficial at Town Hall when people move to the area to give them information and answer questions they may have.

“We had a stack of the books over there, and now there is only one left,” Nebel added. “It has a lot of good information for newcomers.”

Another project Hayes’ group is working on is the building of a dinosaur museum in Greybull. While still just in the fundraising stage, Hayes believes it will be another good attraction to have in the area, and the group welcomes any information regarding dinosaur bones, fossils, petrified palm trees and the like from the communities.

Up next, Tryder went through a slideshow of photos of projects that the BLM has done and is working on in the area. 

“We have been busy the last few weeks,” Tryder said, “both on this side of the basin as well as the other side.”

He showed before and after photos of the walkway that leads up to the John Blue cabin, campsites at Five Springs Campground and the Rainbow Canyon interpretive site and the fossil table that is now there.

He said they continue to work with WyDOT with the hopes that more signage can be installed along the roads so that visitors and travelers know where to find these hidden gems.

Tryder mentioned some work being done along the Crystal Creek Road for access to the Big Horn River between there and the causeway. The Cody Field Office is focusing on river access between Lovell and Greybull and the 37 river miles along that stretch to provide more access points.

He discussed the plan to revisit Darnell Hills, but due to rainfall this year, the topography and terrain has prevented work in that area. But improvements have been made, with more in the process.

“We look forward to seeing some of these project through,” he added. “I think it is great, not only for Lovell but for the surrounding communities, and we are looking forward to providing more access for more recreational opportunities throughout the region.”

The next chamber luncheon is scheduled for noon on Monday, Aug. 18, at the Mustang Cafe.