Sommers-Grindstone ranches protect future for ranching, wildlife, fishing access, cultural sites
UPPER GREEN RIVER VALLEY – A massive land-protection agreement in Sublette County closed Thursday, conserving nearly 19,000 acres of historic agricultural land, critical wildlife habitat and iconic view sheds.
The Sommers Grindstone Conservation Project is one of the most extensive private lands conservation efforts in Wyoming’s history and includes four separate conservation easements and public fishing access on nearly five miles of the Green River.
The landmark agreements of the Sommers-Grindstone project were made possible by the vision of landowners Albert Sommers, his sister Jonita Sommers and Maggie Miller of Grindstone Cattle Co. The project is a partnership between the landowners, the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission and the Wyoming Stock Growers Agricultural Land Trust.
“This easement will allow the land to remain undeveloped, which is a benefit to cattle and wildlife, and it will allow us to pass our ranch along to another generation of ranchers,” Albert Sommers said. “We are trying to create a future for this ranch.”