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Who We Are
Our membership includes property owners and other interested individuals within a five county area in northeastern Wyoming.
Meet the Members

We value the unique landscape of which we are privileged to be a part.

The conservation strategies we investigate, implement, and promote are responsible, science-based, long-term, and landscape in their scale.

Our History

TBGPEA Milestones

  • 1999 – A group of landowners forms the TBGPEA. The Association’s purpose is to demonstrate effective stewardship of natural resources through private, voluntary, collaborative efforts, within a context of sustainable economic and social activities and the preservation of cultural values.
  • 2001 – The Association hosts its first symposium to gather and present what is currently known about the history, ecology, and economy of the Thunder Basin region.
  • 2002 – The Association incorporates as a non-profit organization.
  • 2003 – The Association begins an in-depth baseline assessment of a one million acre pilot area, examining current habitat conditions and wildlife populations.
  • 2004 – The Association hosts its second symposium to present a draft of the Association’s ecosystem management plan and gather additional information.
  • 2004 – The Association receives technology and conservation awards from the National Grasslands Council.
  • 2006 – The Association begins annual vegetation monitoring. By 2014, the Association has established over 600 permanent transects on a variety of ecological sites.
  • 2006 – The Association begins annual wildlife monitoring. In 2014, the Association is gathering data on sage-grouse, mountain plovers, burrowing owls, ferruginous hawks and other raptors, black-tailed prairie dogs and other species of interest.
  • 2006–2007 – The Association conducts a series of research studies to determine the relative benefits of fire, interseeding, herbicide, and prescribed grazing practices as management tools.
  • 2008 – The Association begins a series of large-scale herbicide applications for annual brome (cheatgrass) control. By 2014, over 35,000 acres have been treated for cheatgrass control.
  • 2009 – The Association hosts its first agency meeting, bringing together Association members and representatives from interested federal, state, and local agencies, to share information and discuss common goals.
  • 2009 – The Association begins working on the development of a landscape-scale, incentives-based conservation strategy, working in conjunction with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
  • 2010 – The Association receives the Excellence in Rangeland Stewardship Award from the Society for Range Management–Wyoming Section.
  • 2010 – The Association receives the Grasslands Prairie Partner Award from the National Grasslands Council.
  • 2012 – The Association receives the Citizen’s Conservation Achievement Award from The Wildlife Society–Central Mountains and Plains Section.
  • 2013 – A long-term partnership begins with USDA–ARS Rangeland Resources Research Unit (Cheyenne, WY). Initial research focuses on fire behavior and associated impacts. The full conservation Strategy is submitted to the US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS).
  • 2014 – Research expands with the creation of the Thunder Basin Research Initiative (TBRI), in partnership with USDA–ARS and University of Wyoming. The Strategy undergoes major revision based on FWS and solicitor review.
  • 2015 – Colorado State University joins the TBRI. A region-wide research coordination meeting is held with USDA–Forest Service. FWS Strategy review continues.
  • 2016 – Final changes to the Strategy are made and published in the Federal Register for public comment.
  • 2017 – Final Strategy documents are signed on March 18 and implementation begins.
  • 2018 – Boise State University joins the TBRI. Social science research begins.
  • 2019 – TBGPEA is named University of Wyoming College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Outreach Partner of the Year.