Colorado College’s 15th annual Conservation in the West Poll, released on today, reveals Wyoming voters strongly favor conserving public lands over expanding energy development, matching the highest levels seen in the poll’s history. Conducted from January 3rd to 17th, the survey included 400 Wyoming voters among 3,316 across eight Mountain West states. It shows 55 percent of Wyomingites want elected officials to prioritize protecting water, air, and wildlife habitats while keeping public lands open for recreation, compared to 38 percent who support maximizing oil and gas production.
The poll highlights growing opposition to reducing public land protections. Eighty percent of Wyoming voters now oppose shrinking national monuments, up from 75 percent in January 2017. Fifty-eight percent reject transferring national public lands to state control, compared to 53 percent seven years ago. Specific proposals like removing protections for drilling or mining face 59 percent opposition, while 53 percent oppose easing Endangered Species Act rules for rare plants and animals.
Wyomingites back measures to safeguard natural resources. Ninety-four percent support requiring oil and gas companies to cover cleanup costs, and 87 percent favor mandating updated equipment to cut methane leaks. Eighty-one percent want drilling limited to high-yield areas, and 86 percent support maintaining or raising royalty rates for oil companies. Eighty percent also value preserving dark skies for stargazing, and 76 percent want Native American tribes to have more say in managing culturally significant sites.
Despite economic pressures, with 72 percent worried about rising living costs, 86 percent prefer housing development near existing communities over selling public lands. Federal agencies like the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service earn approval ratings from 53 to 83 percent, and 70 percent oppose funding cuts to them. Seventy-six percent trust career professionals like rangers and scientists over political appointees for land management decisions.
The survey shows deep ties to public lands, with 82 percent of Wyoming voters visiting them three or more times last year. Concerns persist about habitat loss, wildlife declines, and water shortages, with over half viewing these as serious issues. Support for climate action is notable, with 52 percent backing carbon pollution reduction and 96 percent favoring controlled burns to prevent wildfires.
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