July 2021 - 40

The services division works on a variety of projects, including this fish barrier constructed on West Pass Creek in the Sheridan region. The barrier prevents other trout species from moving
upstream and mixing with native Yellowstone cutthroat trout. (WGFD photo)
T
40 | July 2021
he Wyoming Game and Fish Department
is full of dedicated personnel who
work tirelessly to fulfill the mission of
" conserving wildlife, serving people. "
There are some positions within Game and Fish
that instantly come to mind. For example, when
people see a green truck or a red shirt in the field,
the first thought is a game warden, wildlife biologist
or fish biologist is in the area.
There's another group of people within Game
and Fish that works largely behind the scenes
to serve the department's mission. The services
division oversees and maintains Wyoming Game
and Fish Commission-owned lands, property and
infrastructure throughout the state, information
technology and the Wildlife Forensics and Fish
Health Laboratory.
" Whether it's engineering a new regional office,
farming land for habitat and access, obtaining public
access opportunities, maintaining our Commissionowned
facilities, ensuring our fish populations remain
healthy, providing wildlife forensics or keeping the
Game and Fish on the leading edge when it comes
to IT, the services division staff retain the highest
levels of passion and commitment to the resource
everyday they wake up, " said Eric Wiltanger, services
division chief.
Consisting of six branches each dedicated to
unique and important roles, the services division
serves wildlife and the public with a vast amount of
expertise and knowledge.
Lands
The lands branch administers the nearly 500,000
acres of Commission-owned and managed lands on
behalf of the Commission and Game and Fish. Each
property and lands project is unique and comes with
different challenges.
It is the expectation of the Commission that all
Commission-owned lands are dealt with under the
existing policy guidelines as well as in compliance
with state and federal law. The Commission is
directed and empowered to acquire lands and
waters in the name of Wyoming by purchase, lease,
agreement, gift or device, not including powers of
eminent domain, etc. The lands branch functions as
an extension of the Commission and the Director's
Office in this regard in order to accomplish this
portion of the Commission's powers and duties
granted by statute.
The lands branch conducts the negotiations and
processes, legal documentation, agreement renewals,
easements, leases and acquires permits associated with
effectively managing the Commission's assets. This
includes nearly 500,000 acres of Wildlife Habitat
Management Areas and Public Access Areas.
The lands branch consists of one branch chief
and two lands coordinators. This branch is the

July 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of July 2021