Page:Land Protection Plan - Wyoming Toad Conservation Area.pdf/35

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In the Laramie Plains, as in much of the West, communities tend to be located near riparian areas. Planning for expected development and other land use changes is needed for conserving wildlife habitat in the area. The Wyoming toad, along with an estimated 90 percent of the total wildlife species and 70 percent of bird species in Wyoming (Nicholoff 2003), uses wetlands and riparian habitats either daily or seasonally.

Population growth in the State of Wyoming is expected to continue. Between 2000 and 2005, Wyoming ranked 31st in population growth, but from 2006 to 2007, Wyoming jumped to ninth in population growth (Hulme et al. 2009). From 1978 to 2007, total land in agriculture in Wyoming declined from 33.6 million acres to 30.2 million acres, a decrease of more than 10 percent. Albany County alone saw a 6-percent decrease in farm lands from 2002 to 2007 (USDA 2007). However, much of the residential growth in Wyoming is considered rural, with a housing density of 1 unit per 40 acres (Hulme et al. 2009). Increasingly, these exurban homes are often second homes. From 1990 to 2000, Wyoming saw a 30-percent increase in second home buying, and 7.2 percent of total housing units in Albany County are second homes. People are drawn to the open space, abundant wildlife, and recreational opportunities that are available, but exurbanization leads to increased habitat fragmentation and a shift from traditional agriculture practices.

Wyoming ranked seventh in production of crude oil and second in the production of natural gas in 2010, with production occurring throughout the State (Petroleum Association of Wyoming 2012). Also, Wyoming ranks 10th in the nation in proven reserves of crude oil and second in proven reserves of natural gas. Proven reserves are the amount estimated to be recoverable from well-established or known reservoirs. Because of high proven reserves within the State and the increased nationwide need for energy, oil and gas development is likely to continue throughout the State.