At first glance, it may look like the big empty. But watch long enough, and the quadrant of sagebrush steppe habitat in western Wyoming known as the Golden Triangle will come to life.
Male sage grouse strut and bounce in their bizarre mating dance. Balsamroot and phlox flowers unfurl in colorful carpets. Pronghorn steal through the sage, while wind gusts stir up the rhizome’s unmistakable tang.
“As the American West continues to change, the Golden Triangle is a reminder of where we came from and an example of what public lands can be,” said Evan Barrientos, a photographer from northern Colorado whose photo essay underlines the remarkable aspects of the place.
The 367,000-acre landscape, located roughly between the points of Farson, South Pass City and Boulder, contains multitudes, Barrientos observes: streams, wetlands, forests and most predominantly, sagebrush steppe. With little development, wildlife have held their ground, and ranchers graze their cattle. It’s considered the best remaining sagebrush steppe habitat in the world.
Another superlative: The world’s densest population of greater sage grouse resides in the Golden Triangle, according to Barrientos. Thousands of mule deer, elk and pronghorn migrate through. It’s home to the sage thrasher, a small grayish bird that is one of eight vertebrate species that require sagebrush habitat to survive.
Supporting the wildlife are bunchgrasses, flowers and sagebrush.
Indigenous people such as the Eastern Shoshone, Cheyenne, Crow and Shoshone-Bannock have occupied the landscape for thousands of years.
Though relatively unknown to the public, some 93% of the Golden Triangle is public land, Barrientos notes.
“The Golden Triangle is a stunning example of how [public lands] can look and function when managed well,” he wrote in a piece accompanying his photos.
Across the U.S., development has fragmented sagebrush steppe habitat and invasive grasses have degraded it, Barrientos notes. The Golden Triangle stands as a stark exception.
“I created this photo essay to draw attention to this overlooked and invaluable place,” he wrote to WyoFile. “As the sagebrush steppe disappears, management of public land in the United States is becoming simultaneously more important and contentious. The Golden Triangle is an example of what public lands can provide when kept healthy.”
Maybe a pat on the back for the folks who’ve been grazing their sheep and cattle on this landscape for the last century wouldn’t be out of place.
Beautiful and thorough photo essay piece- thank you for putting this together. Agreed that it’s important to highlight how well-managed public lands can benefit our environment and citizens alike.
Bravo, great pics and article, Evan.The sage step is an endangered eco-system.
Excellent photos and crucial information about preserving this critical habitat that is constantly changing and being threatened by natural and more importantly man created decisions and intrusions in this region. So important to protect and preserve this incredible land and Wildlife of Wyoming !
The most important thing about Wyoming are its people and wild lands. Once you ruin our native habitats, it’s never the same. Where did people go to during the covid? Wild lands.
AWESOME: With respect to the Rock Springs RMP revision everyone will probably overlook the economic benefit of keeping the triangle conserved. My brother informed me that the float industry below Yellowtail on the Bighorn River generates $90-120 million in economic activity. The Governor’s office completely overlooked the economic impact of the Marton ranch purchase which could easily add over $100 million in economic benefit in Carbon and Natrona Counties. Instead, they opposed the purchase claiming it would reduce the property taxes by $9,000!!! Oil and gas, trona, wind, solar, coal and fusion aren’t the only contributors to the economy in Sweetwater County – the outdoor recreation industry would generate considerable economic benefit from the triangle being conserved – in the future, it will prove to be damn good business to protect the wildness of Wyoming and people will come here to see the unspoiled wide open spaces – and, a dollar value can be calculated for that contributor to the economy just like the other economic activities. Lots of reasons to preserve this area – and it doesn’t have to mean grazing will be eliminated – the agricultural business would be continued. Please note that the Marton family kept the grazing rights on the 36,000 acre ranch while the entire area was opened up for the public’s use including 8.2 miles of Platte River frontage. Wyoming’s cowboy heritage could be preserved too within the triangle – on horseback of course. Grazing is not a “surface occupancy” of the federal lands whereas wind, solar, oil and gas, trona, etc. are actual occupancies. It will prove out that grazing is one of the lower impacts on the federal lands compared to actual occupancy.
Cheeky little devils, those grouse!
Now that’s the Wyoming I grew up loving!
I continue to marvel at this piece of ground and, while it is in pretty good shape, think of the many things we could do to enhance it for the wildlife that use it. Thank you for bringing it back to light! It is one of the most important wildlife areas in the state!!
Wonderful photos, Evan. Let’s hope when you go back in 20, or even 10, the Golden Triangle looks the same or even better.
thanks for the reminder of the beauty and importance of this ecotype.