The Nature Conservancy in Wyoming - Statewide Poll: What Wyoming Wants

Wyoming voters are seriously concerned about the loss of our state's family farms and ranches.

Support for Impact Fees

Fully 74% support “creating a state law authorizing impact fees on developers who build in areas where development may impact water, wildlife or working
ranches.”

Survey Information

The poll was conducted May 12-15 by Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin & Associates, a firm associated with Democratic candidates, and Public Opinion Strategies, a firm associated with Republicans. Telephone interviews were conducted with 600 registered voters across Wyoming. The margin of error was 4 percentage points.

Wyoming voters want to preserve “what makes Wyoming Wyoming,” as one person put it, according to a statewide survey.

Results from the 2007 polling indicate that Wyoming voters strongly support dedicating additional state revenues to conservation. More specifically, the vast majority of voters support the Legislature in funding the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust to the tune of $200 million by 2010.

These key findings are drawn from survey research conducted on behalf of The Ruckelshaus Institute of Environment and Natural Resources, The Wyoming Stock Growers Association, The Nature Conservancy and The Trust for Public Land in May 2007.

The poll showed tremendous emphasis on keeping water in the state, protecting our family farms and ranches and preserving wide open spaces and scenic vistas.

Wyoming voters are much more positive about the direction of their state when compared to voters throughout the rest of the country, largely due in part to the booming economy. But voters do believe that during the boom times it makes sense to invest in protecting the state’s water, wildlife, family farms and ranches for their children and grandchildren.

Key findings of the survey:

73% believe preserving our wide, open spaces and scenic vistas is important.
69% support fully funding Wyoming's Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust by 2010.
86% say keeping and storing more Wyoming water in the state is important.
74% say that they benefit personally “from the presence of ranches and farms in Wyoming.”
40% are seriously concerned about the availability of water for wildlife and recreation.
44% are seriously concerned about natural areas and ranchlands being split up by new housing developments.
74% favor Wyoming authorizing local impact fees.