The Upper North Platte

The North Platte River Valley is one of the best kept secrets in the West.  It is a recreational Mecca for outdoor enthusiasts, including anglers, wildlife watchers, hunters, cyclists and others. The Valley, framed by the Snowy and Sierra Madre mountain ranges, is sustained by the waters of the North Platte River.  It provides abundant wildlife habitat that supports herds of pronghorn, mule deer and elk and blue ribbon trout fishing in the North Platte River.  The area is also noted for its vast landscapes, unaltered view sheds that maintain numerous large working ranches and the three small communities of Saratoga, Encampment and Riverside.

Currently, the Valley’s economy is dependent upon  on tourism and agriculture, but that is changing with the emergence of energy development in the Valley. Because of energy development, the Valley and its communities are facing dramatic changes, ones that are likely to alter the character of the place forever.  Significant energy projects are occurring within and near the Valley.  Those projects include a thousand turbine wind farm in the Valley itself; a coal-gasification plant to the northeast near Medicine Bow; and thousands of additional oil and gas wells of to the west of the Valley.  These projects will bring benefits such as additional jobs and tax revenues, but also impacts such as the loss of wildlife habitat and open space.

Voices of the Valley

Passionate about preserving the character of the Valley and the values of its residents, a group of citizens formed Voices of the Valley (VoV) in 2010 to facilitate community dialogue and a  better understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing the Valley. VoV is a public forum for all citizens who respect and value the natural and cultural resources of the Valley.

VoV’s mission is to promote education and awareness of natural resource issues that affect the quality of life enjoyed by the residents of the Valley as well as those who recreate there. VoV supports healthy landscapes with diverse habitat for wildlife and clean and abundant water to sustain the people, wildlife and fish living in the Valley. VoV also supports economically diverse and prosperous communities while encouraging responsible energy and industrial development through best management practices, public participation, education, compromise and practical solutions.