FREMONT ISLAND:

Fremont Island is located about five miles north of Antelope Island and is the only privately owned island on the Great Salt Lake. It consists of approximately 3,000 acres, has year-round artesian well and spring water sources, and has an established history of providing homes for sheep, cattle, horses, bison, birds and other wildlife.

Island Properties LLC, a group that is mostly controlled by the Richards family, currently owns the island. The Richards family purchased the island in the 1960’s and has used it predominantly for sheep grazing, hunting, and recreation. It is currently leased to a group that runs commercial hunts for bison, sheep and birds.

Over the years some members of the family have developed a love for the island and are intrigued by the idea of protecting its natural character by turning it into a wild horse preserve. On the other hand, success of this project is also impacted by projected economics of potential future development spurred by the fast-growing population of the nearby Wasatch Front. A few years ago Hooper City, located east of the island, included Fremont in its incorporated boundaries in anticipation of future tax revenues as the island is developed for commercial and residential uses.

WILD HORSE PRESERVE CONCEPT:

The Fremont Island Wild Horse Preserve (FIWHP) is one of our most important current projects. The goal of the Fremont Island Wild Horse Preserve is to create in perpetuity a natural horse preserve that will benefit wild horses, and also protect and enhance many of the other natural features and values of the island. Creating a perpetual preserve will also include preserving native habitat for birds and other wildlife, improving rangeland conditions to benefit both horses and wildlife, and allowing visitation and access only to the degree that it does not degrade the horses’ wild experience, Fremont Island’s wildlife, or the existing and restored native habitat.

BLM wild horse specialists, range analysts, and wild horse enthusiasts have visited the island and stated that it will provide excellent habitat for a well-managed wild horse herd. The concept is to release a small, sterile herd (early estimate 25-30 head) onto the island. They will be allowed to roam the island freely with exception of a few sensitive areas that may be restricted. We want to emphasize that the objectives and success of this project is not about sheer numbers of wild horses living on Fremont Island. Rather, balancing the needs of many species, improving and maintaining a healthy rangeland, and providing a natural wild horse and wildlife sanctuary will determine success.

In addition to helping a select herd of America’s wild horses, we also envision that permanently preserving the island will be beneficial in a number of different ways including:

o Preservation of important Great Salt Lake ecosystems

o Preservation of the Island in perpetuity

o Preservation of open-space

o Providing the public the opportunity to see wild horses and wild life

o Preservation and enhancement of important animal and bird habitat

o Increased visitation to Antelope Island State Park

o Increased awareness of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) effort in managing America’s wild horses

o Increased exposure to the BLM’s wild horse adoption program

o Increased public awareness of the BLM’s need to find permanent homes for thousands of displaced wild horses that have been removed from their existing natural range

o Opportunities to study and practice a unique rangeland restoration

o Protection of historical Native American and pioneer artifacts and historic sites

PROJECT MANAGEMENT:

We envision the creation of the following two groups to create and manage the vision of this project:

Board of Directors

Members: Representatives from Wild Horses of America Foundation, Bureau of Land Management, and possibly Utah State Parks.

Mission: This group will set the overall direction of the project and will oversee broad goals and management. More specifically, Wild Horses of America Foundation in conjunction with the BLM will manage issues with regard to the wild horses and habitat, etc. (Antelope state Park may assist in issuing visitation permits and working with various concessionaires operating out of State Park marinas who wish to visit the island.)

Advisory Group

Members: Representatives from GSL Alliance, Audubon groups, Friends of Great Salt Lake, Utah State University, USDA, other conservation groups and the public.

Mission: This group will be tasked with defining the many different potential uses for the island and how to best interface each aspect into a contiguous whole. Thus, providing insight and direction to the Board of Directors.

PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:

We anticipate that this project will provide beneficial uses for many different species and groups. Success of this project will be greatly enhanced with a community effort and a variety of support groups. The list is growing daily as we envision the establishment of Fremont Island as a permanent preserve, but here are a few of the groups we have identified and various reasons why they may wish to participate as potential partners and or contributors:

Antelope Island State Park: Antelope Island is an ideal location for information kiosks and viewing stations where the public can easily learn more about the wild horses located on Fremont Island. Additionally, the marina at the state park on Antelope Island will provide an excellent base for boat tours headed to Fremont Island. Fremont Island would in effect become an extension of Antelope Island State Park and we anticipate that this use will increase visitation and consequently create new revenue for the park.

Audubon: The Great Salt Lake is an international migratory bird treasure. Recently, the five major bays of Great Salt Lake ­ Farmington, Ogden, Bear River, Gunnison and Gilbert Bays were announced as Important Bird Areas. Each of these bays will also be nominated as globally Important Bird Areas.

Fremont Island sits between Ogden Bay and Gilbert Bay. Fremont Island is very strategically located for the overall health of the Great Salt Lake and specific bird populations. The IBA nomination forms show over 330,000 Wilson’s Phalaropes (over 22% of this species world’s population) and over 680,000 Eared Grebes (17% of the World’s population) in Ogden Bay. For Gilbert Bay, the IBA nomination forms document over 450,000 Wilson’s Phalaropes (over 30% of this species world’s population) and over 770,000 Eared Grebes (over 19% of the world’s population).

Furthermore, there is documented use of Fremont Island by Long-billed Curlew, Short-eared Owl and Burrowing Owl. These three species are on the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources State Sensitive Species List. With further survey work, the Utah IBA program may wish to include Fremont Island as an Important Bird Area site.

BLM: In 1971 the Bureau of Land Management was directed by federal law to protect and manage America’s wild horse herds. Part of their duties is to gather horses when they have exceeded the carrying capacity of the land. Ideally, these horses are adopted to members of the public, but demand is not currently keeping up with supply, which means thousands of horses are being kept in short-term holding pens, and long-term holding pastures. The cost of caring for these horses consumes a significant portion of BLM’s budget. The BLM is interested in working with WHOA to use the Fremont Island Preserve as a showcase project to increase public awareness and interest in the BLM’s wild horse programs. The BLM will play a key role in the management and care of the wild horses as well as the overall success of the project.

Friends of the Great Salt Lake: Serves as a forum for many issues affecting the Great Salt Lake and is an advocate of lake preservation.

Great Salt Lake Alliance: The Alliance has been working for many years as a platform for various conservation groups to assist them in coordinating conservation efforts and to address many issues that impact the Great Salt Lake ecosystem. The following groups or individuals are currently represented within the Alliance: Environmental part of League of Women Voters, Jeff Scott, Utah Rivers Council, Utah Wetlands Foundation, Nature Conservancy, Friends of GSL, Ducks Unlimited, Audubon, etc.

Historic Preservation Groups: Fremont Island has evidence of historic peoples that should be restored or preserved. Petroglyphs, old homesteads, grave sites and even Kit Carson’s Cross atop Castle Butte are interesting historical items.

Hooper City: Fremont Island is located within the city limits of Hooper and therefore is of great interest to this community.

National Mustang Association: The National Mustang Association (Cedar City, Utah) operates a wild horse preserve in southeastern Nevada. This preserve has operated successfully for many years. Their president, Mr. Richard Sewing, has taken an active role in many issues that affect the plight of wild horses in Utah and throughout the West. He has also served on the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board. We hope to draw from his experience and knowledge to improve the Fremont project

Nevada Wild Horse Commission & Wild Horse Organized Assistance: Both of these organizations have been involved in many issues affecting the plight of the wild horse in Nevada. They may provide excellent resources and experience to further enhance the success of the Fremont project.

Political: We have talked with a number of state level delegates about the project. As the inherent benefits of this project to the state of Utah, its public trust, as well as to our national identity become more apparent and known, it is believed that most politicians will support this project.

Public Outings and Eco-Tourism: We believe that allowing members of the public to access the island in controlled numbers will enhance the goals of BLM, WHOA and conservation groups. By teaching the public about the importance of the species that live on the island we can help to change how society views open-space and wildlife habitat. We envision carefully designed hiking trails, information pamphlets and signs, guided tours, and possibly a couple of “green” designed shelters where a few groups could spend the night in solitude.

The Nature Conservancy (TNC): TNC has expressed interest in preserving the Island for several years. In 1999 Mr. Joel Peterson worked to provide biological data and a historical overview of the island.

Trust for Public Lands (TPL): TPL may be interested in helping to facilitate the transfer of ownership of the island to WHOA. TPL has access to many different sources of funding and has an excellent track record in helping to preserve open spaces.

Utah Open Lands: The Fremont project could benefit from working with public land preservation groups such as Utah Open Lands.

Utah Travel Council: The wild horses of Fremont will help draw tourists to our state and provide visitors with a broad western experience (e.g. wild horses & bison.)

Utah Artemia Association: This association represents the interest of the Great Salt Lake Brine shrimp Industry. This group is highly supportive of preservation efforts on the Lake and surrounding areas that may impact the lakes ability to produce brine shrimp.

USDA/NRCS: Island Properties LLC currently has a grant from NCRS for improvement to the rangelands and water resources. This contract calls for matching funds from the owners as these improvements are made. Several firebreaks and some rangeland seeding have already been done and more is expected.

Utah State University: The University may be helpful in providing the knowledge and experience to improve water resources and native grasses. As an island, Fremont provides an excellent closed system for study, open classroom and fieldwork, tests, and implementation of various management techniques. Through good grazing management and reseeding, Fremont Island can again have natural forage that will attract and sustain many different species of life.

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE:

We are at a critical point in time in deciding the future of this beautiful island. We believe that the highest and best use is not to develop the land for the exclusive use of man. Rather, to permanently preserve and enhance its natural beauty. Since Fremont Island is private property, there is no guarantee today that the island can, or will be, preserved. Unless we are willing to take action today to ensure that the island is placed in public trust, we will be left to sit idly by as the future takes its own course.

The Richards family has generously offered to donate a large portion of the island to Wild Horses of America Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity. The remaining value would need to be purchased by the foundation and other individuals and organizations that may choose to participate in the process. The method and structure of ownership transfer, or conservation easement, is still under discussion between the parties. However, one thing is clear: It will take a community effort of various partners and other charitable organizations to bring about this important preservation project. Our goal is to place in pubic trust permanent preservation rights for the entire island to ensure that our efforts today will benefit generations to come.

SUMMARY:

Wild Horses of American Foundation is committed to establishing Fremont Island as a permanent wild horse and wildlife preserve. The time to act is now! The conservation groups of the Great Salt Lake community, the State of Utah, as well as the general public need to come together proactively in partnership to support and assist in bringing about the vision of this very significant and unique preservation project.

We dream of the day when we will release a herd of wild horses on Fremont Island where they will run freely and live a natural life. It will be a place where we have preserved existing habitat, and improved and expanded additional habitat for other species as well. It will be a place where the public can go for solitude; to enjoy seeing wild horses, wide-open spaces, plants, animals, and birds that inhabit a land that was touched by man, but restored to a reflection of its original splendor.