Footbridge and Signage Open Lander Wetland Preserve to Community Use

In Lander, the Wetland Preserve just past the high school is full of wildlife and vegetation and open to the public, but many residents don’t know they can access it due to lack of signage, and a break in the dike prevents crossing from one side to the other without getting wet. When the executive director of Water for Wildlife recognized this small project involved multiple entities and wasn’t in her organization’s budget, she reached out to LOR for support. The preserve has been undergoing multi-year revitalization—Popo Agie Conservation District and Fremont County Weed and Pest cleared invasive species and trash, while LOR-funded native shrub plantings in summer 2025 all survived to spring 2026. A small footbridge spanning the dike break will allow residents to explore the entire preserve while making it easier to plant and tend new native shrubs on the far side, and welcoming signage at the pullout will inform the public that this wetland is an educational resource and outdoor classroom. Water for Wildlife plans to send museum visitors to view the habitat restoration project and use the preserve as a higher-level educational experience for summer interns. LOR’s funding will help purchase lumber and hardware for the footbridge plus signage, complementing the hard manual work already improving this accessible community asset.