Wildlife staff says relocation preferred for Drunkard's Wash solar; asks for $6.4 million mitigation if not relocated

Colton Taylor, filling in for the wildlife representative, updated the council on wildlife concerns tied to the Drunkard's Wash solar project. He said the division's preferred mitigation is relocation of the project to avoid permanent loss of critical deer and elk habitat. If relocation is not feasible, wildlife staff requested $6,400,000 in mitigation funds to offset impacts.

Colton also noted a recently enacted solar and wind tax that some private parties framed as a mitigation payment. "That tax... is on solar and wind... but that's just kind of it's not mitigation," he said, clarifying the county's and wildlife division's positions. Colton said the division has discussed mitigation amounts with the project proponents but had not received a final agreement; attendees asked for confirmation of any county-level commitments and for copies of any draft mitigation terms.

Wildlife staff emphasized the project's potential long-term impacts on mule deer and elk range and urged the council to press for relocation or, failing that, a substantial mitigation package that reflects habitat value.