WY - Restoring Stream Flows in Key River Basins

To emphasize the importance of on-the-ground stream flow restoration efforts, TU published a report titled The Economic Value of Healthy Fisheries in Wyoming.  Shortly thereafter, TU and the Henry's Fork Foundation released a major economic assessment of the recreational industry on the upper Snake River. Both reports identified the importance of protecting and restoring fishery resources for local, state, and regional economies.

We've initiated a number of multi-year efforts that will hopefully provide stream flow restoration models and serve as community or stakeholder-based examples of how stream flow restoration can occur on the ground. These efforts include:

• Browns Creek Angus Ranch (Little Laramie River): Traversing lands owned by a long-time Wyoming ranching family, this portion of the Little Laramie River and its wild brown trout fishery are threatened by dewatering and habitat fragmentation. The current effort was designed via a partnership between the landowner, TU, Steady Stream Hydrology Inc., and the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to restore stream flow, riparian protection, and spawning and rearing habitat. The stream flow protection and restoration component of the project works within the confines of existing Wyoming water law by moving a point of diversion within the confines of the Browns Creek Ranch. This allows more water to stay in the stream longer through the ranch stream reach. However, the landowner is interested in additional operational flexibility that might arise should future legislation allow private landowners to temporarily lease water for instream flows to benefit the fishery. Other landowners in the Little Laramie River drainage have expressed interest in exploring ways to expand the project. The Browns Creek Ranch project could become a key model to show how fishery and flow restoration efforts can dovetail with agricultural operations. 
  
• Gros Ventre River: This is a high-profile stream flow analysis and possible restoration effort near Jackson. This project involves not only restoring Gros Ventre River flows but also delicately balancing fishery needs of two streams-Spring Creek and Flat Creek-that historically received seasonal flows from the Gros Ventre River. This situation is especially sensitive in light of the important native Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat trout fishery in Flat Creek and the spawning and rearing habitat available for large cutthroat that migrate between the mainstem Snake River and Spring Creek. TU is partnering with the National Park Service to analyze water use and diversions within the Park and to develop possible alternatives, such as drought management or other cooperative approaches with landowners and water right holders to reduce overall water use in the Gros Ventre system.

Trout Unlimited also worked closely with other conservation organizations, state resource agencies, the legislature, and Governor's Office in 2005 to ensure passage of the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Funding Act. The Act created a trust account, established a Board, and identified a process whereby applicants can apply for project funding. TU is looking forward to developing projects for submittal to the Board that include a stream flow restoration component and provide long-term fishery benefits.

There are other burgeoning opportunities to collaborate on restoration projects throughout Wyoming including potential landowner partnerships in drainages such as the Popo Agie, Salt, Wind, and Greybull. TU will be placing a high priority on identifying stream flow restoration projects that both increase stream flows and highlight cooperative approaches to ground-based fisheries restoration.

Economic Value of Healthy Fisheries in Wyoming

Gros Ventre River Brochure 2007

For more information contact:

Wyoming Water Project
315 Main Street, Suite 1
Lander, WY 82520
307-332-7700
307-332-9299 (fax)

Scott Yates, Director, Wyoming Water Project
Contact Scott Yates

Cory Toye, Project Manager, Wyoming Water Project
Contact Cory Toye

Nelli Williams, Project Coordinator, Wyoming Water Project
Contact Nelli Williams

Wyoming Water Project Press Archive