Beaver Creek watershed study identifies 79 projects

Jen Kocher
NLJ Correspondent
 
The Weston County Natural Resource District wrapped up its Beaver Creek watershed study with 79 identified projects at a final public meeting. The study paves the way for area landowners to apply for funding for watershed projects. A handful of area ranchers and landowners attended the meeting on Oct. 16 at the USDA office in Newcastle. 
The study, which was funded by the Wyoming Water Development Office and conducted by Lincoln-based Olsson Associates, evaluated watershed conditions, needs, and opportunities on rangelands, irrigated lands, wetlands and streams to assess local watershed function and to identify resource concerns and opportunities for
improvements.
The Beaver Creek watershed covers approximately 760,029 acres, of which 74 percent is predominately private land, with the remainder federal and state land, and includes the primary streams of Beaver Creek, Stockade Beaver Creek, Parmalee Creek, Bear Creek, Salt Creek, Sweetwater Creek, Freshwater Creek, Oil Creek, West Plum Creek, Big Plum Creek and Skull Creek and tributaries in the Cheyenne watershed, Spencer (LAK) and Klodt reservoirs.
One of the primary reasons for the study was to establish eligibility for state funding for watershed projects through the WWDO’s Small Water Project Program, which offers grants up to $35,000 for approved projects. 
Engineers from Olsson spent the past year visiting more than 40 ranches and privately  owned land throughout the county and came up with 79 projects for the report, ranging from livestock/wildlife watering projects, water supply storage and irrigation systems. Some of these projects were specifically requested by landowners, while others serve as prototypes from which landowners can base their own applications. 
For each proposed project, Olsson provided an assessment with project description, conceptual site map and cost estimate, as well as help identifying various programs and funding sources. 
“This study was a long time coming,” said Jodee Pring, a WWDO supervisor, who explained that it was one of eight conducted statewide.
As one source of funding for watershed projects, the state water development office, as of Sept. 12, has $139,866 budgeted for new development projects and plans to request an additional budget increase of $2,000,000 at its November commission meeting. If granted, this will bring the account up to $2,139,866. 
The agency also has an additional $130,551 budgeted for rehabilitation projects, and the group will also request a budget increase of $700,000 for those projects for a total of $830,551.  
The money is there for watershed improvement projects, Pring said.
“Typically, no project is turned away due to lack of funding,” she said. “It’s usually because the project didn’t meet the scope of necessary requirements.”
The state agency is only one of the available sources of funding, according to Pring, who noted that the proposed projects also help identify additional funding sources for which landowners may apply.
According to the study, 39 of the proposed projects fall under livestock and wildlife. Some of the projects had been identified in the past and range from developing springs, windmill conversion, groundwater wells, solar powered pumps, stock tanks, pipeline and fencing. Cost estimates range from $5,000 for well conversion to up to $700,000 for the installation of a piped water supply.
The study also looked for breached dams, locating 47 throughout the region.  
Twenty-three water supply and storage projects were identified, with project costs ranging from $15,000 for one pond to $350,000 for excavation and embankment on new dams. Additionally, 10 irrigation system improvement projects were identified, as well seven other management projects. These projects included vegetation restoration, habitat enhancements and other conservation, with cost estimates ranging from $1,000 for revegetation to $150,000 for erosion and sedimentation.
These projects were not the only ones identified, according to Deb Ohlinger. The senior engineer for Olsson clarified that the proposed projects simply illustrate the types of general projects for which landowners may apply.
Funding applications can be submitted by the end of November to Lacey Sloan, the district manager for the Weston County Natural Resource District. For more information, contact Sloan at the district office at 746-3264.