The Cody Conservation District and the Powell Clarks Fork Conservation District have partnered to initiate the Clarks Fork Upper Shoshone River Watershed Study. Trihydro Corporation, based in Laramie, Wyoming, has been selected to complete the project, which is fully funded by the Wyoming Water Development Commission and planned for completion by November 2023.
The project study area consists of the Shoshone River from its headwaters in Yellowstone National Park, extending downstream to the vicinity of Powell. In addition, the portion of the Clarks Fork drainage that lies within Wyoming is included.
The purpose of the study is to generate a comprehensive planning document to the conservation districts that addresses the study area's resources and provides planning guidance for water-related issues.
The project's specific objectives and activities include:
The Cody Conservation District is looking for interested landowners and stakeholders that have water related issues and are looking for potential solutions. If you are interested in learning more or would like to schedule a site visit, please contact the Cody Conservation District!
This project aims to reestablish native vegetation and achieve natural stabilization an old American Colloid bentonite mine. The mine is in Diamond Basin in the Sulphur Creek Watershed. The project began October 2021.
Beaver Dam Analogues (BDAs) will be installed in a section of Sulphur Creek to reconnect the stream and the riparian area and to stimulate vegetation growth. Once revegetation occurs, this site may be suitable to use for beaver transplants. The BDAs will also be used to filter out unnatural amounts of sediment in the stream. This project will begin in Summer 2022.
The CCD is assisting in the building and caretaking of the UW Extension Outreach Garden. The garden is located at the Park County Complex. All produce will be donated to the local food bank. The garden will also be used as an outreach tool. The CCD plans to offer and assist with hands-on classes.
The CCD is directly involved with Willwood Working Group #3, one of three working groups in Cody that is addressing sediment loading to the Shoshone River. These working groups were established at the direction of the Governor following the release of a large quantity of sediment from Willwood Dam in 2016 that resulted in a fish kill and degraded habitat. Working Group #3 is in the initial stages of implementing a watershed plan to reduce sediment loading to the Shoshone River.
To learn more about Working Together to Protect the Shoshone River visit:
The CCD is partnering with the PCFCD to spearhead this study. This project will monitor changes in water levels and other physical attributes in the tributaries to the Shoshone River. Changes caused by snowmelt, rain events, irrigation practices and other discharge sources are of interest. There will be twelve cameras set up at the confluences of major tributaries between Buffalo Bill Dam and Willwood Dam. Eventually, cameras will be set up further downstream to assess tributaries in the McCullough Peaks area.
To evaluate sediment contributions to the Shoshone River, the CCD has been assisting Wyoming Game and Fish Department personnel and the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality with collecting water samples from tributaries between Buffalo Bill Dam and Willwood Dam. The results of these and other monitoring efforts by Willwood Working Group #2 are expected to be available sometime in late 2022 or 2023.
The CCD and partners are actively looking for opportunities to identify projects and partnerships in the Sage Creek Watershed that help improve water quality in Sage Creek. Potential projects include irrigation and grazing improvements, streambank stabilization, and other conservation measures. The NWQI funding opportunity is under a USDA- Natural Resource Conservation Service funded program, which will assist landowners in implementing conservation practices to improve natural resource concerns.
The CCD assists NRCS personnel by offering technical assistance to landowners enrolled in NRCS programs. The CCD can help with projects regarding irrigation improvements, high tunnels, cover crops, nutrient management, and forage and biomass plantings.