Waterjet Stinger

The WCCD, in conjunction with the Hot Springs Weed & Pest District and the South Big Horn Conservation District, cost-shared with the Naitonal Wild Turkey Federation for the purchased of a Waterjet Stinger.  The Waterjet Stinger is currently being used to plant cottonwood and willow pole plantings behind Russian olive and tamarisk removel on Cottonwood and Gooseberry Creeks.  This effort has been spearheaded by Amy Anderson, Wyoming Game & Fish Habitat Extension Biologist.

Each year, the District along with other USDA Service Center employees participate in the Worland Chamber of Commerce’s annual community clean-up week by adopting a section of road to keep clean.

WCCD continues to provide GIS maps to producers and instruction on GIS capabilities to students.

Each year, a District information display is exhibited during the Washakie County Fair, Worland Trade Show, and WESTI Ag Days.  The display represents current District activities and accomplishments.

The WCCD purchased a Fusion Tool, which landowners may use at no charge, to help in fusing plastic pipe together.  The WCCD has seen an increase in stockwater pipeline projects and there is no local businesses that have the tool available.

The District continues to participate in the Bighorn Forest Steering Committee meetings to keep abreast of the Bighorn Forest Service activities.

The Cottonwood/Grass Creek Coordinated Resource Management group approached the WCCD, proposing to petition to form a Watershed Improvement District, which would be the first in Wyoming to include land in more than one county.  The WCCD has been working with the Hot Springs Conservation District on the proposed formation, which was completed in 2007.  The Cottonwood/Grass Creek Watershed Improvement District now keeps the WCCD updated on their projects and activities on an annual basis.  The WCCD and the Hot Springs Conservation District continue to hold the yearly board elections for the CGCWID.

The District has been given Cooperating Agency Status by the BLM to participate in their updating and combining of the Big Horn Basin Resource Management Plan.  The planning meetings began in early 2009.  The BLM anticipates that the plan will be completed by fall of 2010.

The WCCD Continues to provide a flow-through funding mechanism using Wyoming Wildlife Natural Resource Trust Fund grants for the eradication of Russian Olive and tamarisk along Gooseberry Creek, Cottonwood Creek and the Nowood River.  This project is in cooperation with NRCS, Weed & Pest, and Wyoming Game & Fish.

The WCCD hosted three different Range Schools; 101 School was held in December 2008, 201 School was held in January 2009, and  301 was held in June. 2009.  101 Range School wan in introduction to how plants grow, time and timing of grazing, animal nutrition and behavior, monitoring methodologies, and grazing management.  201 Range School was developing monitoring objectives, tools and methods to aid in monitoring, ecological site descriptions, applying monitoring data, and low-stress animal handling.  301 included plant identification, Cover by Life form monitoring, landscapes appearance analysis, SamplePoint monitoring tool, and power fence construction.

The WCCD assisted Worland High School students in preparing for the WyRED competition in Basin in 2009.  The Washakie County WyRED Team placed first!  In addition, one student got Top Camper honors and the advisor took first place in the Open Adult division.  The Wyoming team went on to compete in the Montana Range Days where they received first place as well!