Wyoming Watersheds Progress 2005

Belle Fourche River Watershed
Campbell County Conservation District
PO Box 2577
319 S. Gillette Avenue, Suite 310
Gillette, WY 82716
307-682-1824
icd@vcn.com
www.cccdwy.net
 

Waters Addressed
Gillette Fishing Lake
Donkey Creek
Stonepile Creek

Background
Gillette Fishing Lake was listed in 1996, due to a watershed assessment study conducted by the Campbell County CD (formerly the Intermountain Conservation District) identifying phosphate and siltation as impairments. The Lake serves as a recreational water.

Donkey Creek was listed in 2000 as threatened from the confluence of the Belle Fourche River upstream to Stonepile Creek. Stonepile Creek was also listed in 2002 as threatened from the confluence with Donkey Creek an undetermined distance upstream. Both creeks are listed due to elevated fecal coliform levels as indicated in data collected by DEQ.

Monitoring Activities - Sampling and Analysis Plan
The City is currently monitoring stormcepter effluent on a quarterly basis. The District anticipates that DEQ will conduct additional monitoring on Gillette Fishing Lake as follow-up to implementation activities.

The Campbell County CD conducted monitoring on Donkey Creek and Stonepile Creek from Spring 2002 through October 2003. The CCCD monitored five stations on Donkey Creek and seven stations on Stonepile Creek. Each station was sampled a minimum of five times in thirty days when water was present.

Planning
The Gillette Fishing Lake watershed plan was adopted in September 2005. The Campbell County CD has initiated the watershed planning process on Donkey Creek/Stonepile Creek with an anticipated completion date of Spring 2006.

Implementation Activities
The City of Gillette installed four stormcepters. The City is also planning to construct a wetland to filter sediment, install bank stabilization and conduct dredging projects in fall 2006, with completion in 2008, utilizing one percent sales tax funds and grant funds if obtained. In addition, the Conservation District created a video and aired commercials educating the public on nonpoint source pollution. The CCCD is implementing best management practices on Donkey Creek and Stonepile Creek. One septic project has been completed and 10 additional septic projects are anticipated between October 2005 and December 2007.

Participants
The Gillette Fishing Lake plan was developed by the Engineer for City of Gillette and the Conservation District with input from the public through the comment period. The fourteen member Donkey Creek/Stonepile Creek Watershed steering committee is comprised of landowners, City, County, DEQ, NRCS and District representatives.

Funding 
Amount                            Sources
Local $ 28,918.00            City of Gillette
State $ 82,000.00             Campbell County CD
Federal $183,104.00        WY Department. of Agriculture
Private $ 76,000.00          Dept. of Environmental Quality/EPA
                                        WY Dept. of Transportation
 

Monitoring site on Donkey Creek in Campbell County

Public park area along Gillette Fishing Lake