Wyoming Watersheds Progress 2005
Powder River Watershed
Lake DeSmet
Conservation District
760 West Fetterman
Buffalo, WY 82834
307-684-2526
307-684-5972 fax
nikki.lohse@wynacdnet.net
Crazy Woman Creek
Crazy Woman Creek North Fork
Shell Creek North Fork
Shell Creek South Fork
Background
In 1996, North Fork Crazy Woman Creek was listed as threatened due to habitat degradation and nutrients as a result resource issues identified by the district through a 319 grant application. In 2000, Shell Creek North Fork and Shell Creek South Fork above Shell Creek Reservoir were both listed as threatened due to habitat degradation.
In 2002, Crazy Woman Creek from the Powder River an undetermined distance upstream was listed as impaired due to manganese.
Monitoring Activities
The district collected data on North Fork Crazy Woman from 1991 through 1997. There were six sites on North Fork Crazy Woman and an additional eight sites on tributaries. The DEQ contracted for data analysis and interpretation to be completed on the data collected. The DEQ monitored in 2003 and data analysis is pending. The district also monitored water quality on seven sites of Shell Creek with a report published in 2003. There are no monitoring activities being conducted at this time on either North Fork Crazy Woman or Shell Creeks.
The District has contracted for the completion of historical data research of the manganese issue on Crazy Woman. This project is anticipated to be completed in 2006.
Planning
The North Fork Crazy Woman Creek 319 Water Quality Project final report was completed and submitted to DEQ. The LDCD has requested an extension for watershed planning for further planning or de-listing of Crazy Woman North Fork contingent upon DEQ monitoring results from 2003 to determine the effects of BMPs implemented during the 319 projects. Shell Creek North and South Fork are listed as threatened. DEQ has indicated that the final report, submitted in March 2003, on Shell Creek does not have sufficient data to determine beneficial use support. The district has initiated a watershed planning effort on North and South Fork Shell Creek with follow-up monitoring being the main focus.
Implementation Activities
Implementation efforts are complete on North Fork Crazy Woman and Shell Creek. DEQ conducted follow-up monitoring in 2003 on North Fork Crazy Woman. Any further activities are pending the analysis of that data. Any implementation on Crazy Woman is dependent upon the results of the historical review.
Participants
Private landowners, Natural Resources Conservation Service, the conservation district, Coal Bed Methane Coordination Coalition, Dept. of Environmental Quality, Department of Agriculture and the Crazy Woman Watershed Improvement District participated in these projects.
Funding
Amount
Sources
Local $ 83,111.00
Lake DeSmet CD
State $ 5,566.07
Wy. Dept. of Agriculture
Federal $705,127.00 Dept. of
Environmental Quality/EPA
Private $900,048.00 Private
landowners
Weighing fish after shocking on Crazy Woman Creek
Nikki Lohse, Lake DeSmet CD, samples on Crazy Woman Creek