Wyoming Watersheds Progress 2005

Green River Watershed
Sweetwater County Conservation District
79 Winston Drive, Suite 110
Rock Springs, WY 82901
307-362-3062
307-362-1459 fax
swccd@wy.nacdnet.net

 

Waters Addressed
Bitter Creek
Killpecker Creek

Background
A segment of Bitter Creek, from Green River to Killpecker Creek, was listed as impaired due to fecal coliform in 2000. In 2002, chloride was added as an impairment. Killpecker Creek, near Rock Springs, was also listed as impaired in 2000 due to fecal coliform.

Monitoring Activities
The district established 14 monitoring stations in the spring of 2004, on Bitter and Killpecker Creeks and significant tributaries. These sites were sampled for a short list of inorganic constituents on three occasions during 2004 and a single sampling round during 2005. They were also sampled for E. coli and fecal coliform on two sampling rounds during 2004 and a single sampling round during 2005. In addition, a Beneficial Use Reconnaissance Protocol survey, including macroinvertebrate sampling, was conducted during 2004. An additional inorganic, biological and BURP sampling round will be conducted during September 2005. Upon receipt of the data from that final sampling round, the data will be evaluated and a watershed study report issued.

Planning
The district, in coordination with the Bitter/Killpecker Creek Watershed Advisory Group (B/K WAG) is developing a Watershed Plan for Bitter/Killpecker Creeks. Monthly meetings of the B/K WAG are held. The anticipated completion date is June 2006.

Implementation Activities
Implementation is occurring concurrently with the planning effort. The City of Rock Springs had their annual City Wide Clean Up Day on May 7, 2005. Municipalities are voluntarily cleaning out and repairing city sewer lines and upgrading the wastewater treatment plant to accommodate growth. Wild horses have been, and continue to be gathered, to decrease over-population and resource degradation within the Bitter Creek/Killpecker Creek watersheds. Livestock grazing in much of the watershed is deferred from May to December. In other allotments within Bitter/Killpecker Creek watersheds, the grazing plans have provisions for early season rest for the uplands, hot season rest for the riparian areas, as well as a combination of rest rotation and deferment. The industrial sector, as part of their storm water compliance, have implemented improvement practices such as flow diversion structures, retention/detention ponds, vegetation swales and sediment traps to remain in compliance with storm water management requirements.

Participants
Approximately 152 individuals representing industry, municipalities, local government, and landowners have participated in the Bitter and Killpecker Creek watershed assessment and planning process.

Funding
Amount                           Sources
Local $ 72,212.00            Sweetwater County CD
State $ 87,792.00             Sweetwater County Commission
Federal $144,082.00        WY Department of Agriculture
                                          Department of Environmental
                                          Quality/EPA

Synoptic sampling on Killpecker Creek

Fish shocking with Wyoming Game and Fish