Wyoming Watersheds Progress 2005

Bear River Watershed
Uinta County Conservation District
PO Box 370
100 East Sage Street
Lyman, WY 82937
307-787-3794 ext 4
307-787-3810 fax
kerri.sabey@wy.nacdnet.net
 

Waters Addressed
Bear River

Background
The Bear River was listed in 2002, from Woodruff Narrows Reservoir up to Sulphur Creek, as impaired due to habitat degradation caused by excess sediments.

Monitoring Activities
The District began monitoring in spring 2005, on five sites for a number of parameters including Total Dissolved Solids.

Planning
The Upper Bear River Water Quality Steering Committee completed a watershed management plan on the Upper Bear River. This plan was released for public review and comment in May 2005, and was submitted to DEQ for approval in September 2005. The district is in the process of finalizing the plan.

Implementation Activities
Two projects to increase irrigation efficiency were completed in 2004. In addition, there are projects currently being implemented to reduce grazing pressure on riparian areas and one animal feeding operation project targeted for completion in the fall of 2005.

The watershed plan also includes implementation of educational efforts and management practices to address bank stabilization and sedimentation, such as small acreage management, demonstration projects on use of buffers, ATV recreation education, and grazing management strategies.

Participants
The Upper Bear River Water Quality Steering Committee consists of 35 members representing landowners, local citizens, municipalities, County Commissioners, County Planning and Zoning, the B.E.A.R. Project, Resource Conservation & Development, Conservation District, Natural Resource Conservation Service, and the Department of Agriculture.

Funding
Local                                       Source
$13,700                                  Uinta County CD 

Monitoring site about 3.5 miles upstream of Woodruff Narrows Reservoir