January 2025 - 17

narrowed and deepened. Undercut banks were
created throughout the restoration site, and a
528-feet-long stream channel was constructed
to eliminate flooding in the state park while
maintaining a smaller channel that flowed
adjacent to campsites. The restoration created
6 acres of oxbow wetlands, enhanced 4 acres
of existing wetlands and improved 7 acres of
riparian habitat. The two irrigation diversions
were replaced with rock structures that do not
require annual maintenance with machinery
and are passable by fish, sediment and debris.
Following construction, approximately 6,000
trees and shrubs consisting of 11 different species
were planted within the restoration area.
" It's exciting and encouraging to
see how quickly northern leopard
frogs colonized the new wetlands.
These results highlight how
including off-channel wetlands
when restoring riparian corridors
can be a big win for restoring the
native biodiversity of an area. "
- Wendy Estes-Zumpf
The restored stream now offers deeper water
and scenic beauty. The restoration reduced
bank erosion by approximately 2,320 tons, or
165 dump truck loads, of sediment per year.
Within the state park, flooding of campsites
and the erosion of handicap-accessible trails
was eliminated. The creation of passage at
the two irrigation diversions provided access
to an additional 7 miles of upstream habitat
for brown trout.
" Fishing has significantly improved
throughout the project area and upstream,
with many anglers catching larger fish, " said
Brooks Jordan, Wyoming State Parks district
manager. " Overall, the habitat has seen
remarkable enhancement. "
The narrowing and deepening of the stream
has resulted in a 220 percent increase in the
biomass of brown trout. Anglers now have the
opportunity to catch large brown trout that
were documented at 644 pounds per mile
just four years after construction. In 2021,
a 4.5-pound brown trout was caught by an
angler in the restoration area.
An exciting and unexpected outcome of
The 6-foot-tall rubble dam was replaced with a series of rock structures to deliver water to the irrigator and help the
upstream movement of fish. (Photo by Laura Burckhardt/WGFD)
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department used electrofishing techniques to monitor fish populations after the
restoration work. (Photo by Tara Hodges/WGFD)
the project was the remarkable growth of the
northern leopard frog population. The 6 acres
of oxbow wetlands have proven to be an ideal
nursery for the species. The wetlands now
host one of the largest known populations of
northern leopard frogs in the Big Horn Basin.
" It's exciting and encouraging to see how
quickly northern leopard frogs colonized the
new wetlands. These results highlight how
including off-channel wetlands when restoring
riparian corridors can be a big win for
restoring the native biodiversity of an area, "
said Wendy Estes-Zumpf, Game and Fish
herpetological coordinator.
Park visitors can fully appreciate the natural
beauty of the area, with no trace of the
heavy equipment that was used six years ago
to restore the stream channel. Each year, thousands
of visitors enjoy the scenic landscape,
swim in the deep pools and fish the restored
stream.
This project was made possible through
partnerships with Wyoming Wildlife Natural
Resource Trust, Wyoming State Parks Department,
Wyoming Department of Environmental
Quality, Environmental Protection Agency,
East Yellowstone Chapter of Trout Unlimited,
5 Smooth Stones Restoration, Green Water
Restoration, North State Environmental and
Paint Rock Canyon Enterprises.
- Laura Burckhardt is the aquatic habitat biologist in
the Cody Region.
Wyoming Wildlife | 17

January 2025

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2025