September 2024 - 13

On a mission for you
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department works throughout the year to fulfill the mission
of " conserving wildlife, serving people. " A variety of projects, surveys and efforts are
underway across Wyoming to meet this charge. Some highlights of recent work include:
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DeSmet creel survey: The Sheridan Region conducted
a creel survey from anglers at Lake DeSmet from June
through August. The survey asked anglers about their
angling efforts and success at the lake to help estimate
angling use and catch rates. This was the first creel
survey at the reservoir since kokanee salmon were
introduced in 2019.
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Pole Mountain brookies: Fisheries personnel in the
Laramie Region, along with other Game and Fish and U.S.
Forest Service employees, stocked 12,500 brook trout in
about 125 beaver ponds and stream crossings in the Pole
Mountain Unit between Cheyenne and Laramie during a
two-day period in early June. This is one of the largest
stocking efforts Game and Fish conducts each year.
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2
Lek Mays upgrades: A new control structure was
installed to regulate water levels at the 65-acre Lek Mays
wetland complex near Lovell in the Cody Region. The work
will improve habitat for migrating waterfowl, upland birds
and other wildlife. A dilapidated structure was removed
and several dike maintenance issues were addressed.
5
Thunder Basin habitat: Game and Fish is a partner
in the Thunder Basin Ecoregion Habitat Enhancement
project in the Casper Region to improve habitat for sage
grouse, mule deer, pronghorn and other species. Some
of the completed work includes 500 acres of juniper
removal, planting of 800 riparian trees and shrubs,
along with 35,000 sagebrush plants, installation of two
water wells for water development to improve grazing
management and help wildlife habitat, 1.5 miles of fence
was removed and 12.5 miles of fence was converted to
wildlife-friendly specifications. Wet meadow restoration
work was done in July, and more work is planned in the
future. Other partners include the Thunder Basin Grasslands
Prairie Ecosystem Association and the Thunder
Basin Grazing Association.
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Monument Draw Zeedyks: Game and Fish, partners
and numerous volunteers constructed 21 Zeedyk rock
structures and identified eight additional locations on
neighboring private land last year in an effort to improve
degraded wet meadows within Monument Draw near
the Lander Cutoff Road and Wyoming Highway 28 in the
Pinedale Region. This area is located within the core habitat
for sage grouse, and the work will improve wildlife
habitat, water quality and quantity and soil health. Project
partners include the Southwest Sage Grouse Local Working
Group, Bowhunters of Wyoming and Office of State Lands
and Investments.
Stream restoration: Game and Fish, Trout Unlimited
and the Snake River Ranch collaborated to address bank
erosion, land loss and a lack of quality fish habitat for
Snake River cutthroat trout within the Sewell bank area
of the Snake River near Jackson last year. Treatments for
the main and side channels included brush bank structures,
toe wood and bankfull benches. Other partners
included the Wyoming Wildlife Natural Resource Trust,
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Teton County Conservation
District, The Nature Conservancy, Wyoming Water
Development Commission, Jackson Hole One Fly and the
Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Mill Creek BDAs: Game and Fish and the U.S. Forest
Service installed seven beaver dam analogs last year in
the Mill Creek watershed in the Lander Region, three more
this year and continued maintenance on the 20 BDAs in
the area. BDAs, which are beaver dams made by people,
should help water storage, which promotes aspen and
willow recruitment. It will improve mule deer and moose
habitat. Work in the area also involves cutting conifer
from aspen stands and improving U.S. Forest Service
boundary fences.
Wyoming Wildlife | 13
Horse Creek fish passage: The opening of the Horse
Creek lateral diversion fishway near Torrington was in
May, which routes fish around a 4-foot tall concrete
weir and reconnects more than 23 miles of habitat in
the creek. The Horse Creek drainage supports one of
the highest densities of native fish in Wyoming. Partners
included the Goshen Irrigation District and a private
landowner. Funding was provided from the Wyoming
Wildlife Natural Resource Trust, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Wyoming Water Development Commission and
the Wyoming Governor's Big Game License Coalition.
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PROJECT PROFILES
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September 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2024