GOVERNOR, LEGISLATORS VISIT KIRBY CREEK WILDLIFE TRUST FUND PROJECT  

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - An extensive effort to restore a Big Horn Basin stream to its historic channel that was funded in part by the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust got a visit from Gov. Dave Freudenthal and several members of the Wyoming Legislature on Saturday, August 2.

The Governor was joined by Sen. Gerry Geis, Rep. Debbie Hammons, Rep. Colin Simpson and Hot Springs County Commissioners John Lumley and Frank Manning on a tour of the Kirby Creek watershed rehabilitation project located ten miles north of Thermopolis in Hot Springs County.

"Beyond the nuts and bolts of the project, which has been a tremendous success both in terms of wildlife and livestock benefits, the remarkable outcome is the partnership that has been forged between the state, Hot Springs County, the local Conservation District and private landowners," the Governor said. "The Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust Board has put $7 million to work in projects that benefit wildlife habitat and other natural resources, like water for ranchers in the Kirby Creek drainage. With additional state appropriations for the Trust Fund, the successes we have seen on Kirby Creek and at other Trust fund sites can be spread to other watersheds and habitats."  

Also present on the tour were Bob Budd, executive director of the Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust, area landowners Tom and Colleen Anderson, Conservation District Chair Terry Wilson, Kirby Creek CRM Chair Jim Wilson, Project Manager Jim Kirsch, District Conservationist Jim Mischke, Conservation District member Marvin Andreen and Clerk Carla Thomas.

"The cooperation and tenacity of the participants in the Kirby Creek project clearly demonstrate for the whole state how to dramatically improve wildlife habitat," said Rep. Debbie Hammons. "With the State's current revenue picture, I believe the Legislature needs to step up to the plate and significantly increase the size of the Wildlife Trust Fund this session. It has more than demonstrated the difference it can make."

This phase of the watershed rehabilitation, known as the Lucy Moore project, restored 1,750 feet of Kirby Creek to its original channel. Three rock structures were installed in the existing channel to increase the stream distance and reduce the velocity of the flow in this portion of the creek.

"In the late 1800s a sheep rancher named Lucy Moore had diverted Kirby Creek to irrigate a hayfield," said district clerk Carla Thomas. "Later on, they abandoned it but they had made the creek follow a ditch rather than its historic creek bed. Following the ditch resulted in a loss of creek meanders and increased the stream velocity which made spring runoff erosion much worse."

The Lucy Moore project was funded initially in October 2006 with Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust funding of $10,000, Department of Environmental Quality grant funding of $26,000 and landowner in-kind and Conservation District match of $4,600. A repair had to be made to the structure in August 2007 for a total project cost of $40,225.

"It is great to see the results on Kirby Creek of projects aided by WNRT funding," said. Rep. Colin Simpson. "More work is needed but the stream rehabilitation is bringing back the riparian areas and the wildlife habitat is improving steadily. The effort of many dedicated folks shows that hard work, persistence and common sense is a good recipe for success.  I am glad I went on the tour and saw first hand what is happening on the ground."
 
As a result of the overall improvements to the Kirby Creek watershed, ponds and wetlands have returned and willows have once again begun to grow along the streambed. Many miles of pipelines have been installed with storage and water tanks in order to move some of the water away from the creek and guide livestock and wildlife away from the streambed for better distribution of grazing.

The Conservation District has coupled these efforts with the installation of solar water pumps that aid landowners in pumping water where no electric access exists and generators are not practical. It is also making wildlife escape ramps available to ranchers to install in
their stock tanks and is engaging in reseeding efforts in areas where the ground has been disturbed.

"The incredible reality of the WWNRT program is that success stories like this are found all over the State,” said Bob Budd, executive director of the Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust. “Kirby Creek is a great example of our ability to enhance wildlife habitats, while at the same time improving the agricultural operations that provide that habitat. Over time, as these projects continue to grow, we will be impacting millions of acres throughout the state."


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