KEMMERER, Wyo., May 9, 2018 – The Kemmerer Ranger District, Bridger-Teton National Forest, is proposing the Salt Creek Restoration Project to improve fish habitat and water quality along a portion of Salt Creek on the western portion of the Kemmerer Ranger District.

The channel and floodplain of Salt Creek are highly degraded and existing infrastructure placed in the 1980s has failed. The project area is along 4-miles of Salt Creek, running parallel to Highway 89, 25 miles north of Cokeville, WY. If implemented, the project would result in repairing hydrologic connectivity of the Salt Creek floodplain and restoring the ecological function of the aquatic system, its riparian community, and associated water quality. This project also focuses on improved aquatic organism passage, and has the potential to result in the restoration and reconnection of more than 15-miles of Bonneville cutthroat trout habitat. Cooperators on this proposed project include Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Trout Unlimited, the Bureau of Land Management and Wyoming Department of Transportation.

The project is designed to improve instream habitat to fish and improve habitat connectivity. “The restoration of ecological function to Salt Creek, its riparian area and connectivity with its tributaries, is of primary interest to the Bridger-Teton,” said Kemmerer District Ranger Adriene Holcomb. There will be some in-channel work to improve habitat as well as some possibly delays on Forest Roads. “After this project goes through the National Environmental Policy Act process the public will see a couple years of major activity along the stream near Alred campground. We hope to be able to do some public awareness and interpretation signs for educational purposes in the future,” she said.

Anyone with comments on the proposal is asked to submit them in writing or electronically before June 5, 2018. While comments will be accepted any time during the process, to establish standing for objection eligibility, comments must be received during this designated opportunity to comment which is 30 calendar days following the May 6, 2018 publication of notice for the request for comment in the Casper Star-Tribune (newspaper of record). Please address comments as attention: Salt Creek Restoration Project. Adriene Holcomb, District Ranger, 308 US Hwy 189 North, Kemmerer, WY 83101, The office business hours for those submitting hand-delivered comments are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Electronic comments must be submitted to: comments- intermtn-bridger-teton-kemmerer@fs.fed.us. An objection period, if required, will follow the regulation found in §218.7. For objection eligibility (§218.5), only those who have submitted timely, specific written comments during any designated opportunity for public comment may file an objection. Please state “Salt Creek Restoration Project” in the subject line when providing electronic comments. Additional information on the Salt Creek Restoration Project is also available on the webpage: link http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=53920.

If you would like more information or have questions relating to this proposal, please contact Kate Olsen, South Zone Fish Biologist (kholsen@fs.fed.us, 307-367-5751) or Trevlyn Robertson, Forest Water Rights Coordinator / Greys River and Kemmerer District Hydrologist (trevlynroberlson@fs.fed.us., 307-886-5317)