Who We Are & What We Do

We are a local governmental subdivision of the state of Wyoming as defined and established by Wyoming Conservation Districts Law.  The Washakie County Conservation District's Board of Supervisors are elected by the people of Washakie County at General Elections by popular vote.  Conservation District Board members are the only locally elected board charged specifically with the responsibility of representing local people on natural resource issues.

We do provide locally led leadership, encourage, and promote and inform through education, the conservation of natural resources.  The Washakie County Conservation District assists landowners and land managers in practicing good natural resource stewardship and conservation for the long term benefit of the people by using monitoring, partnerships, staffing resources, and the taxpayer's money as efficiently and effectively as possible. 

To learn more about Who We Are and What We Do, view our new story map by clicking on the image below. 
​

News and Events

WCCD secures FY2022 CWA 319 Implementation Grant Funding Recommendation

WCCD pursued Fiscal Year 2022 Clean Water Act 319 Implementation Grant funding through WDEQ for the Upper Bighorn Sub-basin Watershed.  We submitted our application and gave a presentation to the WDEQ Non Point Source Task Force on December 15, 2021.  After the presentation, WCCD was notified that we were recommended for full funding, an estimated $195,000 in 319 grant funds with a 40% match of non-federal funds and In-Kind match.  WCCD now awaits approval from the EPA on funding and is expected to begin outreach for projects starting in the summer of 2022.   As we finalize our Implementation Plan, more information will be available. 

If you have a project that will work to improve water quality on the Bighorn River, Fifteen Mile, Nowater, Slick and Sage Creeks, please contact Amanda for more information at wccd@rtconnect.net or by phone at 307-347-2456, ext 101.
​

Current Involvements

Washakie County Bighorn River Access and the Blueway Water Trail System

​The Washakie County Conservation District (WCCD) and the Washakie County Commissioners are currently exploring an opportunity to provide recreational access to the Bighorn River.  In 2020, the Commissioners advised us that a tract of county land was available with direct access to the Bighorn River off of Tie Down Road.  WCCD and the Commissioners agreed to partner up to explore grant funding opportunities that would allow for the development of boat ramps, parking, road improvements, signage and trash services at two locations which would allow access into and access out of the Bighorn River over a 4-mile stretch from north Winchester to the county land off Tie Down Road.  WCCD is currently working with the County Planner and State Lands & Investments to secure a Special Use Permit for the point of access in Winchester. 

While WCCD and the County Commissioners were in discussion on this opportunity, the Bighorn Basin Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (BBORC) were in discussions with the National Park Services regarding the development of a 95 mile long water trail that would allow river enthusiasts and the like to travel the length of the Bighorn River from Wedding of the Waters just south of Thermopolis to the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Are in Lovell.  This would offer a wide variety of opportunities, including wildlife watching, tubing, kayaking, fishing, hunting, camping and everchanging scenery along the way.

The collaboration is working with several local, state and national agencies to include:  BLM, WGFD, NPS, WYDOT, State Lands & Investments, county and city governments, as well as businesses and recreationalists. 

A public hearing for the Washakie County development is scheduled to take place at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at the Worland Library.  We will have presentations beginning at 6:00pm and again at 7:00pm with breakout tables with facilitators to engage the public in discussion.

For more information about this water trail system and the public meeting, please contact Amanda at wccd@rtconnect.net or by phone at 307-347-2456, ext 101.

Along the bank of the Bighorn River off Tie Down Road.

​Nowood Watershed Stock Water Development Program: Phase 1

Washakie County Conservation District (WCCD) received a grant from the Wyoming Department of Agriculture's Water Quality Program to identify Stock Water development projects on both private and BLM lands in Washakie County which lie within the Nowood watershed.

WCCD highlighted opportunities to implement livestock water management practices to benefit water quality in the Nowood Watershed. In 2002, the Nowood River, from the confluence with the Bighorn River to a point 13.4 miles upstream was listed as impaired for not supporting its recreational designated use due to fecal coliform levels. Best management practices implemented upstream from the listed stream reach can have positive impacts on water quality.

​WCCD worked with landowners and producers across Wyoming to provide information videos highlighting different off-channel stock water developments.  You can view these videos by visiting our YouTube page on this LINK.

For more information about these systems, or to discuss potential opportunities for your operation, please contact WCCD at 307-347-2456, ext. 121, or email Halli Caines at wccd3@rtconnect.net.