Technical Memorandum
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TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM TO: WWDC DATE: May 12, 2010 FROM: MWH REFERENCE: Wind-Bighorn Basin Plan SUBJECT: Task 3D/3E - Recreational and Environmental Water Use The purpose of this technical memorandum is to document recreational and environmental water use in the Wind-Bighorn Basin to support the Basin Plan Update. This information updates and expands on work performed during the previous Wind-Bighorn Basin Plan completed in 2003. Section 1 provides a brief summary of recreational and environmental water use reported in the previous Basin Plan. The remaining sections provide updated information. This technical memorandum contains the following sections. Contents Section 1 – Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1 Section 2 – Recreational Water Use ...................................................................................................... 2 Recreational Fishing ........................................................................................................................... 2 Whitewater and Flat Water Recreational Use ..................................................................................... 6 Section 3 – Environmental Water Use ................................................................................................. 12 Instream Flows ................................................................................................................................. 12 Wetlands and Wildlife Habitat ........................................................................................................... 16 Big Game Habitat ............................................................................................................................. 20 Section 4 – Summary........................................................................................................................... 34 Section 5 – References ........................................................................................................................ 35 Section 1 – Introduction The previous Basin Plan described recreational water uses such as those associated with fishing, boating, hunting, and swimming, and their importance to the economy within the Basin. In addition, the division of management for public owned lands in the Basin by federal, state and local entities and the impact it has on the recreational use tied to these resources was discussed. In response to issues and strategies defined by the Wind-Bighorn Basin Advisory Group, analysis of recreational water uses in the Basin Plan Update were expanded to include information on whitewater and flatwater boating, and additional information on recreational fishing. Environmental water uses, such as those associated with instream flow rights and water use by wetlands and wildlife, were also described in the previous Basin Plan. The effects of institutional considerations on environmental water use in the Basin were described, which include the influence of the Clean Water Act requirements, the considerations for water demands for threatened and 1 endangered species within the Basin, and the potential restrictions on water use that would result following designation of “Wild and Scenic” rivers within the Basin. Instream flow water rights at the time of the previous Basin report included about 280,520 acre-feet per year of permitted rights on the Clarks Fork River, Tensleep Creek, Big Wind River, and Shell Creek, and applications pending for an additional 277,710 acre-feet per year on the Little Popo Agie, Medicine Lodge, and Shoshone River. There were about 782,380 acres of wetlands, dependent on water sources in the Basin, which provide environmental habitat for many species in the Basin. Additional instream flow water rights, updated wetlands analysis, and inclusion of aquatic and terrestrial habitat and populations have been included in the Basin Plan Update. Section 2 – Recreational Water Use Recreational water uses within the Basin are water demands associated with indoor recreation activities and facilities (e.g., swimming pools and water parks) and outdoor recreational activities (e.g., fishing, rafting, and boating). Water demands for indoor recreational activities are supported by municipal water supplies and therefore were accounted for in the Municipal and Domestic Water Use Technical Memorandum. As a result, recreational water use demands described in this section are limited to those associated with outdoor recreational activities. Outdoor recreational water use within the Basin includes those activities utilizing rivers and streams, flat water reservoirs and lakes, as well as recreational water demands associated with state and national parks. There are several state and national parks, and a few national forests within the Basin with recreational water demands. State Parks within the Basin are Boysen, Buffalo Bill, Hot Springs, and Sinks Canyon State Parks. National Forests within the Basin include the entire Shoshone National Forest, and parts of the Big Horn and Bridger-Teton National Forests. A portion of Yellowstone National Park as well as Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area are also located within the Basin (Figure 1). There are 75 designated campgrounds within the parks and forests of the Basin where recreational water use occurs. Water is supplied to these areas by non-community water systems and was accounted for in the Municipal and Domestic Water Use Technical Memorandum under Section 3, Non-Community Public Water Use Profile, as part of the transient non-community public water use. Recreational water use associated with other activities in state parks, national parks and national forests, such as fishing, boating, and rafting, are discussed below. Recreational Fishing Recreational fishing is the most important water-based recreational activity in the Basin, comprising over 55 percent of the total water-based activities that tourists participate in when visiting Wyoming (WBC, 2009). The vast majority of existing recreational fishing opportunities in Wyoming are cold water trout fisheries. Designated fishing sites are located at several of the lakes and reservoirs within the Basin, as well as along a majority of the rivers and streams. These areas provide outstanding recreational fishing opportunities including walk-in fishing, four-wheel drive access only, and fully developed and accessible sites. Within the Basin, there are 174 public recreational fishing sites comprised of 65 sites managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), 41 sites managed by Wyoming Game and Fish (WGF) and an additional 68 general fishing sites designated by the State of Wyoming Department of Travel and Tourism (WTT). These designated public fishing sites are shown in Figure 2. Several lakes and streams within the boundaries of Yellowstone National Park are also utilized for recreational fishing, where fishing has been a major recreational activity for over a century and is part of the park’s primary purpose to preserve natural environments and native species. In addition, several of the sites are located on the Wind River Indian Reservation. A complete list of the public fishing access sites managed by the BLM and WGF, as well as the key fishing spots identified by the WTT, are provided in Appendix A. 2 Figure 1. State Parks, National Forest, National Parks and Recreation Areas in the Wind-Bighorn Basin 3 Figure 2. Designated Public Recreational Fishing Sites and Blue Ribbon Streams Located within the Wind-Bighorn Basin 4 In addition to the large number of BLM and WGF recreational fishing sites, there are six stream segments within the Basin designated as Blue Ribbon status that comprise 188 miles of stream (Figure 2 and Table 1). Blue Ribbon streams are streams that have recreational fisheries of extremely high quality and meet established criteria which typically include: • Water quality and quantity : A body of water, warm or cold, flowing or flat, will be considered for Blue Ribbon status if it has sufficient water quality and quantity to sustain a viable fishery. • Water accessibility : The water must be accessible to the public. • Natural reproduction capacity : The body of water should possess a natural capacity to produce and maintain a sustainable recreational fishery. There must be management strategies that will consistently produce fish of significant size and/or numbers to provide a quality angling experience. • Angling pressure : The water must be able to withstand angling pressure. • Specific species : Selection may be based on a specific species. Table 1. Blue Ribbon Stream Reaches within Wind Bighorn Basin Water ID Stream Reach Tributary To: Length (mi) CY8H1005HS Bighorn River, Wedding of the Waters to Black Mountain Yellowstone River 18 CY8H1092PK Shoshone River, Willwood to Morman Big Horn Lake 16 CY8H1094PK Shoshone River, Corbett to Willwood Big Horn Lake 8 CY8H1095PK Shoshone River, Buffalo Bill Reservoir to Corbett Big Horn Lake 16 CY8H1490PK Shoshone River, NF Shoshone River, BB to Corbett 65 CY8H1510PK Trout Creek Shoshone River, NF 16 CY8R2024PK Clarks Fork River, Upper Yellowstone River 20 CY8R3650PK Bear Creek, Little Beartooth Creek 8 LR8W5620FT Popo Agie River, North Fork Popo Agie River 21 Total 188 Wyoming is also home to 49 native fish species and 29 non-native fish species including: cutthroat, brook, brown, golden and rainbow trout, as well as smallmouth bass, and northern pike. Many of Wyoming’s fish species are