Three irrigation diversions on the sweetwater river approximately 34 miles southeast of lander are in need of improvements to allow year-round fish passage, repair dilapidated infrastructure, and…

Three irrigation diversions on the sweetwater river approximately 34 miles southeast of lander are in need of improvements to allow year-round fish passage, repair dilapidated infrastructure, and reduce maintenance. This action will improve connectivity to over 50 miles of stream and facilitate access to important feeding, spawning, and refuge habitats for several native plains fishes including three species of greatest conservation need bigmouth shiner, iowa darter, and hornyhead chub. Benefits of this work will include improvements to stream function, reliable irrigation water delivery with less maintenance costs for water users, and long-term habitat connection that will increase recreation opportunities and resiliency of aquatic species. This funding request will focus on one of the three diversions (arnold ditch) located the furthest upstream and partially on BLM land at the mouth of the sweetwater canyon just downstream of the BLM sweetwater canyon wilderness study area. The wyoming game and fish department (wgfd) is the project lead coordinating this effort between multiple water users, landowners, and various government agencies.