Wednesday October 30, 2024
Wyoming Game and Fish Department —
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is seeking instream flow water rights for segments of Dry Medicine Lodge Creek and North and South Beaver creeks in Bighorn County. All segments are entirely on public lands in the Cody Region. The proposed water rights are important to maintaining populations of Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout in their native range.
Instream flow water rights are one of the tools Game and Fish utilizes to protect fish habitat and essential river functions. The rights ensure water keeps flowing in streams for fisheries while protecting existing water users.
“Water is the most important part of fish habitat. Maintaining adequate amounts of water in streams year-round is critical for maintaining and improving the long-term health of fish populations,” said Del Lobb, instream flow biologist with Game and Fish.
Game and Fish conducted instream flow investigations on the three creeks in 2011 to determine flows needed to maintain existing Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout populations. The proposed water rights would protect flows in eight miles of the streams. Information about the proposed instream flow segments can be viewed on the Game and Fish website.