Low snowpack and above average temperatures have driven Seminoe Reservoir into a near-worst case scenario, with water levels at just 29.4% capacity. The reservoir, which stores water in the North Platte River system, has a surface water elevation of 6,303 feet above sea level, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

Hydroelectric Project Controversy

A controversial hydroelectric project, proposed by Utah-based rPlus Hydro, aims to construct a pumped-water storage facility at the reservoir. The project has sparked criticism from local leaders and natural resource advocates, who argue that it ignores input from the community and fails to incorporate protective measures for fisheries and wildlife.

The project involves carving a new reservoir on a hill above the Seminoe dam, pumping water from Seminoe uphill during the day, and releasing it through hydroelectric-generating turbines in the evening. However, critics argue that the project’s environmental analysis is incomplete and shortsighted, failing to consider the impact of changing climate conditions in the region.

Water Quality Concerns

The reservoir’s low water levels have raised concerns about water quality, particularly for the Miracle Mile stretch of the North Platte River, a world-class trout fishery that attracts millions in tourism dollars annually. The river is designated as an Outstanding Resource Water, which requires that it suffer no further degradation from human activity.

Cold-water species, such as trout, get stressed when water temperatures range between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Prolonged temperatures beyond that can result in a fish kill, according to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. The proposed hydroelectric project could churn the reservoir’s water temperature strata, especially when water levels are low, potentially harming the trout population.

Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.