Project Description
Laramie Peak WHMA Spring Developments
WY-WSF Project ID: 12_2024
Name: John Henningsen Title: Habitat & Access Specialist
Address: 1212 S. Adams St. Phone #: 307-721-7939
Laramie, WY 82070 Email: john.henningsen@wyo.gov
Wy-WSF DATE OF PROJECT APPROVAL LETTER: ___1/3/2025_______________
PROJECT COMPLETION DATE: __11/6/2025____________
Wy-WSF FUNDS APPROVED: ___$3,000.00________________
Wy-WSF FUNDS EXPENDED: ___$1,140.94________________
Wy-WSF FUNDS UNEXPENDED: ______$1,859.06_____________
MATCHING FUNDS EXPENDED
PARTNER IN-KIND SERVICES (value of) CASH
Laramie Rivers Conservation District $2,400.00
Wyoming Wild Sheep Foundation $1,140.94
WGFD Habitat Trust Account $7,037.71
Water for Wildlife $2,269.20
Vale Ranch $7,000.00
Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) $8,752.51
This project protected and developed water at four spring sites. All sites are on the Laramie Peak Wildlife Habitat Management Area (WHMA). Albany County, Wyoming.
a. Salt Creek: 13T 464241E, 4648505N
b. Hay Canyon: 13T 463584E, 4649215N
c. Long Draw: 13T 465490E, 4648895N
d. South Fork Cherry Creek: 13T 466739E, 4645564N
Funding and some of the materials were acquired in 2024, as were all permits. Additional materials were acquired in 2025. All work was completed during the summer and autumn of 2025. At four spring locations we installed 12’ diameter tire tanks. Each development consisted of trenching/burying pipe to run water to the tanks, and trenching/burying pipe to deliver overflow water back to the stream or wet meadow. Every tank was fitted with heavy duty wildlife escape ramps- in particular, we securely mounted expanded steel to the inside of the outer wall of the tire.
We built wildlife-friendly fence around the Salt Creek location to exclude cattle from the spring itself- in order to minimize soil compaction and stream sedimentation. We did not build exclosures around the other springs because we have not historically witnessed cattle crowding/compaction at those sites.
WGFD staff and Vale Ranch will regularly monitor the functioning of the tanks (removing sediment in the catchments, removing obstructions of the outlet and overflow pipes, protecting against flooding and winter freeze, checking operation of valves, repairing erosion, etc.). WGFD staff will be responsible for upkeep of the exclosure fencing around the Salt Creek spring.
