Lake Creek Ranches operates a diversion that takes irrigation water from Lake Creek upstream of the Granite Creek confluence. The diversion is part of a complex system that includes water diverted from the Snake River into the Granite Supplemental Canal, natural flow in Lake Creek, as well as the impacts of a number of other diversions and canals. A fish salvage of several irrigation ditches on the Lake Creek Ranches property in October 2018 documented the entrainment of over 2,200 native fish, and in October 2019 over 1,200 fish, with some of these fish likely originating from the Lake Creek Ranches diversion (Mathieu Ditch) and others originating from the Huyler Ditch. In addition, the existing diversion is likely a fish passage barrier in Lake Creek. Ranch owners and operators (including Lake Creek Ranches and Snake River Ranch), Trout Unlimited, Teton Conservation District, and Wyoming Game and Fish Department are concerned about the impacts of the diversion on the fishery in Lake Creek. In addition to entrainment issues, existing diversion is likely a fish barrier to fish movement in Lake Creek. The project would be a first step towards addressing fish passage and entrainment issues persistent in the area where the Snake River, Lake Creek, Granite Creek, and Fish Creek are interconnected
An alternatives analysis is underway for the design of improvements to the Lake Creek Ranch diversion that would allow upstream passage of fish past the diversion structure, as well as a screening system that would prevent entrainment of fish into the canal and its lateral ditches while also ensuring continued water delivery for ranch operations. The preliminary goals of the Lake Creek Ranches Fish Passage Project are to eliminate native fish entrainment from Lake Creek into the Mathieu Ditch, allow for fish passage for all life stages and species in Lake Creek upstream and downstream of the diversion structure, and maintain or improve current irrigation operations. If successful in implementing this project, project partners hope that other neighboring property owners in the Lake Creek / Granite Creek / Fish Creek watersheds would also consider future projects to improve fish passage and reduce fish entrainment.
Project partners to date include Jackson Hole Trout Unlimited, Lake Creek Ranches, Snake River Ranch, Teton Conservation District, and Wyoming Game & Fish Department.