The Blackrock Creek Fish Habitat and Irrigation Improvement Project improved fish habitat, fish passage, stream function, and irrigation operations along Blackrock Creek adjacent to the Blackrock Ranger Station and upstream of Highway 26. The project rehabilitated a leveed bank of Blackrock Creek that was recently augmented for flood protection and incorporated instream structures and vegetation to enhance fish habitat and cover while also reducing near-bank stress. The project also explored opportunities to reduce entrainment, reduce flood risk, and improve water delivery at an irrigation diversion currently tied into the leveed bank for the benefit of native fish, water users, and down-ditch landowners.
Although the bank was protected as a result of the emergency stabilization measures implemented in 2017, which reinforced approximately 360 LF of levee by adding “riprap”, or rock protection, the BTNF and project partners wanted to revisit the site to accomplish several natural resource goals in addition to flood protection.
The goals of the Blackrock Creek project were to enhance habitat and reduce entrainment for all life stages of native fish; improve flood protection of public and private property and streambanks within the project reach in a manner more compatible with the national Wild and Scenic Rivers Act; and improve and/or rehabilitate existing irrigation infrastructure to reduce maintenance needs and flood risk resulting from potential failure. The project’s objectives included: 1) installing instream structures to alleviate near bank stress against the leveed bank; 2) reconfiguring the levee from its emergency-repair state to include bioengineering techniques such as vegetation and a bankfull bench to further alleviate near bank stress and provide better cover for aquatic species; 3) reconfiguring and/or strengthening the headgate and diversion to reduce risk of failure, reduce instream disturbance, reduce debris loading, improve reliability of water delivery, and reduce entrainment of native fish; and 4) increasing quality and diversity of habitat for native Snake River cutthroat trout and other native fish (including green suckers, a WY Species of Greatest Conservation Need, mountain whitefish, suckers, longnose dace, redside shiners, and sculpin) – which also improved opportunities for anglers that like to fish this stretch of water. Through these project activities, project partners believe that they can showcase compatibility between flood protection, irrigation, and fish habitat goals on a highly visible section of Blackrock Creek on public land.
Project partners to date include the Bridger-Teton National Forest, Jackson Hole Trout Unlimited, Teton Conservation District, Wyoming Game & Fish Department, Wyoming Water Development Commission, and private irrigators.
