A group of Wyoming fly fishermen needs help
resuscitating a river. Since 1961, a 17-foot conduit has been
sucking Platte River water from Wyoming’s Fremont Canyon and
tunneling it down to a hydro-electric power plant managed by the
Bureau of Reclamation. When the river dries up in the summer, “the
bugs dry up, the fish die, and there is no spawning,” says John
Dolan of Wyoming Fly Casters. Now the Bureau says it will restore a
year-round flow to the canyon. But there’s a catch: Since
re-establishing the river will cost $100,000 in yearly power
revenue, the Bureau wants to make sure there’s public support.
Wyoming Fly Casters has accepted the challenge and plans to raise
$70,000 by the year 2000. The money would pay for easements on
private land to guarantee public access to the river. “This is a
chance to restore a river and bring back part of the lifeblood of
our country,” says John Dolan. Contact Fremont Canyon Fishing
Access Project, P.O. Box 993, Casper, WY 82602-0993 (307/261-3261.)
” Rebecca
Clarren
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline A Wyoming river needs help.
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