The Natrona County Conservation District (NCCD) has been serving Natrona County and the City of Casper since 1946, working collectively with other agencies such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Casper Alcova Irrigation District (CAID), Natrona County and the City of Casper, as well as many other city, county and state agencies on local conservation issues.
Board of Supervisors & District Manager
Natrona County Conservation District is led by an elected Board of Supervisors. These board members are elected at the general election every two years, and serve as volunteers. The board is made up of of three (3) rural representatives, one (1) urban representative and one (1) at-large representative, as required by state statutes. This ensures that both City and County residents get representation when making decisions on District projects. The Board of Supervisors guide local conservation projects in Natrona County.
The office is run by a District Manager, who manages grants for local conservation projects, oversees the budget, and runs the tree program and educational workshops. See the Board of Supervisors page to meet our Board of Supervisors and District Manager.
The board meetings are always open to the public so if you have an interest in local conservation efforts, you are always welcome to attend!
Watershed Health & Geology
The Natrona County Conservation District's top priority is the health of our watershed. The underlying geology of Natrona County greatly affects our watershed. Why the geology? Natrona County is situated largely on Cody Shale, a remnant of the Cretacious Period. The Cody Shale layer beneath us contains high levels of naturally occurring selenium, a heavy metal and priority pollutant for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). This selenium is easily transported into our waterways through excessive irrigation, ponding, and storm water runoff.
Consequently, Natrona County is home to eight (8) waterbodies that are listed on Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality's 303(d) list for selenium impairment, including four ponds or reservoirs (Rasmus Lee Lake, Goose Lake, Illco Pond, and Thirty-three Mile Reservoir (also known as Bressler Reservoir)), and four drainages or creeks (Poison Spring Creek, Oregon Trail Drain, Poison Spider Creek, and Casper Creek). The North Platte River was listed as impaired for selenium in 2000 but was removed in 2018 due to the work accomplished by the NCCD and its partners. See Success in the North Platte River for the incredible story of the North Platte River, and for more information on selenium, please see our What Is Selenium? page.
Natrona County Conservation District has worked diligently over the years to improve the water quality in the North Platte River Watershed. The board has worked closely with City and County officials, local landowners, farmers and ranchers to limit the concentration of selenium that enters our waterways. Over eighteen years of water quality data, obtained by NCCD, has shown a definite decline in the levels of selenium in our waterways. This decrease shows a strong, positive correlation with Best Management Practices (BMPs) that have been implemented in our watershed with the assistance from grants received by NCCD for "on the ground" work.
North Platte River Watershed TMDL Implementation Plan
From 2009 through 2011, the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) compiled a Total Daily Maximum Load (TMDL) for the Middle North Platte River Watershed. Based upon the findings of the TMDL, NCCD applied for a grant through WDEQ to continue watershed work with the goal of removing the North Platte River from the 303(d) list (Wyoming's Impaired Waterbody List). In 2012, a WDEQ Non-Point Source grant was awarded to the District to improve local irrigation practices, and to continue a stringent water sampling program. Since 2012, three additional WDEQ grants have been awarded to the NCCD to continue our conservation efforts. A huge success was realized with the de-listing of the North Platte River from the WDEQ 303(d) List! See the Success in the North Platte River page for more information. Also, please see our North Platte Project page for more information.
Through education and outreach, NCCD works with Natrona County residents and landowners to implement surface water and land best management practices (BMPs) to lower the selenium levels in creeks, drainages, and the North Platte River. For a copy of the 2018 Integrated 305(b) and 303(d) Report, please click HERE.
Level I Watershed Study - Middle North Platte River Watershed
In 2011, NCCD requested funding from the Wyoming Water Development Commission (WWDC) to complete a Watershed Study on the Middle North Platte River Watershed. While many "studies" are just studies that collect dust in someone's office, this Level I Watershed Study will culminate with a document that lays out a plan for watershed improvements over the next decades, along with potential costs and funding sources for these projects. The study was recommended by the WWDC to the Wyoming State Legislature for funding, and the study was approved. In May 2012, consultants were hired to complete this project. Please see our Level I Watershed Study page for more information. This project was completed in spring of 2014. For more detailed information visit the Wyoming Water Development Commission's website HERE, and scroll down to reports completed on the North Platte. Our report is entitled "Middle North Platte Watershed Study", and both the final report and executive summary are available.
From 2009 through 2011, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) hired consultants to compile a Total Daily Maximum Load (TMDL) for the Middle North Platte River Watershed. Based upon the findings of the TMDL, NCCD applied for a grant through DEQ to continue watershed work with the goal of getting the North Platte River removed from the 303(d) list. A grant in the amount of $735,430 was awarded to the District to utilize for improvements to waterways, irrigation improvements, and continued water sampling. A huge portion of this grant is strictly for "on the ground" work! Please see our North Platte Project page for more information.
Through education and outreach, NCCD works with Natrona County residents and landowners to implement surface water and land best management practices (BMPs) to lower the selenium levels in creeks, drainages, and the North Platte River. For a copy of the 2014 Integrated 305(b) and 303(d) Report, please click HERE.
North Platte River Watershed TMDL Implementation Plan
From 2009 through 2011, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) hired consultants to compile a Total Daily Maximum Load (TMDL) for the Middle North Platte River Watershed. Based upon the findings of the TMDL, NCCD applied for a grant through DEQ to continue watershed work with the goal of getting the North Platte River removed from the 303(d) list. A grant in the amount of $735,430 was awarded to the District to utilize for improvements to waterways, irrigation improvements, and continued water sampling. A huge portion of this grant is strictly for "on the ground" work! Please see our North Platte Project page for more information.
Through education and outreach, NCCD works with Natrona County residents and landowners to implement surface water and land best management practices (BMPs) to lower the selenium levels in creeks, drainages, and the North Platte River. For a copy of the 2014 Integrated 305(b) and 303(d) Report, please click HERE.
North Platte River Watershed TMDL Implementation Plan
From 2009 through 2011, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) hired consultants to compile a Total Daily Maximum Load (TMDL) for the Middle North Platte River Watershed. Based upon the findings of the TMDL, NCCD applied for a grant through DEQ to continue watershed work with the goal of getting the North Platte River removed from the 303(d) list. A grant in the amount of $735,430 was awarded to the District to utilize for improvements to waterways, irrigation improvements, and continued water sampling. A huge portion of this grant is strictly for "on the ground" work! Please see our North Platte Project page for more information.
Through education and outreach, NCCD works with Natrona County residents and landowners to implement surface water and land best management practices (BMPs) to lower the selenium levels in creeks, drainages, and the North Platte River. For a copy of the 2014 Integrated 305(b) and 303(d) Report, please click HERE.
