Tuesday, April 7th, 2026 |
Photo – Seminoe Reservoir – Bigfoot99 File Photo
State lawmakers say they will educate themselves about the impact the Seminoe Pumped Storage Project may have on wildlife.
On April 1st, the Wyoming Management Council met to review the upcoming work schedules for the state’s committees and boards before the next legislative session. Senator Bill Landen said the Travel, Recreation, Wildlife, and Cultural Resources Committee, which he co‑chairs, will use the off‑season to meet with wildlife conservation groups. The committee plans to discuss the possible effects of the proposed Seminoe Pumped Storage Facility on the Seminoe-Ferris bighorn sheep herd and the blue‑ribbon Miracle Mile trout fishery.
Utah‑based rPlus Hydro, also known as Black Canyon Hydro, has proposed building a pumped storage facility at Seminoe Reservoir. Plans call for a 13,000‑acre‑foot man‑made lake to be built on a mountaintop above the existing reservoir.
The plan calls for the upper and lower bodies of water to be connected by an underground electrical powerhouse. During periods of high wind‑energy production, water would be pumped from Seminoe Reservoir into the upper lake, where it would be stored until needed. When demand outpaces production, the water would flow downhill through the underground turbine, generating approximately 900 megawatts of electricity for up to 12 hours. The cycle would repeat as needed.
At the April 1st Wyoming Management Council meeting, Travel, Recreation, Wildlife, and Cultural Resources Committee co‑chairman Andrew Byron added that local county commissioners have asked the state to closely monitor the project.
Wyoming Management Council member Jeremy Haroldson questioned why the Travel, Recreation, Wildlife, and Cultural Resources Committee was involved in the Seminoe Pumped Storage Project discussion. The Laramie and Platte County representative said another committee may be better suited to handle energy‑related issues.
Senator Landon responded that many constituents are concerned about the effect the project may have on the Seminoe-Ferris bighorn sheep herd. The Natrona County Republican added that the herd is the last in the state still free of domestic livestock diseases, such as pneumonia.
Senator Landen said the Wyoming Game and Fish Department received considerable public feedback about the potential effects on the downstream ecosystem, particularly the Miracle Mile. Landen noted that the Travel, Recreation, Wildlife, and Cultural Resources Committee has chosen to educate itself on a wide range of wildlife‑related issues, including the Seminoe Pumped Storage Facility, before the next legislative session.
Senator Landen said the committee will share what it learns with sportsmen, landowners, wildlife groups, and interested constituents.
Representative Andrew Byron reiterated that the Seminoe Pumped Storage Facility may negatively affect the Miracle Mile, noting that trout are highly sensitive to changes in water temperature.
Representative Byron acknowledged that the Seminoe project relates to several joint and standing committees, but said many state agencies, including the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, argue they’ve been left out of the process. As a recreational angler, Byron said he wants to know more about the potential effects the facility could have on the Miracle Mile.
Senator Tara Nethercott, who sits on the Minerals, Business, and Economic Development Committee, agreed that the Seminoe Pumped Storage Facility is relevant to many areas of state government. Senator Nethercott said the Minerals Committee isn’t focused on the project’s potential impact on wildlife, and that the Travel, Recreation, Wildlife, and Cultural Resources Committee’s involvement is warranted.
On March 9th, the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality issued a Section 401 Water Quality Certification for the Seminoe Pumped Storage project. The state agency concluded that the facility will not degrade water quality in the Seminoe Reservoir or the downstream Miracle Mile trout fishery. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which is handling the licensing process, has targeted June 12th to release its Final Environmental Impact Statement. Afterward, FERC will have until September 17th to file an Order Issuing License to approve or deny the project.
Before work can begin, rPlus Hydro must still secure authorization from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Bureau of Land Management, which is being asked to amend the Rawlins Resource Management Plan to allow year‑round construction. Under the current plan, work is limited to a four‑month window from May through August to avoid disturbing the local bighorn sheep population.
