From CiCi Oliver, manger of Ugly Bug Fly Shop in Casper, WY:
rPlus Hydro, a Salt Lake City based energy company, is proposing the Seminoe Pumped Storage Project. This project calls to build a new reservoir on top of the Seminoe mountain range, creating an “open-loop” system though pulling water from the existing Seminoe reservoir. Water will be cycled back and forth from the two reservoirs. The Miracle Mile flows from the Seminoe Reservoir.
Without getting in the weeds too much (I could write a novel at this point), our main concerns with the effect of this project on the Miracle Mile are increased water temperatures, decreased dissolved oxygen levels, sedimentation, turbidity, and entrainment. These fears are not unfounded as rPlus released an EIS statement that we are … less than impressed with to say the least. Outside of the effects on the Miracle Mile, the new reservoir will sit smack-dab in the middle of the only disease-free Bighorn sheep herd in the state of Wyoming, as well as disrupt prime habitat for Sage Grouse and Mule Deer. Furthermore, this will utilize about 1,000 acres of currently public BLM land. The Wyoming Game and Fish, Trout Unlimited, and Wild Sheep Foundation have expressed serious concerns about this project.
rPlus has kept the storage project largely under the radar. They are currently applying for permits through FERC. We (The Ugly Bug Fly Shop and the coalition we are part of, Friends of the North Platte) are trying to spread this information to make sure the public is informed. If you look at the project and see what the residents of Casper and the surrounding areas are seeing, we would love your help spreading this information and calling for comment to FERC.
Below are some informative links:
