Bighorn River Blueway Trail meeting Tuesday

WORLAND - The Bighorn Basin Outdoor Recreation Collaborative will host four public meetings to discuss the Bighorn River Blueway Trail project in north-central Wyoming, during the last two weeks of March, including one next Tuesday in Worland.

Facilitated by Wyoming Outdoor Recreation (WOR), the Bighorn Basin Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (BBORC) was the first of seven outdoor recreation initiatives to be convened around the state by Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, and Trails. These initiatives bring together local community members, recreation stakeholders, businesses, conservation groups, federal and state agencies, and elected officials to identify and prioritize opportunities for the growth and enhancement of outdoor recreation.

Washakie County Conservation District Executive Director Amanda O'Keefe is a member of the Bighorn River Blueway Trail Committee, a subcommittee of the Bighorn Basin Outdoor Recreation Collaborative. Other agencies involved, along with WOR, BBORC and the conservation district, include the Basin Area Chamber of Commerce, Thermopolis-Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce, the National Park Service through the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program and the Bureau of Land Management Worland Field Office. The Washakie County Commissioners are also supporters of the project.

THE MEETINGS

O'Keefe said the public meetings "will provide everyone a chance to learn about our water trail project and provide a venue to express their thoughts and concerns."

The meetings began Tuesday with one in Lovell and continue tonight (Thursday) in Basin at the Basin City Arts Center, March 29 in Worland at the Washakie County Library and Thursday, March 31 at the Thermopolis Fire Hall.

The meetings in the Big Horn Basin will be open house meetings with all meetings running from 6 to 8 p.m. There will be a short introduction to the project at 6 p.m. and again at 7 p.m. 

There will be several stations set up at each meeting so that people can talk one-on-one or in small groups with members of the committee. Topics at the stations will be recreational use, conservation and education, programs and promotions, local outdoor economy improvements and a mapping table.

The public is invited to come when they are able. 

The Bighorn River Blueway Trail Committee also encourages members of the public to complete a 10-minute survey to provide additional information that will be of value to the project. The survey can be viewed at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/bighornblueway.

THE PROJECT

According to a release from Wyoming Outdoor Recreation (WOR), "the Bighorn River Blueway Trail will start at the Wedding of the Waters south of Thermopolis and end at Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area in Lovell, covering a 95-mile stretch of the Bighorn River. This trail will offer recreationalists a wide variety of outdoor opportunities including wildlife watching, ever changing scenery, fishing, picnicking, boating, paddling, and camping, and it will contribute to the health of the Big Horn Basin's travel and outdoor recreation industries."

A blueway, or water trail, is a marked route on navigable waterways such as rivers, lakes, canals, and coastlines for recreational use. Blueway trails are organized by local volunteers with the help of public officials and private landowners, all of whom promote its proper use and maintenance, according to the WOR.

Blueway trails have tremendous benefits for local communities. Not only do they connect towns with their rivers and surrounding lands, but they also enhance the local quality of life through positive impacts to health, the economy and the environment, according to WOR.

The creation of this trail has the potential to bring significant recreation economic growth to the communities along the Bighorn River including Thermopolis, Worland, Manderson, Greybull, Basin and Lovell.

There are four phases planned for the trailway project, O'Keefe said and with the initial support of the Washakie County Commissioners the phase of Worland to Greybull was moved to the first phase at this time.

The second phase would be Greybull to the Bighorn Canyon, third Thermopolis to Gooseberry Creek and fourth Gooseberry Creek to Worland.

Along the 95 miles from Wedding of the Waters to the North Kane Boat Ramp in the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area there are 16 access points with some new points planned including in Washakie County.

O'Keefe said the two proposed sites are on state land off of Chukar Drive and another on county land off of the Tie Down Road. She noted a special land use permit is needed for the state land.

She added the goal is to have this 95 miles mapped out to include access areas, safe water levels, while indicating hazards including portages around conversion dams, and community information.

Established by recommendation of the 2017 Governor's Outdoor Recreation Task Force, the Office of Outdoor Recreation aims to diversify Wyoming's economy by expanding, enhancing, and promoting responsible recreational opportunities through collaboration, outreach, and coordination with stakeholders, landowners, private industry, and public officials. Learn more about Wyoming Outdoor Recreation's collaboratives and recreational opportunities across the state by following them on social media or visiting http://www.wyorec.com.