Wyoming Dam Project Faces Eco-Scrutiny: Speak Up Now!
Published Date: 4/4/2025
Notice
Summary
Black Canyon Hydro wants to build a pumped storage project near Seminoe Reservoir in Wyoming, and the government is studying how it might affect the environment. They’re asking locals and anyone interested to share their thoughts before making big decisions. This review will take some time, so expect updates and chances to comment through 2025.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Large land disturbance from construction
The Seminoe Project would occupy 1,025.94 acres of BLM land and 77.00 acres of Reclamation land and would permanently disturb about 284.0 acres and temporarily disturb about 328.7 acres. Construction is expected to take about 5 years to complete.
Project water use from Seminoe Reservoir
The project would require 13,400 acre-feet of water to initially fill the upper reservoir and about 672 acre-feet of make-up water annually, and would cycle about 10,800 acre-feet between reservoirs during operation. That use involves Reclamation's Seminoe Reservoir on the North Platte River.
New 972 MW pumped storage power plant
If built, the Seminoe Project would have a combined generating capacity of 972 megawatts (three 324 MW pump-turbines) and could generate about 2,916 gigawatt-hours per year to provide on-peak power and ancillary grid services.
Potential harms to wildlife, fish, and recreation
The Commission's EIS identifies expected effects including soil disturbance and vegetation removal (including old growth timber), potential changes in water quality and quantity, possible entrainment and loss of fish, loss of wildlife habitat and noise effects on wildlife (including big game), and possible effects on recreation, public access, noise, and air quality.
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