River Restoration Project on the Laramie River

There will be a river restoration project on the Laramie River at the Jelm Wildlife Habitat Management Area (WHMA) starting in mid-July. The project will be addressing the channel stability and habitat enhancement for the trout in the river.

The Laramie River-Jelm Restoration project will be located upstream, or south, of the public fishing easement portion of the Jelm WHMA.

Homeowners along the easement have concerns over bank erosion, channel instability, and the condition of the trout habitat. The Laramie River cut off a large meander bend upstream of the fishing easement in 2018, and the Badger Creek Fire increased the amount of fine sediment in this reach of the river.

The project will involve some channel realignment, grade control, toe-wood bank stabilization, and pool and riffle enhancements.

Anglers should be aware that heavy equipment will prevent access to the river at the upper portion of the fishing easement, and should expect reduced water clarity temporarily due to sediment from the project. The project will last through mid-October, when it will cease while brown trout spawn, and will then begin again in early December.

For more information about the Jelm WHMA visit https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Public-Access/WHMA/WHMA/Jelm