Wyoming Nonpoint Source Program

The  Wyoming Nonpoint Source Program  is part of the  Water Quality Division  (WQD) of the  Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality  (DEQ).

Its goals are to identify sources of nonpoint source pollution to surface water and groundwater of the State of Wyoming, and to prevent and reduce nonpoint source pollution such that water quality standards are achieved and maintained. 

The program works through a set of overarching principles that emphasize voluntary and incentive-based participation, locally led projects, partnerships, measurable water quality improvement, and effective and efficient program administration.

This report provides a summary of the activities and accomplishments of the Wyoming Nonpoint Source Program for 2019 in order to educate the public about actions being taken by state, local, and federal agencies to address nonpoint source pollution in Wyoming.

Interest in grant opportunities through the Nonpoint Source Program remains high. We were pleased to support nine new projects in 2019 that will work in areas across the state to improve and protect Wyoming’s water quality.--Kevin Frederick, DEQ/WQD Administrator

Voluntary programs such as the Nonpoint Source Program are an important part of how the DEQ achieves its mission. Voluntary programs require partnerships to be successful, and the DEQ wishes to thank its local, state, and federal partners for their efforts to improve and protect Wyoming’s water quality in 2019.--Todd Parfitt, DEQ Director  

Did you know that nonpoint sources of pollution cause the majority of Wyoming's--and the nation's--surface water quality impairments? Impaired waterbodies are those streams, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs that are not meeting water quality standards. Standards are established to ensure waters support their designated uses--uses such as drinking water, recreation, fisheries, agriculture, industry, and others.

A total of 170 projects have been sponsored by local, state, or federal partners.

Over $21.2 million in grant funds have been invested in nonpoint source pollution reduction projects. Over $20.8 million in nonfederal funds have matched these projects.

A total of 55 agencies or organizations have sponsored projects. Conservation districts continue to sponsor the majority (56%) of projects.

Out of four broad project types (implementation, education, planning/assessment, and groundwater), the majority of funds (over 76%) continue to be spent toward implementation projects that install on-the-ground best management practices for water quality improvement in Wyoming's streams, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.

Water quality monitoring data continue to show positive results. To date, 15 stream and river segments totaling over 187 miles have been restored to meeting water quality standards using technical and financial assistance provided by the DEQ. All of Wyoming's restoration success stories can be viewed on  EPA's Nonpoint Source Success Stories website .

Wyoming received $859,000 with the 2019 Section 319 grant; funds were awarded to eight projects.

Wyoming received $40,000 with the 2019 Section 205(j) grant; funds were awarded to one new project.

A total of 32 projects were active in 2019 (28 Section 319 projects and 4 Section 205(j) projects). Click  here  for a complete list of projects.

Eight projects were completed in 2019 (five Section 319 projects and three Section 205(j) projects).

It is estimated that completed Section 319 projects reduced

• sediment loading by over 1,650 tons/year
• nitrogen loading by over 4,800 pounds/year
• phosphorus loading by over 750 pounds/year
• E. coli loading by over 4.8E+14 MPN/year
• selenium loading by over 70 pounds/year

Numerous best management practices were implemented in 2019, including

• over 1.3 miles of irrigation pipeline
• nearly 270 acres of sprinkler irrigation 
• 12 off-channel water projects
• over 2,500 feet of riparian fencing and cross fencing for grazing management
• 2 faulty septic system replacements
• 1 corral runoff management project
• 35 pet waste stations
• 1 rain garden
• 1 irrigation push-up dam removal and replacement with permanent rock structure
• 25 miles of roads/routes decommissioned on public lands
• nearly 2 miles of stream channel/bank restoration or protection

In 2019, an in-depth success story was published by EPA on the 2018 restoration of the North Platte River near Casper, Wyoming:  In-Depth Nonpoint Source Success Story: Communitywide Efforts to Convert to Sprinkler Irrigation Reduces Selenium and Yields Environmental and Economic Benefits . This is the first in-depth success story published in the nation!

The Nonpoint Source Program works each year to meet nine objectives established in the  Wyoming Nonpoint Source Management Plan (2013 Update) . This next section describes those objectives and highlighted accomplishments for 2019.

Addressing nonpoint source pollution is a team effort, and the Nonpoint Source Program wishes to acknowledge the contributions of all staff in the DEQ/WQD Watershed Section.

The Nonpoint Source Program also wishes to thank the project sponsors and other program partners who contributed information, photos, and visuals for this report.

This report was prepared by Jennifer Zygmunt, Nonpoint Source Program Coordinator with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division. She can be reached at 307-777-6080 or jennifer.zygmunt@wyo.gov. Assistance was provided by other DEQ personnel, including Chad Kopplin (GIS Manager), Keith Guille (Public Information Officer), Kristine Galloway (Public Relations Specialist), and numerous staff in the WQD Watershed Protection and Groundwater sections.