Game and Fish make improvements at Saratoga Lake

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) has completed work on the dam and fishing platforms at Saratoga Lake, making the area open to full public use again.

According to the WGFD, the department's Habitat and Access crew worked with a contractor to install rock rip rap along the Saratoga Lake dam crest and shoreline for wave action erosion control. Work at the area, which began March 10 and was expected to be complete by May 15, included reshaping the dam top and shoreline slope on the dam, and removal of some of the dam's vegetation. Additionally, all disturbed soils were reseeded to provide benefit to local wildlife.

"The project was probably completed around the end of March or early April, and the original intent was for erosion control, since the wave action comes in and beats against the shore and erodes things," said WGFD Information Specialist Robin Kepple. "They had truck drivers bringing in gravel out there, and people made sure there was enough extra time in case of any problems or other things that came up. The area was closed during construction, but is open once again for folks."

To improve fishing access along the dam, workers constructed several rock-made platforms on the shoreline for fishermen to stand while reeling in catches.

"Anglers should really enjoy these fishing platforms, which will give them a safer place to stand and better access to the water as they fish," Kepple said. "With the mild weather predicted, it's a perfect time for people to get out there and try out these new fishing platforms and see what's biting. We wanted to give people a good level rock surface to stand and balance on while fishing."

The work at Saratoga Lake was designed by PMPC Engineering, which also supervised all construction, and the dam crest and shoreline rock work was necessary to meet the State Engineer's Office requirements for dam safety.

 

Reader Comments(0)