10/01/2026
Friends of the North Platte would like to make North Platte Walleyes Unlimited aware of an important new public comment opportunity regarding the proposed Seminoe Pumped Storage Project.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has determined that additional environmental review is needed before it can decide whether to grant the project the variances required under the Rawlins Resource Management Plan.
Because your organization has long supported Wyoming's walleye fisheries and the anglers who depend on them, we encourage you to consider submitting comments regarding potential impacts to Seminoe Reservoir and its nationally recognized walleye fishery.
Here are some talking points:
Walleye Fishery Impacts - Project modeling suggests that as many as 24,000 walleye could be killed each year after being pulled into the project's intake system. The project could also cause Seminoe Reservoir to rise and fall by 12 to 15 inches every day. These water level changes could leave walleye eggs stranded and dry, reducing spawning success. In addition, project operations could change water temperatures, dissolved oxygen levels, and water clarity, all of which play an important role in the health of the reservoir and its fish populations. If these impacts cannot be fully understood and effectively mitigated, they deserve much closer scrutiny before any decision is made.
Public Land Access - The project footprint would place large industrial facilities on more than 1,000 acres of public land and could affect how people access and use the area for fishing, hunting, boating, camping, and other recreation. A private, out of state company should not be able to dictate the use of Wyoming’s public lands.
Bighorn Sheep Herd Impacts - Wyoming Game and Fish has warned that this herd has a strong attachment to the project area and is especially vulnerable to stress, which can reduce reproduction, lower lamb survival, increase disease risk, and potentially lead to population declines. The Department has stated that the Ferris-Seminoe herd is Wyoming’s healthiest bighorn sheep herd and that project impacts may not be fully mitigated.
Rawlins Resource Management Plan - The project does not align with portions of the existing Rawlins Resource Management Plan, so BLM is considering amending the plan to accommodate this project. If the proponent wants to build, they should have to play by the rules that apply to other industries. The rules should not be re-written for the sake of “green” energy.
Please reach out with any questions about the project or the comment process. We appreciate your continued commitment to Wyoming's fisheries and public resources.
COMMENT PERIOD CLOSES OCTOBER 13th, 2026
FERC DOCKET NUMBER: P-14787
HOW TO LEAVE A FERC COMMENT
