The red sections in the graph above represent estimations of Fish Creek’s discharge during the stretches of time when the streamgage was disabled. Blue sections represent data collected when the gage was functioning.

Something fishy is going on at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) streamgage station on Fish Creek in Wilson. The gauging station has provided vital information on Fish Creek’s discharge and temperature for the past 27 years. But, this summer, repeated vandalism put the gaging station out of commission. “The Fish Creek gage supports irrigators, recreationalists, and water managers. Being that almost the entirety of Fish Creek flows on private lands, judicious water management there is essential, and this gage provides real-time data to anyone who needs to use it,” said Carlin Girard, Water Resources Specialist and Associate Director of Teton Conservation District.

The station has been operated by USGS in partnership with the Wyoming State Engineer’s Office (WSEO) for years. But, because of State budget cuts, the WSEO was unable to continue funding the station, and USGS was poised to shut down the Fish Creek and 12 other gaging stations around Wyoming. The locally-elected Teton Conservation District board, which is funded by the mill levy, recognized the importance of the Fish Creek streamgage and committed $12,500 to cost-share with USGS and keep the station running.

With this local funding support, the Fish Creek gaging station should continue to operate as it has for nearly three decades—as long as the mysterious repeated vandalism ceases. The station has been disabled three times in recent months, but USGS acted as quickly as possible to get the site back online. Everyone is hopeful that the vandalism is in the past, but it is requested that anyone who witnesses tampering calls local law enforcement.