North Platte River

Flooding is causing problems for some of the state’s farmers and ranchers.

Annie Bryce is the county executive director for the Farm Service Agency in Fremont County. She says May flooding near Lander and Riverton damaged ditches, which can prevent irrigation of farmland. That flooding also destroyed fences, which can lead to the loss of livestock.

"If there are no fences, you know, that cow or calf goes down for a drink and often drowns. I have producers that their fences all went down and they’re still missing over a hundred head," says Bryce.

Several residents have been asked to evacuate their homes in Wood’s Landing because an access road was flooded by the rising Laramie River.  And residents in the towns of Saratoga and Encampment are on alert for evacuations, as high snow melt floods the North Platte River.  Flooding in Park and Fremont Counties has not led to evacuations, but officials are wary of rainfall this weekend.  

Kathi Metzler is the Emergency Management Coordinator in Fremont County where she’s monitoring the Wind River.

Flooding may lead to evacuations in some Wyoming communities this week. Rapid snowmelt and heavy rain have brought the North Platte and Laramie rivers to flood levels.  Kelly Ruiz with Wyoming Homeland Security says Saratoga, on the west side of the Snowy Range, will be hardest hit.

“Right now, the National Weather Service is predicting that the North Platte River at Saratoga, they’re predicting it to be at 10.58 on Friday.  And that’s a record level of water.  The previous record was set in 2011 at 10.49.”