Casper Demanded New Seminoe Project Water Studies
The city and American Rivers seek updated environmental modeling for the proposed Seminoe Pumped Storage Project.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Utilities
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The City of Casper and American Rivers have requested additional water studies for the Seminoe Pumped Storage Project amid concerns about downstream impacts. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is currently preparing a supplemental Environmental Impact Statement to address these issues.
Why it matters
Local officials and conservationists fear the project could increase water temperatures in the Miracle Mile trout fishery and harm the Central Wyoming Regional Water Treatment Plant. The plant serves 74,500 residents who depend on the stability of the North Platte River water supply.
Project operations must pause if the reservoir elevation falls to 6,290 feet, a level below the 6,305 feet measured in 2013. The reservoir falls below that 2013 level in 28 out of 80 years, creating potential reliability risks for water operations.
The players
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
This is a United States federal agency that regulates the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas, and oil.
American Rivers
This is a national non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and restoring rivers and streams across the United States.
City of Casper
This is the municipal government for the city of Casper, Wyoming, which manages local water infrastructure for residents.
Bureau of Land Management
This is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior responsible for administering federal lands.
The details
FERC is utilizing water modeling data from 2013 to 2016 to evaluate the project, leading to calls for more current analysis. The Bureau of Land Management is also tasked with reviewing amendments to the Rawlins Resource Management Plan to account for the facility.
Timeline
FERC utilized modeling data from 2013 to 2016.
FERC filed intent for a supplemental environmental statement on September 11, 2026.
American Rivers filed project scoping comments on October 8, 2026.
The Casper City Council outlined project objections on October 9, 2026.
The public comment period for the supplemental statement ends October 13, 2026.
Market Landscape
This dispute marks a critical intersection between renewable energy development and the protection of municipal water assets. The conflict follows a pattern set by the Rawlins Resource Management Plan, where land use mandates force federal regulators to reconcile storage infrastructure with regional utility security.
Residents may see changes in water management policies if the project impacts the local water treatment facility. These regulatory reviews are designed to protect the reliability and temperature stability of the water supply for the 74,500 people served by the plant.
The takeaway
Reliable water access remains a primary concern for local stakeholders when evaluating large-scale energy infrastructure. Residents are encouraged to monitor upcoming FERC regulatory updates to understand how these projects may alter regional resource management.
What happens next
FERC is currently projected to issue a final decision regarding the project on October 21, 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about local utility infrastructure developments in the Utilities section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Bigfoot99-KTGA.
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