Casper presenters outline decades-long North Platte River restoration, seek major grants and construction funding

Casper city and partner staff on Sept. 9 updated the City Council on the North Platte River restoration project, a decades-long effort that project leaders said protects drinking water infrastructure, reduces erosion and supports recreation and tourism in and around Casper.

The presentation by Jolene Martinez, who has led the city’s restoration effort, and technical staff summarized completed work, ecological results and near-term funding and schedule: a $3 million WaterSmart grant will cover most of a $4 million Isaac Walton reach project; an $872,000 grant will fund design and study on the North Platte Park/Knife River reach and, if the study reaches 60% design and is approved, could qualify the city for a noncompetitive $20 million construction award toward a project with an estimated $30 million construction cost.

The project, Martinez said, “is an effort to improve one of our community’s greatest assets, the North Platte River.” She and other presenters described four broad goals: protect riparian wetlands and drinking-water wells, reduce sedimentation and bank erosion, restore fish and wildlife habitat and expand public access.

Presenters gave results from past work: volunteers…