Fontenelle Dam, Powerplant, and Reservoir, Seedskadee Project, are located on
the Green River 24 miles southeast of La Barge, Wyoming. The reservoir has a
surface area of 8,000 acres. The lake is 20 miles long when full and has a
shoreline of about 56 miles. Recreation management at Fontenelle Reservoir is
performed by the Bureau of Land Management under agreement with the Bureau of
Reclamation. The reservoir is situated north of Kemmerer, Wyoming, at an
elevation of 6,500 feet. Recreation use is low and seasonal. Fish species
include rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout. Fontenelle Reservoir Southeast
and Southwest, Anderson Canyon, and Names Hill U.S. Geological Survey maps
cover the area. Fontenelle Creek campground has developed campsites with
restrooms and running water. Camping fees are charged at Fontenelle Creek
Campground. There is no charge for boat launching, primitive camping,
picnicking or other activities. Three other primitive campsites are located
below the dam. Stream fishing opportunities exist on the Green River above and
below the reservoir. Phone: 801-379-1000 or BLM at: 307-352-0256 or 307-
828-4500

<a href="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Fontenelle+Dam" rel="nofollow">Fontenelle Dam</a>, Powerplant, and Reservoir, Seedskadee Project, are located on the Green River 24 miles southeast of La Barge, Wyoming. The reservoir has a surface area of 8,000 acres. The lake is 20 miles long when full and has a shoreline of about 56 miles. Recreation management at Fontenelle Reservoir is performed by the Bureau of Land Management under agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation. The reservoir is situated north of Kemmerer, Wyoming, at an elevation of 6,500 feet. Recreation use is low and seasonal. Fish species include rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout. Fontenelle Reservoir Southeast and Southwest, Anderson Canyon, and Names Hill U.S. Geological Survey maps cover the area. Fontenelle Creek campground has developed campsites with restrooms and running water. Camping fees are charged at Fontenelle Creek Campground. There is no charge for boat launching, primitive camping, picnicking or other activities. Three other primitive campsites are located below the dam. Stream fishing opportunities exist on the Green River above and below the reservoir. Phone: 801-379-1000 or BLM at: 307-352-0256 or 307- 828-4500

Bird's eye view of the park

Fontenelle Reservoir

The Tailrace Camp area features three campsites with fire rings and a vault
toilet. This campground is wedged between Fontenelle Reservoir and Seedskadee
National Wildlife Refuge, and so makes a fantastic site for birding, fishing,
or non-motorized water sports. Historically, this area was a gathering place
for trappers during their annual rendezvous, and the modern day explorer can
still see the lure of such a rich and welcoming area.

The Tailrace Camp area features three campsites with fire rings and a vault toilet. This campground is wedged between Fontenelle Reservoir and Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge, and so makes a fantastic site for birding, fishing, or non-motorized water sports. Historically, this area was a gathering place for trappers during their annual rendezvous, and the modern day explorer can still see the lure of such a rich and welcoming area.

Tailrace Camp Area

The Fontenelle Creek Recreation Site is a good location for camping, boating
and fishing. The site offers potable water, a trailer dump station, two major
parking areas for vehicle and boat trailer parking near boat ramp, a fully
functional boat ramp, boat dock, and handicap accessible rest room facilities.
It also has two handicap accessible campsites, two vault and three flush
restrooms, a total of 55 campsites with covered picnic tables and barbecue
grills, gravel pathways to restroom facilities, cement road barriers along the
road, trash facilities, fenced-in firewood area, as well as a paved route to
access reservoir.

The Fontenelle Creek Recreation Site is a good location for camping, boating and fishing. The site offers potable water, a trailer dump station, two major parking areas for vehicle and boat trailer parking near boat ramp, a fully functional boat ramp, boat dock, and handicap accessible rest room facilities. It also has two handicap accessible campsites, two vault and three flush restrooms, a total of 55 campsites with covered picnic tables and barbecue grills, gravel pathways to restroom facilities, cement road barriers along the road, trash facilities, fenced-in firewood area,  as well as a paved route to access reservoir.

A covered picnic area overlooks Fontenelle Lake.

Fontenelle Lake

Fontenelle Creek Recreation Area

This site is part of a popular shortcut, the Lander Cutoff, between the South
Pass and the Snake River valleys. Over 13,000 emigrants used this route in
1859, the first year it was open. Many of them carved their names onto the
"register" of the route, Names Hill, as they rested by the river after a dry
walk from the Big Sandy River. The most famous name on the register is that of
trapper Jim Bridger, who passed by in 1844.

This site is part of a popular shortcut, the Lander Cutoff, between the South Pass and the Snake River valleys. Over 13,000 emigrants used this route in 1859, the first year it was open. Many of them carved their names onto the "register" of the route, Names Hill, as they rested by the river after a dry walk from the Big Sandy River. The most famous name on the register is that of trapper Jim Bridger, who passed by in 1844.

Names Hill

The name Seedskadee originated from local tribes' word "Sisk-a-dee-agie"
meaning "river of the prairie hen." The 26,210 acre Refuge protects a mosaic
of riparian, wetland, and upland shrub habitats along 36 miles of the Green
River in southwest Wyoming. The riparian corridor of the Green River is an
important migration route and nesting area for a wide variety of migratory
waterfowl and passerine bird species. Many insects, big game and small mammals
can be found on the Refuge as well as resident and migratory birds. Refuge
lands are also rich in historic and cultural resources. The area was used by
nomadic Indian tribes, fur trappers, and early pioneers. Thousands of pioneers
crossed the treacherous Green River on what is now Seedskadee National
Wildlife Refuge. The Oregon, Mormon, and California Trails, as well as the
Pony Express Route, which all cross the refuge, have been designated as
National Historic Trails by Congress. Jim Bridger and others operated ferries
on the Green In the 1840's and 1850's. Diaries of immigrants often mention the
crossing on the river and its difficulties. Ferries were swept away by the
strong currents and lives and possessions were lost. To this day, some of the
trails can be traced across the Refuge by their ruts.

Seedskadee is a unique and important component of the National Wildlife Refuge
System (System) which includes more than 565 refuges totaling over 93 million
acres across the United States. Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge was
established in 1965 through the Colorado River Storage Project Act of 1956.
Section 8 of this Act provided for the establishment of wildlife habitat
development areas to offset the loss of wildlife habitat resulting from
reservoir development in the Colorado River Drainage. The Seedskadee
Reclamation Act of 1958 specifically authorized acquisition of lands for
Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge. In 1997, Congress passed the National
Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act. This Act required development of a
Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for each refuge and that management of
each refuge be consistent with the CCP. In addition, the Improvement Act
required that each refuge be managed to fulfill the mission of the National
Wildlife Refuge System as well as the specific purposes for which each refuge
was established.

Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge's purpose is defined by two pieces of
Federal enabling legislation. The principal purpose of Seedskadee National
Wildlife Refuge is to provide for the conservation, maintenance, and
management of wildlife resources and its habitat including the development and
improvement of such wildlife resources. Additionally, the Refuge is charged to
protect the scenery, cultural resources, and other natural resources and
provide for public use and enjoyment of compatible wildlife-dependent
activities.

The two pieces of enabling legislation are:

1\. Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act: “. . . shall be administered by
him/her (Secretary of the Interior) directly or in accordance with cooperative
agreements . . . and in accordance with such rules and regulations for the
conservation, maintenance and management of wildlife, resources thereof, and
its habitat thereon, ” 16 U.S.C. 664

2\. Colorado River Storage Act (section 8): “In connection with the
development of the Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP) and of the
participating projects, the Secretary is authorized and directed to
investigate, plan, construct, operate, and maintain . . . (1) public
recreational facilities on lands withdrawn or acquired . . .” for the Colorado
River Storage Project or participating projects in order to “. . . conserve
the scenery, the natural, historic, and archaeologic objects, and the wildlife
on said lands, and to provide for public use and enjoyment of the same and of
the water areas created by these projects by such means as are consistent with
primary purposes of said projects . . . and (2) facilities to mitigate losses
of and improve conditions for, the propagation of fish and wildlife.” The
Secretary may “. . . dispose of . . .” the facilities “. . . to Federal . . .
agencies . . . upon such terms and conditions as will best promote their
development and operation in the public interest.” 43 U.S.C. 620g Besides
these two pieces of enabling legislation, the thirty-fifth legislature of the
State of Wyoming passed enrolled Act No. 54 in 1959 “providing consent of the
State of Wyoming to the acquisition by the United States where approved by the
Wyoming Game and Fish Commission and the State Land Board, of lands for the
establishment of migratory bird refuges.” In the Act, the State of Wyoming has
consented to the acquisition of up to 20,000 acres of land in Wyoming for the
establishment and maintenance of migratory bird refuges in accordance with and
for the purposes of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act and the Migratory Bird
Hunting Stamp Act.

Thus, if ever any of these authorities, and associated funds, were invoked for
the acquisition of new lands for Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge, these
lands would be managed for “use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other
management purpose, for migratory birds” (16 U.S.C. 715d) in accordance with
the Migratory Bird Conservation Act. To date, all lands acquired have been
through Section 8 of the 1956 Colorado River Storage Project Act and, as such,
shall be managed under.

The name Seedskadee originated from local tribes' word "Sisk-a-dee-agie" meaning "river of the prairie hen." The 26,210 acre Refuge protects a mosaic of riparian, wetland, and upland shrub habitats along 36 miles of the Green River in southwest Wyoming. The riparian corridor of the Green River is an important migration route and nesting area for a wide variety of migratory waterfowl and passerine bird species. Many insects, big game and small mammals can be found on the Refuge as well as resident and migratory birds. Refuge lands are also rich in historic and cultural resources. The area was used by nomadic Indian tribes, fur trappers, and early pioneers. Thousands of pioneers crossed the treacherous Green River on what is now Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge. The Oregon, Mormon, and California Trails, as well as the Pony Express Route, which all cross the refuge, have been designated as National Historic Trails by Congress. Jim Bridger and others operated ferries on the Green In the 1840's and 1850's. Diaries of immigrants often mention the crossing on the river and its difficulties. Ferries were swept away by the strong currents and lives and possessions were lost. To this day, some of the trails can be traced across the Refuge by their ruts.  Seedskadee is a unique and important component of the National Wildlife Refuge System (System) which includes more than 565 refuges totaling over 93 million acres across the United States.  Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1965 through the Colorado River Storage Project Act of 1956. Section 8 of this Act provided for the establishment of wildlife habitat development areas to offset the loss of wildlife habitat resulting from reservoir development in the Colorado River Drainage. The Seedskadee Reclamation Act of 1958 specifically authorized acquisition of lands for Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge. In 1997, Congress passed the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act. This Act required development of a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for each refuge and that management of each refuge be consistent with the CCP. In addition, the Improvement Act required that each refuge be managed to fulfill the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System as well as the specific purposes for which each refuge was established.  Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge's purpose is defined by two pieces of Federal enabling legislation. The principal purpose of Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge is to provide for the conservation, maintenance, and management of wildlife resources and its habitat including the development and improvement of such wildlife resources. Additionally, the Refuge is charged to protect the scenery, cultural resources, and other natural resources and provide for public use and enjoyment of compatible wildlife-dependent activities. The two pieces of enabling legislation are:  1. Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act: “. . . shall be administered by him/her (Secretary of the Interior) directly or in accordance with cooperative agreements . . . and in accordance with such rules and regulations for the conservation, maintenance and management of wildlife, resources thereof, and its habitat thereon, ” 16 U.S.C. 6642. Colorado River Storage Act (section 8): “In connection with the development of the Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP) and of the participating projects, the Secretary is authorized and directed to investigate, plan, construct, operate, and maintain . . . (1) public recreational facilities on lands withdrawn or acquired . . .” for the Colorado River Storage Project or participating projects in order to “. . . conserve the scenery, the natural, historic, and archaeologic objects, and the wildlife on said lands, and to provide for public use and enjoyment of the same and of the water areas created by these projects by such means as are consistent with primary purposes of said projects . . . and (2) facilities to mitigate losses of and improve conditions for, the propagation of fish and wildlife.” The Secretary may “. . . dispose of . . .” the facilities “. . . to Federal . . . agencies . . . upon such terms and conditions as will best promote their development and operation in the public interest.” 43 U.S.C. 620g  Besides these two pieces of enabling legislation, the thirty-fifth legislature of the State of Wyoming passed enrolled Act No. 54 in 1959 “providing consent of the State of Wyoming to the acquisition by the United States where approved by the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission and the State Land Board, of lands for the establishment of migratory bird refuges.” In the Act, the State of Wyoming has consented to the acquisition of up to 20,000 acres of land in Wyoming for the establishment and maintenance of migratory bird refuges in accordance with and for the purposes of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act and the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act. Thus, if ever any of these authorities, and associated funds, were invoked for the acquisition of new lands for Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge, these lands would be managed for “use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for migratory birds” (16 U.S.C. 715d) in accordance with the Migratory Bird Conservation Act. To date, all lands acquired have been through Section 8 of the 1956 Colorado River Storage Project Act and, as such, shall be managed under.

Fontenelle Reservoir

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Nearby Parks

Tailrace Camp Area

Fontenelle Creek Recreation Area

Names Hill

Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge