Hutton Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Wetlands of Hutton Lake NWR (from CCP)

Hutton Lake NWR consists of five impoundments and surrounding uplands immediately adjacent to the floodplain of the Laramie River southwest of Laramie. Originally, there were likely only three separate basins—what is now Creighton Lake, Lake George, and Hutton Lake. Dikes were constructed to create Rush and Hoge lakes, and along the west boundary of the refuge, in an apparent attempt to keep water from reaching the floodplain to the west. A diversion structure structure
Something temporarily or permanently constructed, built, or placed; and constructed of natural or manufactured parts including, but not limited to, a building, shed, cabin, porch, bridge, walkway, stair steps, sign, landing, platform, dock, rack, fence, telecommunication device, antennae, fish cleaning table, satellite dish/mount, or well head.

Learn more about structure was also placed in Sand Creek to move appropriated water from the creek to the refuge, and ditches were dug to connect Rush and Creighton lakes and Lake George for easier water movement between them.

Creighton Lake (210 surface acres or 2,525 acre-feet) and Hutton Lake (221 surface acres or 1,135 acre-feet) are large and fairly deep open water areas with no water management capabilities once water reaches them. They typically fluctuate between various water levels based on yearly water availability and evaporation, rarely being completely full or dry. The fluctuating water levels prevent the establishment of emergent vegetation on these two wetlands by either drying up or flooding out any plants that might try to take hold.

Lake George, a smaller natural basin (16 surface acres or 250 acre-feet), receives water more often and more reliably than the larger pools. It maintains a water level stable enough for the establishment of a hardstem bulrush ring that completely encircles the lake.

Rush and Hoge lakes are larger than Lake George, but shallower and smaller than Hutton and Creighton lakes. Rush Lake (95 surface acres or 250 acre-feet) is the first in the system to receive water, so it generally benefits from available water from Sand Creek. It is also the shallowest pool and tends to dry up the quickest when water ceases to be available for recharge. Over 50 percent of Rush lake is emergent vegetation—hardstem bulrush and cattail—with numerous smaller areas of open water, and historic ditches through the lake to aid water movement to Hoge Lake and Lake George. Hoge Lake (75 surface acres or 200 acre-feet) has open water through its middle with significant stands of hardstem bulrush along the dike between it and Rush Lake and in the bay on its south side. Submergent vegetation is found in all pools but not in large amounts.

Creighton and Hutton lakes are important resting areas for waterfowl in the spring and fall, as rafts of redheads, scaup, canvasback, and coots numbering in the thousands are not uncommon. Canada geese use these lakes as molting areas in the summer. George Lake and Hoge and Rush lakes provide nesting habitat for coots, ruddy ducks, blackbirds, marsh wrens, pied-billed grebes, and soras, as well as feeding habitat for coots and dabbling ducks. Rush Lake also provides nesting habitat for whitefaced ibis and black-crowned night-herons. Water levels are generally low enough on Creighton and Hutton lakes to allow nesting by American avocets and killdeer, but the lakes can potentially flood in high-water years.

During the summers of 2004 and 2005, California gull and double-crested cormorant rookery were established along the north shore of Hutton Lake. This previously unobserved activity occurred below the high waterline of the lake, and it is unknown whether nesting would occur under high water conditions.

From the time of its establishment to present, the lack of senior water rights for Hutton Lake NWR has been an issue. In the semiarid Laramie Basin, water is a key resource to manage habitat for the benefit of migratory bird species. The refuge owns junior water rights, which means the refuge wetlands water levels are dependent on natural processes and the willingness of neighbors with senior water rights from Sand Creek to share their water. Records from the 1970s indicate low water availability, this trend of low water is prevalent through the 1970s until 1979 and 1980, which were reportedly good water years. By 1981 water conditions were again reported as poor. Since the 1980s, water control structures at the refuge have remained in place with no manipulation of the boards or screw gates to actively manage water levels (Pam Johnson, wildlife biologist, Arapaho NWR; personal communication, January 2007). Water levels must be high in Rush and Hoge lakes and Lake George before water can move to the other wetlands. A water diversion structure on Sand Creek is regulated by the Wyoming Water Commissioner. From Rush Lake, water can flow to Lake George or Hoge Lake, or both. Lake George connects to the largest lake (Creighton Lake), and Hoge Lake connects to Hutton Lake.

Uplands of Hutton Lake NWR

Uplands range from the shorelines of Hutton and Creighton lakes up to the highest benches, approximately 100 feet above the lakes. Soil characteristics result in some vegetative variability. The relatively flat area between the lakes is dominated by a large prairie dog town. This area is sparsely vegetated, with few grasses, several types of annual weeds and forbs, prickly pear, and greasewood on the south. In general, the southern uplands are more grass dominated and the north holds a little more greasewood, but openings in the brush and greasewood plants can be found throughout the refuge. The greasewood plants are especially thick and tall (4–5 feet) northeast of Creighton Lake, east of Hutton Lake, and along the spoil piles northeast of Hoge and Rush lakes. An area in the southwest corner of the refuge has been irrigated in the past and holds a thicker, more grass dominated regime than the rest of the refuge uplands. Vegetative species include western and bluebunch wheatgrass, needle and thread, and rabbitbrush.

Irrigated Meadows of Hutton Lake NWR

The meadows on Hutton Lake NWR are within the floodplain of Sand Creek and likely were historically flooded seasonally during runoff. The diversion structure on Sand Creek that brings water into the refuge is in this area. When the structure is open or if the neighbor is irrigating the adjacent ground, this area is flooded—sometimes for extended periods— depending on water availability.