News – Sheridan Media
What was initially designed to prevent flooding in downtown Sheridan, had some side effects on the aquatic ecosystem in the area, but some recent projects have improved a few places, and there may be more to come.
Over the course of the past 2 years, the US Army Corps of Engineers has been working on aquatic ecosystem restoration projects in various areas along the Big Goose and Little Goose Creeks.
Examples included restoring the oxbow near Thorne-Rider Park, removing concrete steps in the water in the Lewis Street area, reintroducing wetlands in Washington Park, and enhancing stormwater infiltration in Sheltered Acres Park.
Attention will soon turn to the Little Goose Creek concrete chute area just north of downtown Sheridan, which was built in 1966 to prevent flooding and stretches 4 city blocks along both 1st and Dow Streets.
Colonel Robert Neubauer with the US Army Corps of Engineers, says those smaller recently completed projects will produce some results, but a much bigger issue still needs to be addressed.
“The concrete chute in the middle of town, these 4 blocks, this is the linchpin, the remainder of the project, to kind of restore all of those benefits that we’ve done downstream and upstream. We’re able to kind of widen the channel, deepen it a little bit, restore its natural condition to allow fish to move back and forth, as well as open some riparian habitats for other marine and wildlife.”
The Corps has been studying the chute area for the past 2 years to see if part of the concrete can be removed.
One recommendation, according to the Corps, is to widen the chute, which could possibly remove some of the width of both Dow and 1st Streets and turn those into one way roads.
The Gould Street bridge could also be removed and at the same time, the other bridges on Val Vista, Main and Broadway Streets would be widened.
The Corps tentatively plans to get congressional authorization next year, and the 2-year construction project could start around the year 2030.
Goose Creek Near West 14th Street and Thorne Rider Stadium:
Big Goose Creek Under Lewis Street:
Little Goose Creek at Washington Park:
Little Goose Creek at Sheltered Acres Park:
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Last modified: July 15, 2025