News – Sheridan Media
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The Sheridan County Conservation District continues to assist landowners and communities recovering from wildfire impacts through mitigation work, monitoring efforts and long-term planning across Elk Fire affected watersheds in Sheridan County.
Following the Elk Fire in 2024, the District and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service used available funding to support short-term recovery and mitigation work including hazard tree removal to prevent future debris flows, fencing to protect water intake structures, infrastructure replacement and other treatments. While most of this year’s funding has already been obligated, Sheridan County Conservation District Manager Carrie Rogaczewski said they are seeking additional resources and encouraged landowners with ongoing needs to reach out to the District office for assistance.
C. Rogaczewski
The District also conducted expanded water quality monitoring on top of the scheduled Tongue River watershed. At the request of communities this expanded fire parameter testing looked closely at the watersheds upstream of municipal water treatment facilities of Tongue River and Wolf Creek.
The expanded testing came with a high price tag according to Rogaczewski, but the effort was well worth the cost. She said these expanded parameter results showed anticipated increases in turbidity and suspended solids tied to storm runoff events, though no immediate concerns were identified.
C. Rogaczewski
The District plans to continue monitoring as funding allows but has installed turbidity sensors on existing stream gages to improve early detection of water quality issues.
Additional recovery planning is underway but the scope and scheduling of the work is funding dependent for 2026.
To contact the Sheridan County Conservation District, click here.
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Last modified: January 30, 2026