Project Titles:

• Replace Residence #5 (FFS #R6BK)
• Replace 2 Residences and 1 Bunkhouse (FFS #R6JG)

State: Wyoming

Initial Project Description: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funded the construction of employee residences and a bunkhouse at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge, near Green River, Wyoming. The old structures, which were built as temporary housing for workers at the Fontenelle Reservoir in the 1960s, were in very poor condition and infested with mice. The Bureau of Reclamation moved the residences to the Refuge in 1968 after construction of the Fontenelle and Flaming Gorge dams was completed. Previous attempts to rid the existing structures of mice were unsuccessful.

McMillen LLC, a Boise, Idaho-based construction and engineering firm constructed new foundations, and installed pre-fabricated buildings. Work began spring 2010 and should be complete by the end of summer.

The new structures are more environmentally friendly than the previous residences, and are safer for residents. Heating the previous residences cost up to $500 monthly in the winter, a cost that will be substantially lowered with the construction of the solar heating system for the new residences.

Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge’s mission includes mitigating the impact of dam construction on wildlife habitats. The 27,000-acre refuge, established under the Colorado River Storage Act of 1956, is home to dozens of species of mammals, amphibians, and reptiles and over 200 species of birds. The Historic Mormon and Oregon Trails traverse the Refuge.

April 2011 Project Update: In January 2011, McMillen LLC of Boise, Idaho completed the construction of new residences and bunkhouses at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge, a project that was funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Recovery Act. The Refuge is located in a remote area, and on-site employee housing is necessary to protect resources. The old bunkhouses were heavily mouse-infested and contaminated with asbestos. The new residences and bunkhouses provide a healthy living environment for employees.

For additional information, please visit the Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge website.

Photos:

News Releases:

Fish and Wildlife Service Announces $2.27 Million of Stimulus Funding for New Structures at Seedskadee

Originally posted 09/18/2009
Updated 09/21/2009
Updated 12/23/2009
Updated 03/23/2010
Updated 04/07/2010
Updated 06/14/2010
Updated 04/26/2011