Clearmont Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Plant, Sheridan County, Wyoming

Clearmont Lagoon is a wastewater treatment facility located in Sheridan County, Wyoming, serving a small population of 142 residents. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for small communities in the United States, and operates under the regulatory framework of the Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all discharges. The plant has a designed capacity of 151.42 million gallons per year and currently discharges 56.78 million gallons annually, indicating it operates well below its capacity. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids, meeting EPA standards for discharge into surface waters. The treated effluent from Clearmont Lagoon is discharged into local waterways that eventually drain into the Powder River Basin, a semi-arid region in northeastern Wyoming. The Powder River flows north into Montana and joins the Yellowstone River, which ultimately reaches the Missouri River and the Mississippi River system. The plant's discharge supports local aquatic life and downstream water quality in this ecologically sensitive watershed.

Clearmont Lagoon discharges into local streams within the Powder River Basin, which flows into the Powder River, then the Yellowstone River, and eventually the Missouri-Mississippi system. The watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including native fish species, and is an important corridor for migratory birds. The semi-arid climate makes water quality management critical for maintaining ecosystem health.