Moorcroft Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Plant, Crook County, Wyoming

Moorcroft Lagoon is a wastewater treatment facility located in Crook County, Wyoming, United States. The plant serves a small community of approximately 1,009 residents, reflecting its role in managing municipal wastewater for a rural population. As a lagoon-based system, it provides secondary treatment, which is typical for smaller agglomerations in the region. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the United States Clean Water Act, administered by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality. For facilities of this scale, secondary treatment is the standard requirement, ensuring that effluent meets federal and state water quality standards before discharge. The plant's designed capacity is 378.54 cubic meters per day, with an average discharge volume of 189.27 cubic meters per day, indicating it operates well within its capacity. The treated effluent from Moorcroft Lagoon is discharged into local surface waters, which eventually drain into the Belle Fourche River, a tributary of the Cheyenne River. The Cheyenne River flows into the Missouri River, which ultimately reaches the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's discharge contributes to the water quality of these downstream ecosystems, supporting aquatic life and recreational uses.

The plant discharges into local streams that flow into the Belle Fourche River, part of the Missouri River basin. This watershed supports diverse aquatic habitats and is important for regional agriculture and wildlife. The downstream environment includes the Cheyenne River and Missouri River, which are ecologically significant for fish migration and riparian ecosystems. Proper treatment helps protect these water bodies from nutrient pollution and pathogens.