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Northeast River Basin
Mission Statement & Enabling Legislation


Recognizing the diversity of the Northeast River Basin, identify existing and future water related issues in the Belle Fourche, Cheyenne, Little Missouri, and Niobrara River Basins, to assist in the planning process for the mutual benefit of all.


41-1-106. Water and related land resources planning; commission's responsibility.

The commission is responsible for the coordination of Wyoming's water and related land resources planning and with the approval of the governor is authorized to enter into contracts and agreements with the United States of America or its duly authorized representative agency for planning pertaining to the utilization of Wyoming's water and related land resources.

41-1-107. Water and related land resources planning; authority of commission.

(a) With the approval of the governor the commission is authorized to accept federal funds though grants or matching funds or from other sources for water and related land resources planning.

(b) The commission is authorized:

(i) To adopt rules and regulations as are necessary to implement any programs which may be required of the state by federal water and related land resources planning legislation; and

(ii) To implement any programs which are required by this legislation to make the state eligible to receive funds from the federal government to carry out water and related land resources planning.

41-1-108. Water and related land resources planning; dispositions of monies and commission offices.

(a) Any funds so received shall be deposited with the state treasurer, to be accounted for as provided by law. Money may be expended as provided by law. All records, property, personnel positions and unused funds not necessary for administrative duties as determined by the state engineer shall be transferred for water planning development from the state engineer's budget to the commission.

(b) The commission shall occupy the facilities presently occupied by the water planning division of the office of state engineer or such facilities as may be made available.

41-1-109. Interference with natural flow of thermal springs; authority to correct.

The state engineer is given the authority to abolish, correct, discontinue or stop any condition which interferes with the natural flow of any thermal spring on state lands.

41-1-110. Interference with natural flow of thermal springs; nonthermal water or mineral development.

Nothing in this act [41-1-109 through 41-1-111] shall be construed to limit any nonthermal water, or mineral development so long as said development does not interfere with the natural flow of the thermal springs covered by this act.

41-1-111. Interference with natural flow of thermal springs; injunctive relief.

The state engineer may seek injunctive relief to implement this act [41-1-109 through 41-1-111].

Carry over until expended or reverted by the legislature to water development account I.

Section 2. Statewide water planning process.

(a) For purposes of implementing and administering the statewide water planning process there is appropriated from water development account I the following amounts for the following stated purposes.

(i) Three hundred three thousand dollars ($303,000.00) and three (3) full-time positions to the water development commission;

(ii) Forty-four thousand dollars ($44,000.00) and one (1) full-time position to the state engineer;

(iii) Thirty-eight thousand dollars ($38,000.00) to the water development commission to contract with the University of Wyoming to carry out the functions of the water resources data system office related to the statewide water planning process;

(iv) One million fify thousand dollars ($1,050,000.00) to the water development commission to conduct basin studies on the Bear and Green River/Little Snake River Basins.

(b) Beginning in the 2001-2002 biennium, the positions and expenses necessary to administer the statewide water planning process shall be included in the standard budgets of the applicable agencies.

(c) This section is effective July 1, 1999.

Section 3. This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.


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