1999 Wyoming Water Planning Process
Implementation Recommendations
Executive Summary

The 1996 Legislature directed the Wyoming Water Development Commission (WWDC) and the State Engineer's Office (SEO) to prepare recommendations for updating the 1973 Wyoming Framework Water Plan. The two agencies submitted a joint recommendation to the Governor, the Select Water Committee, and the Water Development Commission on October 1, 1996.

In 1997 the Legislature directed the WWDC to conduct a water planning feasibility study with the assistance of the University of Wyoming (UW). In conjunction with the State Engineer and the University, the WWDC completed an intensive public outreach effort, a pilot analysis in the Bear River Basin and a statewide water data inventory. During the process, the planning team was advised by a multi-agency scoping group. An independent consulting firm under contract to the WWDC assisted with development of implementation recommendations.

The recommended planning process is based on the Prior Appropriation Doctrine. This doctrine is recognized as the cornerstone of state water administration and the basis for the assumption that Wyoming should manage its resources for the benefit of citizens of the state.

A contemporary water planning process for the State of Wyoming will:

• Provide accurate, contemporary water information to enable state and local decision makers to manage water resources efficiently.
• Maintain an inventory of water data for use by state agencies such as the Business Council, Agriculture, Game and Fish, State Lands, Environmental Quality, Attorney General, Commerce and the State Engineer.
• Assist the Legislature and the Governor in developing effective state water policies to protect Wyoming's water and promote responsible development.
• Give Wyoming citizens access to the water information they need to deal with water issues at the grassroots level.
• Project future water demands so the state can prepare for the effects of growth.
• Bring Wyoming's water planning program up to par with other Western states.
• Provide the state with information to assist in responding to the mandates of federal legislation and regulation.
• Protect Wyoming's water resources from downstream competitors.

The planning team envisions three major products from the planning process:

• Comprehensive Basin Plans for the seven major river basins in Wyoming.
• Ongoing Basin Advisory Groups to identify local basin water issues and priorities, and to coordinate local problem solving with the tools provided by the planning process.
• A statewide water resources database accessed via the Internet and housed at the Wyoming Water Resources Data System (WRDS) at UW. WRDS is the data manager for the water planning process.

Basin plans will include the following components:

• Water profiles for agricultural, municipal/domestic, industrial, recreational and environmental uses.
• Water demand projections for all uses.
• Water flow quantification.
• Future structural and non-structural water management opportunities.
• Opportunities to enhance and protect water quality at the basin level.
• Coordination and cooperation with local watershed planning efforts.

Private consulting firms will be contracted to develop Basin Plans. New data developed in the planning process will reside at WRDS.

Individual Basin Plans will be authorized and funded through the Water Development Commission using the same Legislative review and approval process now in place for WWDC planning and construction bills. Since the basins differ in geographic size, data availability, and basin issue complexity, costs for completing individual basins plans have been estimated and vary widely. These figures represent the approximate amount to be contracted with a private consulting firm to perform the basin planning outlined in the Basin Scope of Services for all seven major basins.

The feasibility study considered two time frames for completion of the seven basin plans:

• Recommended process. Seven basin plans completed in five to seven years. This alternative requires three new permanent positions at the WWDC, one at the SEO, and one with WRDS. This alternative would include an intensive public outreach component.
• Extended process. Seven basin plans completed in ten years. This alternative requires one new permanent staff position at the WWDC, one at the SEO, and one with WRDS. This alternative would also include coordinated public outreach.

The recommended time frame for planning implementation is proposed based on input from the public and from key elected officials concerned with Wyoming's current lack of a contemporary water planning process.

For the recommended planning time frame, five new personnel will be required for implementation. The titles, roles and locations of the personnel are as follows:

Project Manager (2) : Wyoming Water Development Commission. -Project managers supervise private consultants and contracts and review work products for adherence to the planning framework.. Project managers represent the state at all public meetings and supervise public outreach coordination. Two project managers will manage basin planning activities in 2-3 river basins simultaneously in the recommended planning time frame.

Planning Technician : Wyoming Water Development Commission. -The planning technician supports the project managers and the technical water expert, and is responsible for all public outreach, education, and involvement activities, including basin advisory group meeting preparation and arrangements. Under the supervision of the project managers, the technician writes newsletters and news releases, manages mailing databases, prepares agendas and minutes and coordinates information transfer among the planning team and state agencies. The technician also responds to public information requests.

Technical Water Expert : State Engineer's Office. -This technical water expert provides technical assistance to the project managers and the planning consultant, reviews work products and provides project guidance on behalf of the State Engineer's Office. This person provides information concerning state water policy and law at public meetings. In a extended time frame, this position undertakes significant public outreach duties in lieu of the outreach coordinator.

Data Manager : Water Resources Data System. -This database manager refines the database structure and develops Internet access to water planning data. This position also processes external information requests to the database. This person receives and manages consultant final reports and components and builds the database.

Note: The costs are presented in 1998 dollars.

1. Staff Salaries plus benefits per year. The recommended schedule requires 5 full time positions, whereas the extended plan requires 3 full time positions.
2. These costs include computer hardware and software upgrades, overhead and administration.
3. These costs include travel, hotel and per diem for basin advisory group meetings and interest group meetings, meeting notice mailings, facilitators, newsletters and mailings.
4. Facilities start up costs include computer workstations, database hardware and software and office furniture for personnel.

First-year planning staff salaries and start-up costs (hardware, software, office furnishings) will be authorized in the WWDC Omnibus Planning Bill. Starting with the 2000 Legislative session, planning staff salaries and support will be incorporated into the standard budget of the respective agencies.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

• A complete description of the feasibility study process can be accessed on the WWDC Water Plan Internet home page: http://waterplan.state.wy.us/
• Additional information may be obtained from the Water Development Commission (Ph # 777-7626) or the State Engineer's Office (Ph # 777-6150).

This summary is extracted from three source documents:

1. Public Survey Report
2. Basin Advisory Group Report
3. Consultant Feasibility Report