Wyoming State Water Plan
Wyoming State Water Plan
Wyoming Water Development Office
6920 Yellowtail Rd
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Phone: 307-777-7626
Wyoming Water Development Office
6920 Yellowtail Rd
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Phone: 307-777-7626
Welcome
The facilitators for the Wind/Bighorn River Basin Advisory Group, Sherri Gregory- Schreiner and Cathy R. Lujan, of Counterpoise Consulting, Inc. in Cheyenne, opened the meeting at 3:00 p.m. They introduced themselves and reviewed the agenda for the meeting. Then the participants introduced themselves by stating where they were located and their affiliation. The sign-in sheet was then passed around the room.
Planning Team Issues
The facilitators then passed out the reference notebooks as well as planning team contact information. They also handed out the meeting records from the last two basin advisory group meetings and copies of a presentation given by BRS Engineering in June. Members of the basin advisory group asked that copies of the state's drought management plan be included in the notebook. Water Development Commission personnel indicated that they would make such available at the next meeting.
The next three basin advisory group meetings were then scheduled as follows:
October 9th, Powell, 3 p.m.
December 11th,Thermopolis, 3 p.m.
February 12th, Dubois, 3 p.m.
Update BAG Membership
Barry Lawrence handed out a draft list of basin advisory group members for the Wind/Bighorn basin. Barry indicated that they have been following up nominations made at the last meeting, and the list distributed was draft at this time. Additional individuals in attendance then indicated their willingness to serve on the BAG. WWDC personnel will continue to follow up on nominations and a final version of the BAG membership list will be available at the next meeting.
Review of Issues Identification
The facilitators reviewed the 18 issues and sub-issues that the BAG agreed upon at the last meeting. Several changes and additions were made at this time. The BAG reaffirmed their right to revisit the list as needed. The complete issues list follows:
Consultant Update
Doug Beahm, BRS, stated that his team was heavily into the data collection phase. They are focusing mainly on hydrography and topography at this time. Such information will be available through a GIS system. Finally, the potential to add a task in the planning process regarding power generation in the basin, is being investigated.
Yellowstone River Compact and Water Law - Sue Lowry, SEO
Sue Lowry gave a PowerPoint presentation on the Yellowstone River Compact and water law in Wyoming and its enforcement. She began with an overview of the history of the State Engineer's Office's from the territorial times and it's responsibility to regulate the waters of the state. She then moved on to the responsibilities of the State Engineer's Office. These duties include permitting and regulatory responsibilities, interstate compact/decree administration, water resource data collection and distribution, and water education. She then covered the basic process of obtaining water rights, how an application is received, reviewed, and sent to the Board of Control. She also gave examples on how water would be regulated and distributed to the people holding water rights under several different scenarios.
Sue discussed the Yellowstone River Compact, how the Yellowstone River Compact Commission is selected, and the allocations set forth for the Clarks Fork River (60% Wyoming, 40% Montana), Wind/Bighorn River (80% Wyoming, 20% Montana), Tongue River (40% Wyoming, 60% Montana) and Powder River (42% Wyoming, 58% Montana). Key to the process are US Geological Survey streamflow gage records being maintained at the following sites:
06208500 | Clarks Fork Yellowstone River at Edgar, Montana, minus diversions to White Horse Canal |
06294500 | Bighorn River above Tullock Creek, near Bighorn, Montana, minus Little Bighorn River near Hardin, Montana. Adjusted for change in contents in Bighorn Lake |
06308500 | Tongue River at Miles City, Montana |
06326500 | Powder River near Locate, Montana |
Sue concluded by talking about the current issues before the commission, which include coal bed methane development, compact administration and tribal reserved water rights. Sue also detailed Wyoming's participation in the Missouri River Basin Association. Sue's presentation is available online at http://waterplan.state.wy.us/plan/bighorn/briefbook/ppt/compact_pres.html
Tribal Water Presentation - Gary Collins, Tribal Water Engineer
Gary Collins gave a PowerPoint show discussing the water issues that the tribes are dealing with at present, including the lack of water from runoff, as well as storage issues, export and agricultural issues. Specifically, he discussed the rehabilitation of Washakie Reservoir and dam, and also indicated that projects were currently underway to look at possible storage areas as well as export opportunities for the tribes. Gary spoke to the issue of the regulation of water on the reservation, and the renovation of their system to get better use from their water. Gary then turned the bulk of the time over to Dave Haire with the Wind River Environmental Quality Council, to discuss the Water Quality Assessment Report done for the area. This 305b report looks at the water quality of the watershed and whether the surface waters of the reservation are meeting their designated uses or not. In its final form, the report will be made available to the public both in hard copy format and online.
Other Commentary
The facilitators lead a discussion on what kind of educational presentations were to be held at the next meeting in Powell. The "old" water plan, USGS data collection activities, and conservation were all suggested. WWDC personnel indicated that they will be putting together the agenda for the meeting in the coming days, and cards would be sent out as to the topics of discussion.
The meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m.