TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM

Introduction:

This technical memorandum discusses the procedures used to create a list of potential future projects that would utilize the water resources in the Snake/Salt River basin. This list represents the needs and desires of those in the basin, and provides a starting point for additional beneficial uses in the future. A long list of potential projects was first developed with input from the Basin Advisory Group (BAG), along with a review of existing studies. This list was then reduced and evaluated with respect to various criteria, resulting in a short list of potential projects which can be compared to one another within a given use category.

Long List of Future Water Use Opportunities:

The long list of future water use opportunities was created during a facilitated session at the BAG meeting held in Moran on August 14, 2002. At this meeting, input was collected from various BAG members as well as others in attendance. Any and all input was welcome, and a wide variety of issues was discussed for possible inclusion to the list. Past studies were reviewed and similarly discussed. The long list of future water use opportunities put together at that meeting contained projects for uses such as irrigation, hydropower, wetlands, water storage, recreation, and others. In general, this list addresses the water resource related needs and desires of those in the basin with possible solutions.

While input during the BAG meeting was exceptional, there were many BAG members who were not in attendance. It was determined that the resulting long list should be distributed to the entire Basin Advisory Group in order to give everyone a chance to comment. The list was distributed via email on August 26, 2002, with a request for each BAG member to review the items and provide additions or comments. Some additional input was received following the email distribution. The resulting long list is shown in Appendix A. Additional information about each of the proposed opportunities can be found in Appendix B.

Short List of Future Water Use Opportunities:

Following the creation of the long list and collection of BAG member input, the resulting list was reviewed in order to reduce the list to a collection of potentially feasible water use opportunities. Some items on the long list, while they may be worthy of further discussion in other circles, did not warrant further investigation as part of this basin plan. This was generally for items that could only be addressed by specific state agencies, and included reciprocal fishing licenses between Idaho and Wyoming, and septic tank management. The item regarding general support of local conservation district projects was dropped, as there was not a specific project to be included at this time. Also, projects that appeared to have a low probability of support or feasibility were dropped, which included beaver management, terracing at high elevations, and trans-basin water diversions.

The short list of future water use opportunities for the Snake/Salt River basin consists of the remaining projects from the long list. These short listed projects were then reviewed by the basin planning team and evaluated based on criteria derived through the statewide basin planning process. The location of these projects can be seen on Figure 1.

Short List Criteria:

The following criteria were used to evaluate the short list of future water use opportunities. Each item was scored on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being not feasible and 10 being very feasible.

1. Water Availability

   This criterion looks at whether the project will be physically possible. Existing water rights and stream flows are evaluated, as are any other sources of water that may be involved.

2. Financial Feasibility

   This criterion looks at the general cost of the project, and if the resulting improvements will be adequate to justify repayment. The financial stability of potential sponsors is also included, and their ability to ensure sufficient cash flow. It is also realized that a project that is technically difficult will likely have a higher construction cost.

3. Public & Political Acceptability This criterion looks at the public view of the project, and estimates possible support and opposition. Political issues at the local, county, state, or interstate levels are also evaluated to determine whether there may be adequate project support among elected officials.

4. Available Users/Sponsors

   This criterion evaluates potential project sponsors, and if they are willing to spearhead and support the given project. Also, the number of beneficiaries is looked at to help quantify the positive impact the project will have.

5. Legal & Environmental Constraints

   This criterion looks at items such as state and federal laws, interstate compacts, and court decrees that could influence the feasibility of the project. The Clean Water Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, and other environmental laws are also reviewed with respect to the project. These items are particularly important if the project is located on federally managed lands.

6. Multiple Use Feasibility

   This criteria looks at potential multiple uses of a given project. Generally, a higher score would be given for a project with more than one use. However, multiple uses may mean additional work regarding permitting.

Following the evaluation of each project on the short list using the previously described criteria, the scores for each criteria were added together to result in a final number or score. Each criteria has the same scale of 1 to 10, meaning that all criteria had equal weight in the final score. It must be emphasized that the projects were evaluated with respect to other like projects. For example, an agricultural project regarding irrigation cannot be compared to an environmental project regarding wetlands. Also, the Short List was broken into sub-basins, as issues that can effect the evaluation of a project in the Snake River basin will be different than those in the Salt River basin. The results of this evaluation are located in Appendix C. It must be mentioned that evaluation of the Short List is very subjective, and evaluation by those with differing backgrounds would likely produce a variety of results. Also, it is anticipated that the evaluation of projects will change over time as individual criterion within a project could also change, due to social, political, and economic influences. The final scores do not have any bearing as to what projects will or will not be pursued in the future. They only provide a subjective relative ranking, and do not delineate which project is most important or favored.

References:

States West Water Resources, Water Conservation, Technical Memorandum, Green River Basin Plan, 2000.

Wyoming State Engineer’s Office, Wyoming Water Planning Program, Report No. 12, Water & Related Land Resources of the Snake River Basin, Wyoming, December 1972.

APPENDIX A
Long List of Future Water Use Opportunities

LONG LIST OF FUTURE WATER USE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE
SNAKE/SALT RIVER BASIN

Long list of possible water use opportunities as derived through the basin planning process:

LINCOLN COUNTY AREA PROJECTS

1. Reservoir at headwaters of Salt River (10 mi. of Salt River is dry annually)
2. New Dam on Salt River in Narrows
3. Smaller scale reservoirs in canyons of east mountains of Star Valley:
   • Enlarge Cottonwood Lake with Dam
   • Dry Creek Reservoir
   • Enlarge Swift Creek Reservoir
   • Willow Creek Reservoir
   • Enlarge Strawberry Reservoir
   • Green Canyon Reservoir
   • Cedar Creek Reservoir
   • Stewart Creek Reservoir
4. Small scale reservoirs on west side of Star Valley:
   • Stump Creek Reservoir
   • Crow Creek Reservoir
5. Share stored water between Cottonwood and Dry Creek Irrigation Districts (through piping)
6. Routing runoff in Star Valley to existing storage sites to augment groundwater
7. Have ID/WY honor each other’s fishing licenses on Palisades Reservoir
8. Additional (high elevation level) terracing to capture snowfall and run-off
9. Low head hydro projects using open channel facilities
10. *Alpine Irrigation System
11. * Salt River Basin Pressure Irrigation Projects (various)

    TETON COUNTY AREA PROJECTS

12. Increase flows in spring creeks on west bank of Snake River to enhance fish habitat
13. Dam on Cottonwood Creek in Teton County
14. Snow making (form of storage)
15. Winter flood control in Jackson
16. Water quality of surface run-off from developed areas
17. Sprinkler systems in South Park & Spring Gulch
18. *Snake River Diversion @ Moose (irrigation)
19. *Jackson Lake Replacement Storage
    • Blackhawk
    • Cottonwood
    • Granite Creek
    • Elbow
    • Alpine
    • Lynn Crandall

    BASIN WIDE PROJECTS

20. Hydroelectric Facilities on existing irrigation systems
21. Cloud seeding
22. Wetland projects
    • Alpine
    • Others
23. Support Conservation District projects
24. Beaver management
25. Septic tank management alternatives (development consolidation)
26. Municipal water needs expansion
27. Metering project – conservation
28. Re-establish meandering patterns in rivers
29. Re-establish riparian river banks
30. Commercial – Industrial – Bottle water
31. Trans-basin diversion into the Wind River Basin
32. * Trans-basin diversions
    • Hoback @ Dell Creek
    • Greys River @ Elk Creek
    • Greys River @ Sheep Creek
    • Gros Ventre @ Cottonwood Creek
    • Gros Ventre @ Kinky Creek

*PROJECTS FROM “WATER & RELATED LAND RESOURCES OF THE SNAKE RIVER BASIN, WYOMING”, 1972.

APPENDIX B
Long List of Future Water Use Opportunities Descriptions

LONG LIST OF FUTURE WATER USE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE
SNAKE/SALT RIVER BASIN – PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS

LINCOLN COUNTY AREA PROJECTS

1. Reservoir at headwaters of Salt River – Approximately 10 miles of the Salt River is dry during the summer and winter months due to diversions, low flows, and soil permeability. A reservoir would enable stream flows to be more consistent, which would provide more consistent crop irrigation in the area.
2. New Dam on Salt River in Narrows – The dam would be used for recreation and wildlife purposes and would be located just above the Narrows area of Star Valley.
3. Smaller scale reservoirs in canyons of east mountains of Star Valley – These reservoirs would provide more consistent irrigation water through the late summer months for irrigators utilizing these streams.
   • Enlarge Cottonwood Lake with Dam
   • Dry Creek Reservoir
   • Enlarge Swift Creek Reservoir
   • Willow Creek Reservoir
   • Enlarge Strawberry Reservoir
   • Green Canyon Reservoir
   • Cedar Creek Reservoir
   • Stewart Creek Reservoir
4. Small scale reservoirs on west side of Star Valley – These reservoirs would provide more consistent irrigation water through the late summer months for irrigators utilizing these streams.
   • Stump Creek Reservoir
   • Crow Creek Reservoir
5. Share stored water between Cottonwood and Dry Creek Irrigation Districts – Connect the two pressure irrigation systems by means of piping to enable sharing of water between the users of the two districts.
6. Routing runoff in Star Valley to existing storage sites to augment groundwater – By routing excess runoff in the spring to currently unused sites such as old gravel pits, the water will be allowed to seep back into the groundwater system similar to flood irrigation of the past. This may enhance valley spring production later in the summer through return flows, while reducing high flood flows in the spring.
7. Have ID/WY honor each other’s fishing licenses on Palisades Reservoir – Enable the use of a fishing license from either state for fishing on the reservoir.
8. Additional (high elevation level) terracing to capture snowfall and run-off - Terracing projects were completed in years past to enhance storage of snow and slow spring runoff.
9. Low head hydro projects using open channel facilities – Utilize existing open channel irrigation facilities for hydroelectric power generation.
10. *Alpine Irrigation System – Install a pressure irrigation system for the area north of the Snake River near Alpine.
11. *Salt River Basin Pressure Irrigation Projects (various) – Install pressure irrigation systems where flood irrigation is currently used.

    TETON COUNTY AREA PROJECTS

12. Increase flows in spring creeks on west bank of Snake River - To enhance fish habitat.
13. Dam on Cottonwood Creek in Teton County – To improve irrigation in the area.
14. Snow making – Increase snow making in order to have additional runoff in the spring.
15. Winter flood control in Jackson – Control ice build up on Flat Creek in order to prevent flooding.
16. Water quality of surface run-off from developed areas – Ensure that runoff from developed areas does not create a water quality problem in area streams and rivers.
17. Sprinkler systems in South Park & Spring Gulch – Install pressure irrigation systems where flood irrigation is currently used.
18. *Snake River Diversion @ Moose – Construct a new diversion to improve irrigation opportunities.
19. *Jackson Lake Replacement Storage – Create water storage in alternate locations in order to replace the storage provided at Jackson Lake. This would enable the level of Jackson Lake to be adjusted according to recreational activities, not downstream irrigation demands. Replacement storage areas included the following:
    • Blackhawk
    • Cottonwood
    • Granite Creek
    • Elbow
    • Alpine
    • Lynn Crandall

    BASIN WIDE PROJECTS

20. Hydroelectric Facilities on existing irrigation systems - Utilize existing irrigation facilities for hydroelectric power generation
21. Cloud seeding – Use cloud seeding technology to enhance precipitation in the basin.
22. Wetland projects – Construct additional wetland enhancement projects.
    • Alpine
    • Others
23. Support Conservation District projects – Support current and future projects conducted by the conservation districts in the basin.
24. Beaver management – Manage beavers and their dam construction in order to provide water storage.
25. Septic tank management alternatives (development consolidation) – Enable management of existing septic systems or create regional wastewater collection systems to prevent ground water pollution.
26. Municipal water needs expansion – Allow expansion of existing municipal water systems as needed.
27. Metering project – conservation – Use metering on municipal and community water systems in order to promote water conservation.
28. Re-establish meandering patterns in rivers – To reduce river velocities and create wildlife habitat.
29. Re-establish riparian river banks – To reduce erosion problems.
30. Commercial – Industrial – Bottle water – Promote commercial and industrial uses of water in the basin, such as marketing of bottled water.
31. Trans-basin diversion into the Wind River Basin – Divert water from the Snake/Salt River basin into the Wind River Basin for irrigation use.
32. *Trans-basin diversions – Various diversions to transport water into the Green River Basin for use either in Wyoming or downstream. Listed diversion areas were as follows:
    • Hoback @ Dell Creek
    • Greys River @ Elk Creek
    • Greys River @ Sheep Creek
    • Gros Ventre @ Cottonwood Creek
    • Gros Ventre @ Kinky Creek

*Projects from “Water & Related Land Resources of the Snake River Basin, Wyoming”, 1972.

APPENDIX C
Short List of Future Water Use Opportunities