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Yellowstone/Clarks Fork River Basin (Overview) HUC# 100700Basin Geography:The Yellowstone River flows north out of southeastern Yellowstone National Park and the Absaroka Range for approximately 90 miles before entering Montana. Yellowstone Lake is the most significant feature along this watercourse in Wyoming and is one of the major attractions in the Park. The Yellowstone is best described as a wilderness river supporting recreational uses. To the west and outside park boundaries the Clarks Fork tributary originates in Montana and then flows southeasterly into Wyoming before reentering Montana and eventually rejoining the Yellowstone. In Wyoming, 22,000 acre-ft of water are diverted for irrigation from the Clarks Fork. Relevant Compacts and Decrees: The Yellowstone River Compact between Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming was signed in 1950. The compact outlines allocations for several rivers in northern Wyoming. On the Clarks Fork, water is to be allocated 60% to Wyoming and 40% to Montana. Pre-1950 water rights are guaranteed. Additional storage would be required to fully utilize the 424,000 acre-ft of unappropriated water allocated to Wyoming. Native American rights to Yellowstone River water are not effected by this compact. Sources: US Geological Survey. 1985. National Water Summary-Wyoming: Surface Water Resources, Water Supply Paper 2300. Washington D.C. pp. 494. Wyoming Water Development Commission & Wyoming State Engineer's Office. 1996. Wyoming Water Planning: A Report for Updating the Process. Cheyenne, WY. pp.12 Wyoming State Engineer's Office. 1973. The Wyoming Framework Water Plan. Cheyenne, WY. pp. 220 Wyoming Water Development Commission. 1990. Wyoming Water Atlas. University of Wyoming, Laramie. pp. 47, 56.
Index of the Statewide Data Inventory | |||||