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
ISSUE DESCRIPTION | NOTES & CRITERIA |
1) WATER ALLOCATION a) Current water rights perspective and priorities: |
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Wyoming Water Law - Base Model - Compact Agencies |
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Fundamental to planning process and modeling |
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Fundamental to planning process and modeling |
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- Use Model to identify excess water - Storage opportunities (example: 4100 ac-ft unbuilt above Stewart Dam.) - Water conservation |
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- Provide model data for present and future
impacts - In-basin transfers - Out of basin transfers |
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- Existing Storage - Operational issues - Ownership - Compact limitations - Storage opportunities - Structure details/deficiencies |
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- Identify of areas of overuse and conflict - Identify wasteful practices - Public education - Storage operational practices |
b) Groundwater Definitions: | |
- Rights, Availability, Uses | This is a current issue with compact
administration - Aquifer potential - Groundwater quality data |
2) WATER QUALITY a) Water quality impacts and benefits:
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- Function of Federal Regulation Administered
by DEQ using small watershed basins - Planning process will provide support data including:
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b) Water quality standards and regulation (i.e.
TMDLs):
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- States are already coordinating on TMDS issues - Planning will provide supporting WQ and flow data |
c) Water quality solutions
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- Planning process will provide supporting data for use by DEQ and others |
3. FUTURE DEMANDS AND GROWTH a) Current allocation patterns:
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- Model historic "baseline" flows and usage - Provide data to decision makers and public - Reflect Wyoming water law/historic use |
b) Potential shortages by water use sector: i) Land and water availability |
- Spreadsheet model projections for wet, average
and dry years - Impacts of consumptive vs. non-consumptive use - Quantify conflicting sector usage and frequency | c) Opportunities and solutions to meet existing and
future shortages:
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- Identify wasteful practices - Examine storage operational practices - Conservation potential |
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- Potential use of unbuilt storage above Stewart Dam |
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- WRDS, WDC, internet access, public presentations |
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- Quantify aquifer potentials - Identify compact limitations (This is a current administration issue) |
d) Miscellaneous growth issue (i.e. floodplains, open space) | - Spreadsheet model will provide tool for understanding growth impacts |
4. HABITAT, WILDLIFE and FISHERIES a) Examine impacts and benefits of existing and future management activities
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- Model will provide tool for understanding
potential conflicting uses and the statistical
recurrence of those conflicts - Wyoming water law |
b) Compatibility of consumptive and non- consumptive uses of water | - Model will provide tool for understanding potential conflicting uses and the statistical recurrence of those conflicts - Wyoming water law |
c) Endangered species issues and solutions | - Federal regulations/mandates - Use model to understand present and future impacts |
d) Cost sharing opportunities for projects with benefits to habitat, wildlife and fisheries | - Provide data to agencies/decision makers to understand impacts and benefits for possible cost-sharing |
5) ECONOMICS a) Evaluation of economic impacts:
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- 3 planning scenarios (baseline, moderate, and
high growth) - 50 year horizon - Identify demands vs. water use sector - Economic and demographic forecasting model - Future water use opportunities:
- Provide data for public and political decision makers |
- Identify compelling needs/projects - Planning process to provide cost/benefit understanding of water projects - Identify project beneficiaries by sector or ownership - Provide basis for state/federal funding assistance |