Wyoming State Water Plan, Wyoming Water Development Office
Rafting on Snake River Lake Marie, Snowy Mountains Wyoming Wind River Range picture

Green River Basin Advisory Group
Meeting Record
April 13, 1999
Western Wyoming College,
Rock Springs, Wyoming

Introductions

The facilitator opened the meeting by introducing members of the planning team, state officials and local legislators. Members of the Colorado River Basin Coordinating Council (CRBCC) introduced themselves as did members of the audience.

Each element of the evening's agenda was introduced, as well as ground rules and the use of consensus for decision making.

Citizen Involvement and Wyoming's Water Plan 2000

Evan Green gave a slide presentation on the new water planning process approved recently by the Wyoming State Legislature. Evan also summarized the results and lessons learned from the Bear River Basin feasibility project conducted in 1998. Accessibility to electronic media via the internet was described and a description of the Water Resources Data System was explained. Evan also explained the function and membership of the CRBCC and their past and proposed role with the Basin Advisory Group (BAG).

Green River Basin Advisory Group

The proposed process for development of a Basin Advisory Group for the Green River Basin was described by the facilitator. It was proposed that membership on the Committee be able to represent as much as possible the 14 issues that arose from a water planning questionnaire published in January of 1998. These issues were presented and briefly described as follows:

Participants were then asked if there were other issues that should be explored by the Basin Advisory Group in the development of a plan. These are listed below:

At this point in the meeting, participants were asked to discuss a proposal from the CRBCC that the BAG membership be represented by the following interests:

After considerable discussion, the participants agreed to discuss and evaluate the following six alternatives for determining membership on the BAG:

  1. The CRBCC proposal as described above
  2. The CRBCC proposal as described above with the addition of one "at-large" member to represent each of the 3 sub-basins
  3. One member to represent each of the issues identified in the water planning questionnaire
  4. Current membership of the CRBCC and additional representatives who are willing to make the time and travel commitments to serve on the BAG for 8-10 meetings. Approximately 15 participants present at the meeting agreed to volunteer for this process.
  5. The CRBCC proposal without sub-basin representation
  6. The CRBCC proposal with the addition of two sub-basin groups to represent HUC designated sub- basins (main stem of the Green River and the Little Snake River)

Alternative #4 emerged as the alternative with the least dissent among participants. The alternative was clarified to include open public participation with a core group described as above serving as the BAG. Audience participation will be encouraged as will the presence of agency representatives to help the group with technical issues. The BAG will alternate meetings around the Basin to encourage local participation in their discussions.

Participants who agree to become members of the BAG will be identified at the next meeting after receipt of their concurrence to serve with the group.