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

Platte River Basin Advisory Group Meeting
Meeting Record
Torrington, WY - Wyoming Room, Pinnacle Bank
December 13, 2005 - 10:00 a.m.

Welcome

Facilitator Jodee Pring, WY State Engineer.s Office, welcomed the group and the meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. All attendees introduced themselves, followed by a review of the overall meeting agenda. A sign-in sheet was passed around to record attendance. A list of attendees can be found at the end of these minutes. The next meeting is scheduled for April 18, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. in Douglas.

Water Development Commission Report

Jodie Pavlica, WY Water Development Office, went over with the group the schedule for this round of Basin Advisory Group (BAG) meetings. November 7th, the Bear River BAG was held in Evanston, November 8th we met with the Green River BAG in Kemmerer and November 9th we met with the Snake/Salt BAG in Jackson. December 6th we met with the Wind/Bighorn BAG in Cody, December 7th we met with the Powder/Tongue BAG in Dayton and December 8th we met with the Northeast BAG in Sundance. Please visit the water planning website at http://waterplan.state.wy.us for agendas, meeting locations and meeting records.

State Framework Discussion

Jodie Pavlica, project manager for the Framework Water Plan, gave a powerpoint presentation highlighting where we have been with water planning and what we can look forward to in the Framework Water Plan. A copy of that presentation can be found here.

Ms. Pavlica spoke about how the Basin Advisory Group (BAG) process would be just a bit different during the course of the Framework Water Plan project than what the BAG is accustomed to. One of the things that will be different is that each of the seven basins will choose a BAG representative and an alternate to represent their basin. A handout entitled, .State Framework Water Plan BAG Representative Criteria. was handed out to the group. A copy of that handout can be found here. Ms. Pavlica went through the list of criteria and explained that one of the responsibilities of the representative will be to attend the 5%, 50% and 90% progress review meetings that will be held during the course of this project. The representative will be responsible for delivering information between their BAG and the Framework consultants.

The meeting attendees were then asked to choose two people, a representative and an alternate, to be their spokesperson. After much discussion, the group decided that John Maier would be their representative and Neal Payne would be the alternate.

Jodee Pring then facilitated a discussion with the group concerning their specific basin issues. A spreadsheet was handed out and also projected on the screen for ease of discussion. Information on the spreadsheet was taken from the list of issues that the BAG developed when their basin plan was being written. The purpose of the list is to give the consultants an idea of the concerns and challenges each of the basins are facing. The BAG was asked to review the list and make any changes, additions, deletions, etc. to it. Ms. Pring explained that the spreadsheet is dynamic and will be discussed at all meetings during the course of the Framework Water plan project. Therefore, BAG members can take the list, review it, and tailor it how they see fit.

Understanding that each of the issues on the spreadsheet are important, Ms. Pring then explained to the group that she would like them to discuss and develop a list of their top five most pressing issues. The representative and/or the alternate will then take this list and present it at the 5% Framework Water Plan project meeting to be held sometime in early March. The goal of developing a list of the top 5 most pressing issues is that it will help each of the basins understand the challenges of the other basins and facilitate a discussion among the group and the consultants on what issues Wyoming as a whole is facing.

After much discussion, the attendees developed their top five list. A copy of the entire spreadsheet can be found here: http://www.greenwoodmap.com/framework/msdocs/PlatteBAGissues.html

Entity Formation Options

Phil Ogle, WY Water Development Commission (WWDC), gave a powerpoint presentation on the formation of entities that are able to conduct business with the WWDC. A copy of Mr. Ogle.s powerpoint presentation can be found here.

The meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m.


List of Attendees

Name Organization City
Kent Becker State Engineer.s Office Torrington, WY
Dan Coughlin Midwest Assistance Program, Inc. Casper, WY
Alan Dugan PacifiCorp Glenrock, WY
Gil Engen Pioneer Canal Laramie, WY
Floyd Field WY Water Development Commission Casper, WY
Janet Field Casper, WY
Sue Lowry State Engineer.s Office Cheyenne, WY
John Maier Torrington, WY
Curt Meier Senator, Senate District 3 LaGrange, WY
Jim McClun Goshen Irrigation District Veteran, WY
Phil Ogle WY Water Development Commission Cheyenne, WY
Mary Paxson Dist. Rep., U.S. Sen. Craig Thomas Cheyenne, WY
Neal Payne Goshen Irrigation District Lyman, NE
Brian Pugsley State Engineer.s Office Torrington, WY
Jeb Steward WY Water Development Commission Encampment, WY
Phil Stump State Engineer.s Office Cheyenne, WY
Mike Sweat USGS Cheyenne, WY
Ed Weglin Goshen Irrigation District Torrington, WY
Mahonri Williams Bureau of Reclamation Mills, WY
Toby Wingert True Ranches Casper, WY