Wyoming Legislature

Committee Meeting Summary of Proceedings

Select Water Committee 

Committee Meeting Information

May 27, 2004

Wyoming Water Development Office

Cheyenne, Wyoming

 

Committee Members Present

Senator Gerald E. Geis, Chairman

Senator Rae Lynn Job

Senator Laness Northrup

Senator Bill Vasey

Representative Rodney “Pete” Anderson

Representative Kurt Bucholz

Representative Ross Diercks

Representative Owen Petersen

Representative Frank Philp

 

Committee Members Absent

Senator Robert Peck

Representative Layton Morgan

 

Legislative Service Office Staff

Mark Quiner, Assistant Director

 

Others Present at Meeting

Wyoming Water Development Office: Mike Besson, Director

Please refer to Appendix 1 to review the Committee Sign-in Sheet
for a list of other individuals who attended the meeting.

 

 

Call To Order

Chairman Geis called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m..  The following sections summarize the Committee proceedings by topic.  Please refer to Appendix 2 to review the Committee Meeting Agenda.

 

Approval of Minutes

Minutes from the January 28, 2004 Committee meeting were approved with no amendments.

 

CONTRACT AMENDMENTS

Following explanation by Mr. Besson, the Committee approved the following project contract amendments:

 

·                     Albin Well & Water Supply

·                     Alta Test Well

·                     Big Horn Regional

·                     Canyon Water Supply

·                     Dubois Water Supply

·                     Gillette CBM-ASR, Level II

·                     Midvale Sand Gulch

·                     Ranchester

·                     Saratoga Test Well

·                     Snake / Salt River Basin Plan

·                     Viva Naughton Enlargement

·                     Green River Supply Canal Study

 

PLANNING DIVISION CONTRACTS

Following explanation by Mr. Besson, the Committee approved the following planning division contract documents:

 

·          Baggs Water & Raw Water Supply, Level II

·          Cheyenne Belvoir Ranch, Level II

·          Cook County Reservoir Management, Level I

·          Crowheart/Dinwoody, Level I

·          Eight Mile High Plains, Level II

·          Encampment Sierra Madre Well, Level II

·          Evanston/Bear River, Level II

·          Glenrock Well & Tank, Level II

·          Greybull Wells Rehabilitation, Level II

·          Heart Mountain Screens, Level II

·          Hyattville Water Supply, Level II

·          Kennington Springs, Level II

·          Kirby Area Water Supply, Level I

·          Lake DeSmet, Level II

·          Meade Creek Ditch

·          Northern Arapahoe Groundwater, Level II

·          Pine Bluffs/Lance Fox Hills, Level II

·          Ray Lake Enlargement, Level II

·          Shoshone Groundwater Development, Level II

·          Wagner/Cherokee, Level II

·          Weather Modification Study

·          Westside Irrigation NEPA, Level I

·          Worland Test Flows, Level II

 

 

Grebull In-Stream Flow

Mr. Besson explained that the Greybull in-stream flow project will look at studies of the in-stream flow needed to sustain a fishery or an endangered species.  By law, once the Game and Fish Department has identified a stream for instream flow study, the WWDO is required to study the flows of the stream during various times of the year.  Sometimes WWDO will do a biological analysis to determine how much water the fish need in that area, then WWDO will do an analysis of how much unappropriated water there is in that area.  In-stream flows do not have consumptive use like other water rights, but need to be there year round so the fish can survive.  Mr. Besson explained the state engineer makes the final decision on the water rights, while the WWDO provides the hydrological report and Game and Fish provides the biological report.  The WWDO only gives a neutral report on appropriated versus unappropriated water and tells how instream flow will affect future water rights.

 

Ms. Bobbi Frank, Laramie County Conservation District, expressed concern that filings for in-stream flow are not being formally acted upon by the Game and Fish Commission with notice given to affected entities because the Commission is concerned that others will then immediately obtain a superior water right.  Ms. Franks thinks the Commission should notify people affected by the instream flow study before the study is requested by the Commission since the discussion about instream flow needs to be made in an open venue.

 

Dan Budd of the WWDC moved to table the Greybull instream flow study until the next WWDC meeting.  The motion passed.

 

Mr. Marvin Applequist testified he also shares concern over where and when public input can be made when the Game and Fish Commission makes the determination to study a segment of a stream for the purposes of instream flow.

 

SMALL WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

Following explanation by Mr. Besson and Mr. Ron Vore of the Water Development Office, the Committee approved the following small water development projects:

 

 

The WWDC and the Committee discussed the need for clear guidelines on what constitutes a public benefit for small water development projects.  The WWDC is considering amendments to the criteria for the small water development projects.  The WWDO will submit proposed changes to the criteria at the next meeting.

 

PRODUCED WATER FROM OIL/GAS DRILLING OPERATIONS

Mr. John Jackson, of the WWDO, provided information requested by Representative Childers on the various uses of water produced from oil and gas drilling operations.  (Appendix 3)  Mr. Jackson indicated water produced from coalbed methane (CBM) production begins at around 25 to 50 gallons per minute for the first year of production.  The water production diminishes to around ˝ of that amount during the second year of CBM production.  Studies are being conducted on the potential uses of this water including stock watering systems, fish production, the creation of wetlands, and dust control on roads.  Mr. Jackson will continue to accumulate information on the various uses of CBM produced water.

 

OTHER BUSINESS

 

The Committee received a presentation from two representatives from the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) of the federal Department of Agriculture. The agency’s vision is to foster harmony between people and the land.  The agency is more than 70 years old.  The agency uses a 9 step planning process to determine whether the proposed project or use is in harmony with the people and the land.  The planning process can be used for any decision.  The process consists of the following steps:  identify problems and opportunities, determine objectives, inventory resources, analyze resource data, formulate alternatives, evaluate alternatives, make decisions, implement the plan and evaluate the plan.

 

NEXT MEETING

 

The next joint meeting will be held on August 25 and 26, 2004 in Thermopolis with an accompanying tour (August 25) of the Anchor Dam and other water projects.

 

Meeting Adjournment

There being no further business, Chairman Geis adjourned the meeting at .

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Senator Gerald E. Geis, Chairman

 

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