1998 LEGISLATIVE REPORT
Wyoming Water Development Program - Strategic Plan
December 31, 1997
V. Goals/Objectives/Strategies
The goals/objectives/strategies presented below are in numerical
order of priority.
Goal I.
Water Resource Development - Develop unused and/or unappropriated
water to meet the present and future needs of Wyoming and its
citizens and improve existing water projects so they remain
effective and viable assets for their users and Wyoming.
The WWDC is committed to meeting goals and outcomes by
scheduling projects in a manner commensurate with available
funds.
Objective I.A Use the New Development Program to develop unused
and/or unappropriated water by providing funding assistance to
municipalities, irrigation districts, and special districts
(project sponsors) to construct water supply facilities such as
dams, diversion structures, groundwater wells and transmission
pipelines.
Outcomes:
Completion of current projects as identified by the omnibus water
bill and the specified reversion dates during the 99/00 biennium
under the New Development Program. These projects will provide
the following indirect benefits to the state:
- Preservation of Wyoming's water entitlements through
effective and efficient use.
- Ensure that water is available for economic growth of the
sponsor and the state.
- Improved state water infrastructure.
- Short-term economic benefits to the state in the form of
jobs, increased material and equipment sales, and other indirect
benefits to local and state economies.
Strategy I.A.1 Keep the public informed of the opportunities,
limitations, and requirements of the New
Development Program.
-
Output:
Thirty public meetings or hearings per biennium.
Biennial publication of the program criteria.
Annual publication of the legislative report.
Ten presentations to interest groups per biennium.
Strategy I.A.2 Receive applications for funding assistance on an
annual basis for the following types of projects
listed in priority: multipurpose, storage, new
supply, new supply systems, hydropower, purchase of
unused storage, and recreation. Evaluate project
applications in accordance with the latest program
criteria as developed by the Water Development
Commission and Select Water Committee for the
purpose of generating consistent and fair funding
recommendations to the Governor and Legislature in
a manner compatible with existing program financial
resources.
-
Output:
Review all applications for funding and technical
assistance within 60 days of receipt.
Strategy I.A.3 Complete Level I Reconnaissance studies on project
applications, as appropriated and approved by the
Legislature, to determine project opportunities to
meet the applicants' existing and future water
needs.
-
Output:
Review the final engineering report and make
recommendations to the Wyoming Water Development
Commission within 30 days of the application
deadline as to whether to advance the project in
the program. Those projects receiving a positive
recommendation for funding by the Wyoming Water
Development Commission will be included within the
appropriate omnibus water bill for funding
consideration by the Legislature.
Strategy I.A.4 Complete Level II Feasibility Studies for Level I
projects deemed worthy of advancement and detailed
project applications, as appropriated and approved
by the Legislature, to determine project economic
and technical feasibility.
-
Output:
Review the final engineering report and make
recommendations to the WWDC within 30 days of the
application deadline as to whether to advance the
project in the program. Those projects receiving a
positive recommendation for funding by the Wyoming
Water Development Commission will be included
within the appropriate omnibus water bill for
funding consideration by the Legislature.
Strategy I.A.5 Provide funding assistance for Level III
construction projects which develop unused and/or
unappropriated water and are deemed good
investments by the respective project sponsors, the
Wyoming Water Development Commission, the Governor
and the Legislature.
-
Output:
Investigate all Level III funding requests and make
recommendations to the WWDC within 30 days of the
application deadline. Upon approval by the WWDC,
the funding request will be included in the Omnibus
Water Bill - Construction for consideration by the
Legislature.
Strategy I.A.6 Provide project management and oversight on Level
III Construction Projects to assist the project
sponsor through the construction process as well as
insure effective and efficient use of the project
appropriations.
-
Output:
Project agreements, promissory notes, mortgages and
assignments and pledges of revenue will be
completed by July 15th and submitted to project
sponsors for finalization. Review of project
plans, specifications and budgets will be completed
within thirty (30) days from the date of submittal
by the consultant. Progress payments will be
processed within 30 days of submittal. WWDO staff
will conduct a minimum of two monitoring tours
during construction of the project.
Strategy I.A.7 Provide billings for and collections of outstanding
loan payments.
-
Output:
Prepare and submit billings on an annual basis.
Insure receipt of annual payments for all
outstanding loans. There are fifty-six (56)
active loan accounts.
Strategy I.A.8 Institute project inspections five years after
project construction to determine the validity of
the assumptions used in project planning and
development and to verify project designs and
construction methods. This information will assist
the program in evaluating existing criteria and
design practices.
-
Output:
Perform four such inspections each biennium and
prepare formal reports on the findings.
Objective I.B Continue to utilize the Rehabilitation Program to
keep existing water supply projects effective and viable by
providing funding assistance to municipalities, irrigation
districts, and special districts (project sponsors) for the
improvement of water supply projects completed and in use for at
least 15 years.
Outcomes:
The scheduled completion of projects during the 99/00 biennium will
be in accordance with the omnibus water bills. These projects will
provide the following indirect benefits to the state:
- Preservation of Wyoming's water entitlements through effective
and efficient use.
- Insurance that existing water supply projects remain effective
and viable for the respective water users and the state.
- Improved state water infrastructure.
- Short-term economic benefits to the state in the form of jobs,
increased material and equipment sales, and other indirect
benefits to local and state economies.
Strategy I.B.1 Keep the public informed of the opportunities,
limitations, and requirements of the Rehabilitation
Program.
Output:
Twenty-five public meetings or hearings per biennium.
Biennial publication of the program criteria.
Annual publication of the legislative report.
Ten presentations to interest groups per biennium.
Strategy I.B.2 Receive applications for funding assistance on an
annual basis for the following types of projects
listed in priority: multipurpose, storage, water
supply systems, hydropower, and recreation.
Evaluate project applications in accordance with
the latest program criteria as developed by the
Water Development Commission and Select Water
Committee for the purpose of generating consistent
and fair funding recommendations to the Governor
and Legislature in a manner compatible with
existing program financial resources.
Output:
Review all applications for funding and technical
assistance within thirty days of the application
deadline.
Strategy I.B.3 Complete Level I Feasibility Studies on project
applications, as appropriated and approved by the
Legislature, to determine project economic and
technical feasibility.
Output:
Perform a review of the final engineering reports
and make recommendations to the WWDC within 30 days
of the application deadline for financial
assistance to determine whether to advance projects
in the program. Those projects receiving a
positive recommendation by the WWDC will be
included with the omnibus water bill - planning,
for consideration by the Legislature.
Strategy I.B.4 Provide funding assistance for Level III
Construction Projects which rehabilitate existing
water supply projects and are deemed good
investments by the respective project sponsors, the
Wyoming Water Development Commission, the Governor
and the Legislature.
Output:
Perform a review of the final engineering reports
and make recommendations to the WWDC within 30 days
of the application deadline for financial
assistance, to determine whether to advance the
project in the program. Those projects receiving a
positive recommendation by the WWDC will be
included in the omnibus water bill for
consideration by the Legislature.
Strategy I.B.5 Provide project management and oversight on Level
III Construction Projects to assist the project
sponsor through the construction process as well as
insure effective and efficient use of the project
appropriations.
Output:
Project agreements, promissory notes, mortgages and
assignments and pledges of revenue will be
completed by July 15th and submitted to project
sponsors for finalization. Review of project
plans, specifications and budgets will be completed
within 30 days from the date of submittal by the
consultant. Progress payments will be processed
within 30 days of submittal. WWDO staff will
conduct a minimum of two monitoring tours during
construction of the project.
Strategy I.B.6 Provide billings for and collections of outstanding
loan payments.
Output:
Prepare and submit billings on an annual basis.
Insure receipt of annual payments for all
outstanding loans. There are 50 loan accounts.
Goal II.
Water Resource Planning-Update and maintain the database pertaining
to Wyoming's water resources through information developed from
project specific studies, management of the state's water
investments, completion of instream flow feasibility studies,
performance of general water related research, and basin wide
research and planning.
Objective II.A Manage the state's existing water investments.
Outcomes:
- The state's investments in Buffalo Bill, Fontenelle, and
Palisades Reservoir remain effective to serve existing and future
water needs in the project areas. The state's water investments
include 190,000 acre feet of storage space in Buffalo Bill
Reservoir, 125,000 acre feet of water per year in Fontenelle
Reservoir, and 33,000 acre feet of storage space in Palisades
Reservoir.
- Increased revenues and assurances that project sponsors
are not receiving "windfalls" from the state's investments in new
development projects. The WWDC maintains a financial interest in
48 completed new development projects.
Strategy II.A.1 Insure that the state's repayment and
operation/maintenance obligations are met on
Buffalo Bill, Fontenelle and Palisades
Reservoirs.
Output:
Include the state's repayment and
operation/maintenance obligation in the biennial
exception budget and make annual payments to the
Bureau of Reclamation.
Strategy II.A.2 Insure that the state is receiving payments
from its storage contractors.
Output:
Bill annually for the readiness to serve fees
associated with the four existing storage
contractors at Fontenelle Reservoir. Bill the
Western Area Power Administration at Buffalo Bill
Reservoir annually for the State's share of power
revenues.
Strategy II.A.3 Monitor completed new development projects
five years after project construction to
determine the state's share of the revenues
from water sales, if any.
Output:
Initiate four project monitoring programs each
biennium and prepare formal reports on findings.
Presently, the state is receiving revenues from the
sale of the water from the Cheyenne Stage II
Project and the Rawlins Groundwater Project. This
type of income should increase in the future.
Objective II.B Prepare instream flow feasibility studies
Outcomes:
Provide assistance to the State Engineer on whether to issue an
instream flow water right.
Strategy II.B.1 Complete instream flow feasibility
studies on the water right applications
prepared by the Wyoming Game and Fish
Department in a comprehensive and timely
manner.
Output:
Completion of instream flow feasibility studies as requested.
Strategy II.B.2 Advise the State Engineer if granting the
instream flow water right would impact
other water rights or future water
development opportunities in the area.
Output:
Testimony at instream flow hearings held by the
State Engineer's Office and written comments on
instream flow water right applications for each
completed study in the biennium.
Objective II.C Perform water related research that affects
project development and addresses water issues
that can impact the entire state.
Outcomes:
Fifteen water related research tasks, reports, or projects per
biennium. Each of these tasks, reports or projects must promote:
- A technically sound and efficient staff.
- Reduced project costs.
- Improved understanding and reaction to federal requirements and issues.
Strategy II.C.1 Each project manager within the Water
Development Office should monitor
changing technology and construction
techniques and define cost savings
opportunities.
Output:
Each project manager should attend at least one
seminar per biennium and advise the other managers
of the information provided.
Strategy II.C.2 Monitor ever-changing federal policies
related to permitting requirements for
water projects.
Output:
Attend five meetings per biennium with federal
officials to monitor project specific permitting
requirements.
Strategy II.C.3 Remain current of existing and proposed
federal legislation pertaining to the
Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act,
and Safe Drinking Act.
Output:
Two reports to the Governor's Office per biennium
on the impacts or benefits of proposed state or
federal legislation on water development and
management.
Objective II.D Complete and maintain basin wide plans for
each major drainage basin in Wyoming.
Outcomes:
An outline, a detailed cost estimate, and a schedule for a
computerized strategic plan will be developed for the development
and management of Wyoming's water resources.
Strategy II.D.1 Continue to cost share the Water
Resources Data System with the Water
Resources Center at the University of
Wyoming to provide current water quantity
and quality information to state agencies
and the private sector.
Output:
Continuously updated computer compilations of water
quality and quantity data throughout the state.
Strategy II.D.2 Develop a water planning process and
complete studies for each major drainage
basin within the state and prepare a
state summary.
Output:
Plans for the following basins:
Green/Little Snake Rivers, Bear River, Snake River,
Wind/Big Horn Rivers, Powder/Tongue Rivers,
Northeast Wyoming, North Platte and Laramie Rivers.
State of Wyoming plan should be updated each
biennium.
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