Citizen    Government    Business    Visitor
Wyoming Water Development Commission 
Harry C. LaBonde, Jr., PE, Director 
6920 Yellowtail Rd, Cheyenne, WY 82002 
Phone: 307-777-7626 

Agency Information
 Mission Statement
 Directory
 Calendar
 Commission Agendas & Minutes
 Consultant Selection
 Items Open for Public Comment
 Newsletter
 Operating Criteria
 Project Application Information
 Send Us Your Comments

Planning Program
 Dam and Reservoir Planning
 Groundwater Grant Projects
 Instream Flow Filings
 Current Planning Projects
 River Basin Planning
 Weather Modification Study
 Probable Maximum Precipitation
 Water Research Projects

Construction Program
 Current Construction Projects
 Small Water Projects

Agency Publications
 Project Reports
 Water/Climate Web Atlas
 Irrigation & Water System Surveys
 Legislative Reports
 Water Mgmnt & Conservation Dir
 History of Wyoming Water Law

WWDC Home Page

Water Plan Home Page

WRDS Home Page

2000 LEGISLATIVE REPORT
Active Projects

 20. PROJECT:Coal Bed Methane Observation Wells
LEVEL:II
SPONSOR:State Engineer's Office
LOCATION:Campbell County
PROGRAM:New Development
  
EXISTING LEGISLATION:
Purpose Chapter Session Account Appropriation Due Date
Level II 82 1998 I $300,000 2000

PROJECT INFORMATION:
The State Engineer's Office (SEO) has seen a number of groundwater permit applications recently for coal bed methane (cbm) projects. There currently are 821 cbm wells statewide, with 690 of those in Campbell County. Information from representatives of the cbm industry indicate that another 1500-2000 cbm wells may be constructed in Campbell County in the next 3-5 years. This number of wells could represent several thousand acre-feet of groundwater withdrawals yearly. As a result of the rapid growth in this industry the SEO has requested $300,000 from the Water Development Account. These funds would be utilized in the drilling, completion, equipping and monitoring of observation wells, and the installation of surface water measuring devices, to be located in the cbm production areas. These monitoring facilities would become part of the SEO statewide observation well network.

The SEO will be required to submit an itemized accounting of expenditures with each transfer request under this cbm authorization, and will be required to submit annual reports and a final report containing all information developed to date and their findings.

This work is underway, but no reporting has yet been made. It is expected that well construction will be completed in 1999.

RECOMMENDED LEGISLATIVE ACTION:
No legislative action is needed at this time.

   Citizen    Government    Business    Visitor   Privacy Policy