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2001 LEGISLATIVE REPORT
Active Projects

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Eastern Laramie County ranks high as one of the most intensively farmed areas of the state. The area is unique among irrigated areas of the state as depending on ground water pumping almost exclusively as irrigation source supply. In 1970, a Ground Water Control Area was formed for extreme eastern Laramie County and expanded in 1982 (to include that portion of the county east of I-25, not inclusive of the city of Cheyenne) in response to ground water level declines. A Control Area Advisory Board reviews and makes recommendations to the State Engineer concerning any new development of high production ground water wells, enlargement of existing wells, or placing new lands under irrigation.

Since inception of the Control Area, ground water level declines have slowed and in some areas ceased, but have not rebounded. Aquifer storage and retrieval (ASR) is a technology that has been tested in arid western states with varied success. This study would determine if a secondary supply source (e.g., surplus and/or unencumbered city of Cheyenne Stage II supplies) is available and if lands generally underlying Lodgepole Creek drainage in eastern Laramie County are a suitable candidate for ASR techniques or other technologies.

RECOMMENDED LEGISLATIVE ACTION:
The WWDC recommends that the project be incorporated into the New Development Program at Level I with an appropriation of $50,000.