PROJECT INFORMATION:
The Division 3 general adjudication has effectively increased the competition for water in the Wind
River drainage. This study effort will look at storage potential to alleviate the anticipated future
shortages that will occur when the Tribes fully activate their decreed award. Over the years
numerous storage sites have been identified in the Wind River drainage. This study will screen the
previously identified sites and determine the least environmentally damaging potential reservoir
development that will provided the supplemental water needed in the Wind River drainage.
The final report was submitted November 30 2001. The current un-met demand for the Big Wind
River and Little Wind River sub-basins at the 80-percent demand level is estimated to be
approximately 175800 acre-feet/year in this study. Futures Awards in the Upper Wind River basin
total 209,372 acre-feet/year. Utilization of some or all of these Futures Awards would most likely
result in significant additional un-met demand within the basin.
A total of 125 potential new or enlarged reservoir sites were identified in the Upper Wind River
basin. These sites were screened by a number of criteria including but not limited to capability to
help meet the un-met demands, economics, environmental concerns, cultural resource concerns, and
geologic constraints. Five sites were selected through the screening process and through discussions
with the water users in the basin. Additional field data were collected on these sites to assist with
future site evaluations. The sites selected for further evaluation were Bull Lake Enlargement, Little
Wind River North Fork No. 3, Dinwoody Lake Enlargement, Wind River East Fork No. 1, and
Steamboat. The Ray Lake enlargement project was not evaluated as part of this study since detailed
studies have already been completed.
RECOMMENDED LEGISLATIVE ACTION:
No legislative action required at this time.