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

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2003 LEGISLATIVE REPORT
Active Projects

124.PROJECT:State Water Plan
LEVEL:I
SPONSOR:State of Wyoming
LOCATION:Statewide
PROGRAM:Rehabilitation
  
EXISTING LEGISLATION:
Purpose Chapter Session Account Appropriation Due Date
State Plan 1 1996 N/A N/A 1996
Aerial Photo. 1 1996 I $250,000 1998
State Plan 46 1997 I $250,000 1998
Basin Plan* 30 1998 I $250,000 2000
State Water Planning Process 81 1999 I $1,435,000 2001
State Water Planning Process 36 2000 I $800,000 2002
State Water Planning Process 86 2001 II $1,550,000 2003
*Contained in Agency Budget

PROJECT INFORMATION:
In 1996, the Wyoming Legislature directed the Wyoming Water Development Commission (WWDC) and the State Engineer's Office (SEO) to develop a proposal for updating the state's Framework Water Plan, which was written in the early 1970's and published in 1973. WWDC and the SEO prepared and submitted the proposal to the Governor and the Select Water Committee in October of 1996.

During the 1997 Legislative Session, $250,000 was appropriated from Water Development Account I to enable the WWDC to conduct a feasibility study to determine the costs and methods of implementing a new water planning process for the state. A descriptive plan for each of the seven major river basins will be provided, which will include a statewide computer database that will be updated as conditions change.

During 1997 and 1998, the WWDC undertook a pilot Basin Plan in the Bear River Basin to test data collection methods and procedures, to test information dissemination methods, presentation methods, etc. A coordination process was developed to present information on the proposed Statewide Water Planning Process, and to obtain input from interested parties.

Following authorization by the 1999 Legislature, the Water Development Commission, in July 1999, formally established a River Basin Planning section to implement the Statewide Water Planning Process. The first two River Basin Plans were initiated in the Green and Bear River Basins. Consultants were selected to prepare these basin plans, and a coordination process was implemented to gain input from individuals, private interest groups, and local, state, and federal agencies. The Bear River Basin Plan was completed in November 2000, and the Green River Basin Plan was completed in January 2001. Products of the Statewide Water Planning Process are published on the Water Planning website at: http://waterplan.state.wy.us.

The 2000 Legislature authorized river basin plans to be prepared for the Powder/Tongue and Northeast Wyoming River Basins. Basin Advisory Groups were formed in those basins, and the consultant completed those plans in January 2002.

The 2001 Legislature authorized river basin plans to be prepared for the Wind/Bighorn and Snake/Salt River Basins. Basin Advisory Groups have been formed in those basins, and the consultants are preparing draft plans for presentation, with those reports scheduled for completion in January 2003.

In order to stay on schedule a request for authorization to complete the North Platte River Basin, would have needed to be submitted to the 2002 Legislature. The Attorney General's office requested that the WWDC postpone preparation of the Platte basin plan for one year to allow them to finish implementation of the North Platte Lawsuit settlement agreement. WWDC agreed to postpone the Platte River Basin Plan until funding could be obtained from the Legislature in 2003. This postponement also delayed the completion of the Framework Plan and the basin updates by one year.

WWDC and the Attorney General's Office have agreed to initiate the North Platte River Basin Plan in 2003. Following the completion of the North Platte River Basin Plan development of the Framework Water Plan will be initiated. Following the completion of the Framework Water Plan, individual Basin plans will be updated as was originally proposed with the initiation of the River Basin Planning Program in 1999.

RECOMMENDED LEGISLATIVE ACTION:
The Commission recommends that the project be incorporated into the Rehabilitation Program at Level I with an appropriation of $600,000.

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