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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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2004 LEGISLATIVE REPORT
Completed Level I and Level II Projects

Completed Level I and Level II Projects are those projects that have not advanced to Level III, Construction. Level I watershed management plans and municipal master plans are valuable resource documents. These documents help sponsors make decisions regarding, for example, how best to comply with EPA requirements or TMDLs. Also, advancement to Level II generally requires that the sponsor form a legal entity. Watershed plans and master plans often include a host of options that a sponsor may want to consider, and could advance to a higher Level under a specific legislative authorization. Some Level II projects lack the financial and economic feasibility for the sponsor to take on the required level of debt. These projects may have to wait for conditions to change or for other funding sources to become available.


 01. PROJECT:Corner Mountain Test Well
LEVEL:II
SPONSOR:Corner Mountain Water & Sewer District
LOCATION:Albany County
PROGRAM:New Development

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Formation of the Corner Mountain Water and Sewer District was prompted by the 1995 WWDC Level I study, which explored alternatives for providing a common source of water for area residents. The district is located near the community of Centennial in Albany County and encompasses 12 subdivisions and adjacent tracts along Libby Creek and the North Fork of the Little Laramie River. Permanent and summer residents obtain water from shallow alluvial wells and springs, or from hauling water. Well water is mostly of a quality deemed useful for washing and flushing toilets only. The Level I study ultimately concluded that a groundwater source was the most feasible source supply.

Two test wells drilled in early 1999-revealed valuable subsurface information in the geologically complex terrain which underlies Corner Mountain development. The exploration effort was seeking a deeper ground water source than that presently utilized by Centennial (Casper Formation) or by the town of Elk Mountain (Cloverly Formation).

The Corner Mountain Water No. 3 Test Well was drilled, completed, and tested in late 2000. Sustained yield (200 g.p.m.) from the well meets the supply needs of the district.


 02. PROJECT:Granger Water Supply
LEVEL:II
SPONSOR:Town of Granger
LOCATION:Sweetwater County
PROGRAM:Rehabilitation

PROJECT INFORMATION:
The purpose of this study was to determine the level of system improvements that may be required to facilitate the negotiation of a long-term contract with FMC-Granger. A new agreement between the Town and FMC should allow for Granger's permanent use of the pipeline while still allowing FMC to shut off the pipeline for maintenance. The final report was completed in December 2002.


 03. PROJECT:Green River Groundwater Recharge and Alternate Storage
LEVEL:I
SPONSOR:State of Wyoming
LOCATION:Green River Basin, WY
PROGRAM:New Development

PROJECT INFORMATION:
The 2000 Legislature appropriated $100,000 for a Level I study in the Green River Basin to investigate groundwater recharge and alternate storage for the basin's surplus water. Additional funding was requested in 2001 to investigate a reservoir site on the East Fork that was discovered as a part of this project. This study was completed in spring of 2003.


 04. PROJECT:Greybull Raw Water
LEVEL:II
SPONSOR:Town of Greybull
LOCATION:Big Horn
PROGRAM:New Development

PROJECT INFORMATION:
The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility and cost of putting in a raw water irrigation system for town parks, greenways and residential lawns. The Town of Greybull holds surface water rights on Shell Creek but does not currently use them because of high surface water treatment costs and increasing federal water quality standards. Greybull is currently operating at or near full capacity during summer peak months and during the summer of 2001 had to implement watering restrictions in the town to relieve the pressure on the water system. A raw water system would relieve demand on the town's potable system and allow for future growth and expansion of Greybull. The final report was completed in the fall of 2002.


 05. PROJECT:Hawk Springs Water Supply
LEVEL:II
SPONSOR:Hawk Springs Water and Sewer District
LOCATION:Goshen County
PROGRAM:New Development

PROJECT INFORMATION:
The population of Hawk Springs is approximately 125, with thirty-one service connections that may be served by construction of a central water supply system. The district requested a study to investigate alternative water sources, storage, and distribution facilities for the area in and around Hawk Springs. Residents currently rely on individual wells. Some wells in the area are contaminated by high levels of dissolved solids, radionuclides, and septic system effluent.

The Level II study was completed in 1995. The exploration program located a suitable groundwater supply west of the community. Preliminary designs, cost estimates, and economic analyses have been prepared for the preferred alternative, with the estimated total project cost at $2,145,664. The estimated monthly bill for the project is $45.49/tap.


 06. PROJECT:Hot Springs State Park, Big Springs Study
LEVEL:I
SPONSOR:Wyoming Department of State Parks & Cultural Resources
Division of State Parks and Historical Sites
LOCATION:Hot Springs County
PROGRAM:Rehabilitation

PROJECT INFORMATION:
Many of the Park's concessionaires were dissatisfied with the water distribution problems associated with the Big Spring. Historically the spring produces around 2,500 gallons per minute. The water and its thermal characteristics are important in the formation and maintenance of the park's mineral terraces. The purpose of this study was to determine how best to address system deficiencies and to establish operation and maintenance protocols in the Hot Springs State Park that would satisfy all users to the greatest extent possible. The final report was completed in the fall of 2002.


 07. PROJECT:Irrigation Hydro Power
LEVEL:II
SPONSOR:Shoshone and Willwood Irrigation Districts
LOCATION:Park/Big Horn Counties
PROGRAM:New Development

PROJECT INFORMATION:
A Hydro Power study was conducted on the Shoshone River and irrigation ditches located in the Shoshone and Willwood Irrigation Districts. Issues included detailed cost analyses of placing drop structures with hydropower generators in their current irrigation delivery systems. Each system has locations with flow and pressure potential to generate power. The study also included a study or the transmission requirements to get the generated power to power users. The project was initiated July 2001 and was completed May 2003.


 08. PROJECT:Lodgepole Creek ASR
LEVEL:I
SPONSOR:Ground Water Users of Eastern Laramie County
LOCATION:Laramie County
PROGRAM:New Development

PROJECT INFORMATION:
Eastern Laramie County ranks high as one of the most intensively farmed areas of the state. The area depends on ground water pumping almost exclusively as the irrigation supply source. 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 declining ground water levels. 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. The study has been completed, but due to high cost, has not been pursued further by the Sponsor.


 09. PROJECT:Lovell ID Hydro Power
LEVEL:II
SPONSOR:Lovell Irrigation District
LOCATION:Big Horn County
PROGRAM:New Development

PROJECT INFORMATION:
A Hydro Power study was conducted on the irrigation ditches located in the Lovell Irrigation District. Issues included detailed analyses of placing drop structures with hydropower generators in their current irrigation delivery systems, as well as, converting several problem areas of the current ditch system into pipe drop structure type conveyances to eliminate seepage losses. The system has locations with flow and pressure potential to generate power. The study also included a study or the transmission requirements to get the generated power to power users. The project was initiated July 2001 and was completed May 2003.


 10. PROJECT:Opal Regional Water Supply
LEVEL:II
SPONSOR:Town of Opal
LOCATION:Lincoln County
PROGRAM:New Development

PROJECT INFORMATION::
In 1999, the town of Opal requested a feasibility study for the costs associated with installing and maintaining a water treatment unit to reduce or eliminate excessive fluoride present in Opal's drinking water. This report was completed in November 2000. The report indicated that installation costs were affordable, but the annual operation and maintenance cost would be approximately $11,000 per year.

The town of Opal requested an additional study to determine the feasibility of obtaining a new groundwater source, which would be blended with their existing water supply to dilute the fluoride concentrations and thereby addressing the EPA Administrative Order recently issued relative to the Safe Drinking Water Act violations. A groundwater study was completed and the results indicated there was no viable source that would serve to blend with the existing town's supply. The study also investigated "point-of-use" treatment by installation of individual reverse-osmosis units in town residences. The costs associated with this type of treatment were much less than a central treatment facility. The town has elected to pursue "point-of-use" treatment and is presently conferring with EPA-Region VII on implementation.

The project was initially considered as a part of the Oakley Water Supply Project in 1989. It was revisited in 2001 and completed in 2002.


 11. PROJECT:Pinedale Hydro Power
LEVEL:II
SPONSOR:Town of Pinedale
LOCATION:Sublette County
PROGRAM:New Development

PROJECT INFORMATION:
A Hydro Power study was conducted on the Town of Pinedale's water system between Fremont Lake and Pinedale. Pinedale has two areas with flow and pressure potential that could provide hydropower. The first area is the Pine Creek Fremont Lake outflow. This area had a power plant years ago. The second area is the supply line from the lake to town. Issues included detailed analyses of placing drop structures with hydropower generators in these two areas. The study also included a study or the transmission requirements to get the generated power to power users. The project was initiated July 2001 and was completed May 2003.


 12. PROJECT:Popo Agie Watershed Management Plan
LEVEL:I
SPONSOR:Popo Agie Conservation District
LOCATION:Fremont County
PROGRAM:Rehabilitation

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
A watershed study was conducted on the Popo Agie River drainage from the National Forest boundary to the confluence with the Little Wind River. Issues of concern included consistent water flow, conveyance losses in irrigation ditches, evaluation of potential storage sites, and a study of the fluvial health of the watershed. This study provided baseline information, for the district's watershed planning efforts. The project was initiated July 2001 and was completed July 2003.


 13. PROJECT:Powder River Water Supply
LEVEL:I
SPONSOR:Town of Powder River, Unincorporated
LOCATION:Natrona County
PROGRAM:New Development

PROJECT INFORMATION:
The Town of Powder River is located 35 miles west of Casper on US HWY 20-26. Powder River was platted as a townsite in 1920 but remains unincorporated. It has a population of 43. Shallow individual domestic-sized wells serve the area.

The "Tumble Inn well" has not been able to comply with "Safe Drinking Water Act" regulations. This well provides service to several users. On September 28, 2001 the EPA issued an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC), Docket No, SDWA-08-2001-39. Water supplied by the well exceeds the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for nitrates (=10 mg/L nitrate) and total coliform (>1 positive sample/month total coliform). The average of samples taken in 1999 from the well is 29.1 mg/L nitrate. Monitoring results for the 2nd and 3rd quarters of 1999 and the 2nd and 4th quarters of 1997 exceeded the MCL for total coliform.

Additional violations include failure to test well water, failure to notify the public of violations, and failure to report violations to the EPA.

The "Tumble-Inn well" reflects water quality problems found in all wells used at Powder River. Individual domestic wells are not regulated for conformity with the "Safe Drinking Water Act." Well owners in Powder River have long been aware of the dangers associated with drinking water from town wells and have either hauled water or had purified water delivered. The AOC lists interim measures (staying on imported drinking water and posting public notices) that must be implemented and also requires implementation of long-term corrective measures.

Powder River residents will be given the choice of pursuing the best alternative(s) identified in the 2002 WWDC study. The study concentrated on identifying contaminate sources, evaluate treatment alternatives for exiting wells, locate alternative ground water source supplies (e.g. deep drilling), and provided cost estimates for the various alternatives. The study was delivered to EPA Region 8 Enforcement authorities and as of late 2003, no decision has been handed to Powder river residents.


 14. PROJECT:Rock Springs East Water Supply
LEVEL:II-Hold
SPONSOR:Green River-Rock Springs-Sweetwater County Joint Powers Water Board
LOCATION:Sweetwater County
PROGRAM:New Development

PROJECT INFORMATION:
Several areas east of Rock Springs, including the Arrowhead Springs Subdivisions, are interested in constructing a centralized water system. In order to supply water to the area, a new transmission pipeline would be required to transmit water from Rock Springs. SF Industries may be interested in participating in the project. Further, the Sweetwater County Airport, located 7 miles east of Rock Springs, would also like water service.

The Level I study delineated a service area and provided preliminary designs and cost estimates for the pipeline.

The project was initiated in 1995. A Level I evaluation was conducted and completed in 1996. The project was placed on Hold in 1996 and remained on Hold until 2004.


 15. PROJECT:Ten Sleep/Hyattville Master Plan
LEVEL:Level I
SPONSOR:Town of Ten Sleep - Hyattville Water Company
LOCATION:Washakie County and Big Horn County
PROGRAM:Rehabilitation

PROJECT INFORMATION:
Ten Sleep: The Town of Ten Sleep has two (2) Madison Formation aquifer supply wells that serve its water supply needs. The oldest well was drilled in 1955 and a second well was added in 1978. The total yield from these wells has been more than ample to serve the community. Consumption however, far outstrips demand, with average use estimated at 2500 gallons per day per person. This use rate figure is approximately ten times the recommendation suggested for Wyoming public water supply systems by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality. This inefficiency is a central consideration to be addressed by the requested study. The study would include an entire review of their system.

The Level I study will also determine whether the town should provide service to outlying rural areas. Expansion of supply outside of town has occurred to some extent but recent residential development in the county near Ten Sleep has encountered insufficient water supply in their domestic wells from a quantity and quality standpoint.

Therefore, a small-scale regional plan utilizing the existing Ten Sleep ground water supply is an attainable concept worth consideration in a master plan study.

Hyattville: In 1968, the residents of Hyattville formed the Hyattville Water Company for the purpose of developing a safe, reliable supply of water for their community. Subsequently, a deep well was drilled into the Madison Formation that flowed 100 g.p.m. at the time of completion. Using the average daily per capita use for Wyoming (Wyoming Dept. of Environmental Quality Water Quality Division Rules & Regulations, Chapter XII, Section 8) of 125 gallons per day per person, the well could be expected to provide water for 1152 people. In reality, however, Hyattville's water system has consistently failed to deliver an adequate supply of water to the population (approx. 52) ever since it was brought online.

Throughout the summer months, the town's 25,000 gallon storage tank is drained which results in extremely low water pressure throughout the system. When this occurs, members of the community are forced to curtail water usage by means of restricting watering hours. At least one tap is sometimes without any water at all. The problems with the system are not altogether clear Problems could be attributable to diminished flow or pressure at the Hyattville No. 1 Well, or leaks in the distribution system, inadequate storage, or a combination thereof. The members of the Hyattville Water Board understand that to proceed past Level I involvement with the WWDC (and other public lending entities), the community must organize a water district.

The 2002 Level I Master Plan for Tensleep recommended that a Level II feasibility study be advanced to evaluate the wells, to determine the need for storage, and to evaluate extending a transmission line south of town provide service to rural users.


 16. PROJECT:Three Horses Watershed Study
LEVEL:I
SPONSOR:Campbell County and Lake DeSmet Conservation Districts
LOCATION:Campbell, Johnson, and Sheridan Counties
PROGRAM:New Development

PROJECT INFORMATION:
The drainages of Spotted Horse Creek, Dead Horse Creek and Wild Horse Creek are located east of the Powder River and are tributary to the Powder River. These three watersheds make up the Three Horses Watershed study area. Due to recent activity involving coalbed methane exploration and extraction, the Conservation Districts are interested in evaluating the cumulative impacts to the watershed due to these activities. This project included an analysis of these impacts as well as estimating costs associated with disposal and treatment of coalbed methane produced water. The final report was completed in the fall of 2001.


 17. PROJECT:Upper Wind River Storage
LEVEL:I
SPONSOR:State/Tribes
LOCATION:Fremont County
PROGRAM:New Development

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
This study looked at storage potential to alleviate the anticipated future shortages that will occur when the Tribes fully activate their court decreed futures water right award. Over the years numerous storage sites have been identified in the Wind River drainage. This study screened the previously identified sites, evaluated new potential sites, and determined the least environmentally damaging potential reservoir development that would provided the supplemental water needed in the Wind River drainage. The final report was submitted November 30, 2001.


 18. PROJECT:York/South Side Ditch Master Plan
LEVEL:I
SPONSOR:York Ditch Company - South Side Ditch Company
LOCATION:Sheridan County
PROGRAM:Rehabilitation

PROJECT INFORMATION:
The York Ditch and the South Side Ditch both divert from the Tongue River and provide irrigation supply to lands between Dayton and Ranchester. One objective of the study is to identify how best to rehabilitate and repair their conveyance systems that are more than eighty years old. Worn gates, a seeping and failure-prone ditch system, and generally undependable delivery of water plague these delivery systems. Another objective is to provide construction estimates. The yearly costs for maintenance and upkeep of systems have risen dramatically over time. These small ditch companies are seeking alternatives that can provide a delivery system with higher efficiency, less maintenance/upkeep costs, and more effective delivery, especially in drought and short-supply years.

The York and South Side Ditch Companies are incorporated with the Wyoming Secretary of State's Office, but are not a public taxing entity. Dependent on Level I outcomes, both companies may decide on seeking further assistance from WWDC and would then be prepared to organize as a legal, taxing entity to qualify for consideration of Level II and Level III assistance from WWDC.

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