Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, ca. 1869-1883
Application to Export Storage Water from the Pathfinder Modification Project
On November 17, 2008, the Bureau of Reclamation and the Wyoming Water Development Commission jointly submitted a document entitled “Application to Export Storage Water from the Pathfinder Modification Project” to my office for review. Pursuant to Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 41-3-115, I have reviewed the application, rendered a preliminary analysis of it, advertised and held a public hearing about it in Natrona County (where the proposed appropriation is located) and solicited public comment on the proposal. Upon consideration of the application, comments received at the hearing and during the comment period which followed, and all other information I deemed to be relevant, I have prepared a final opinion and recommendation and respectfully submitted it to the legislature in keeping with the requirements of Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 41-3-115(r) (i) – (x). In summary, I respectfully recommend that the proposed action be approved by the legislature.
- State Engineer’s Preliminary Analysis
- Application for use of water outside the state
- Letter of completeness and acceptability
- Reasonable Summary of the application
- Final Opinion and Recommendation
Anchor Reservoir History
Strategic Plan
The State Engineer's Office has completed the 2009 -2012 Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan sets out seven performance measures to gauge select services that the agency provides to the public. A performance measure has been established for each of the following areas:
- Surface Water Division - permitting
- Ground Water Division - permitting
- Board of Control - petition processing
- Water Commissioners and Superintendents - appeals of field decisions
- Water Commissioners - response to calls for regulation
- Water Division II - reservoir inspections
- Board of Control - proof processing
Herschler Building, 4E
122 West 25th Street
Cheyenne, WY 82002
hlabon@seo.wyo.gov
(307) 777-6150
Notices
The Wyoming State Engineer’s Office intends to promulgate new rules in Chapter 1 of the State Engineer’s Office and Wyoming State Board of Control rules, entitled “Fees”. Click here to read more.
Fees, Wyoming State Engineer’s Office, Wyoming State Board of Control
- Flow Summary
- Daily Wind River and Big Horn River flow levels - (307) 856-2912
- Daily Regulation information for Owl Creek Water Users - (307) 867-2472
- Daily Regulation information for
Greybull River Drainage Water Users - (307) 868-2524
The mission of the Wyoming State Engineer's Office and Board of Control is to provide for the general supervision and protection of both inter- and intra-state waters of this state. This includes the appropriation, distribution and application to beneficial use of water as provided under the prior appropriation doctrine, and to maintain the flexibility within that framework to meet the changing needs of the citizens of Wyoming. The State Engineer's Office collects, analyzes, maintains and provides water related information for ensuring the appropriate management and regulation of Wyoming's water resources.
- Permitting and Adjudication of Water Rights - prior to using any water in the state, the appropriator is required to obtain a permit. The permit is the first step in acquiring a water right and it defines the conditions of use as well as the priority date. Once a permit has been issued, the permit holder may begin construction of the facility (well, ditch, reservoir, etc.) and begin beneficial use of Wyoming water.
Upon satisfying the conditions of the permit, the appropriator may file a notice of beneficial use and seek adjudication of the water right by the Board of Control (BOC). The employees involved in permitting and adjudication of water rights are primarily located in the Herschler Building in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
- Administration and Regulation – Wyoming has an arid climate and most areas of the state experience water shortages at some point during the year. During these times, water is allocated to senior water users based upon the doctrine of prior appropriation and numerous Wyoming Statutes that support this doctrine. This administration and regulation is supervised by the agency’s four Division Superintendents. Each Superintendent is located in one of the four Division offices (Torrington, Sheridan, Riverton, and Cokeville). Each Superintendent has a staff of Hydrographer/ Water Commissioners that are located in 24 offices across the state. These employees are responsible to allocate water by field regulating headgates, pumps, stream diversions, etc.
- Administration of Interstate Compacts and Decrees – Wyoming is party to seven interstate water compacts and three interstate court decrees. These documents define the amounts of water that Wyoming must provide to downstream states. A staff of four employees in Cheyenne maintains contact with adjoining states and federal agencies to assure compliance with various compacts and decrees. Additionally, they monitor federal actions that might impair Wyoming’s ability to use its water.
State Engineer: Patrick T. Tyrrell
122 West 25th Street
4th Floor East
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Phone: (307) 777-6150
Fax: (307) 777-5451
Email: seoleg@seo.wyo.gov