Laserfiche WebLink
C: <br />150,000 acre-feet per year) is available for development (BAI, <br />1980a). The existing uses of water include irrigation, municipal <br />and a small amount of industrial use. Wyoming State Statutes <br />(W.S.) recognize the rights of these existing users and protects <br />their rights from misappropriation. <br />2.11 Wyoming's entitlement to water in the Little Snake- River <br />basin is subject to the provisions of the Upper Colorado River <br />Basin Compact of 1948 (W.S. 41-12-401). Article XI of the <br />Compact apportions the waters of the Little Snake River between <br />Colorado and Wyoming. Water rights in existence before the <br />signing of the Compact are protected by the Compact. Water <br />developed after the date of the Compact is to be shared equally <br />between the states. <br />2.12 The major use of water in the Little Snake River basin is <br />for irrigation. It is estimated that 11,516.6 acres are <br />irrigated in the Little Snake River basin (BAI, 1980a). Within <br />the Wyoming portion of the Savery-Little Snake River Conservancy <br />District, 17,892.5 acres (256.95 cfs) with water rights have been <br />identified (B~V, 1983). These include adjudicated rights, <br />permits in good standing in the Wyoming Engineer's Office, and <br />applications in the Wyoming State Engineer's Office for new <br />permits. Irrigated crops include alfalfa, hay and small grains, <br />all of which are used for local livestock production. <br />2.13 Some sources of irrigation water frequently dry up during <br />the latter part of the. growing season. Little storage is <br />available to provide supplemental water for late summer <br />irrigation. The majority of irrigation is by the direct <br />diversion of stream flow. Therefore, as water for irrigation <br />during late July, August and September is often in short supply, <br />• agricultural production is limited. <br />2-5 <br />