Instream Flow: Wyoming - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

In- Stream Flow: Wyoming (Draining the West ?) Senator Cale Case: "It was passed reluctantly by the Legislature because there was a citizens initiative that was going to take precedence if the Legislature didn't act. " E3 View the full I rite rvie Dan Budd: "I was involved in the Legislature when the instream flow laws were proposed and of course resisted them with all of my ability. You can't eat recreation, and you can't eat scenery. " Tom Annear: "If development comes to the Green River basin ... we would at least have that safety net, called instream flow water right that would let you keep a little of that water in the stream. " View the full Interview Dan Budd: "My objection to the instream flow is that under Wyoming water law, it ensures there will be instream flow because of prior appropriation doctrine, what the return flow returns back into the river to keep the river alive. Before irrigation some of these streams dried up because they didn't have the bank storage to keep the stream alive during the long period when you'd have short water years." Under Wyoming law only the state Game and Fish Department can apply for an instream flow permit. In the 16 years since the law passed, the agency has made 83 instream flow applications, of which only 17 have been approved. Patrick Tyrell : "That seems like a lot of applications and few permits but these are permits that come in. They involve the cooperative works of three agencies and they require a public hearing. " View the full interview Tom Annear: "It seems to be a different pace than when you look at other water rights during that same time period. I think there have been over 75,000 water rights for all other purposes applied for in the past 16 years. " Cale Case: ". . . we've only managed to protect 50 miles of river in that whole time. The last application was approved in 1996. They've averaged about one a year, or maybe less than one a year. So it's kind of been a rough go. " Anglers are not the only advocates of greater flexibility in the instream flow law. Municipal and economic development officials, and ordinary citizens, want reliable water flows through their towns. Page 2 of 4 environmental causes mix Early blizzard saved Denver's water supply in 2003 Colorado farmers taking their water to market Salt Lake officials block landowners' vehicles Water concerns stall drilling in Montana Water woes growing in New Mexico Water at heart of Wyoming drilling conflict News provided by Headwaters Refmmifts On t e otK "vws http: / /www.focuswest.org /water /instream.cfrn 1/5/2004