WSPC02234

• File Number: 8200.767
• Description: Colorado River Basin - Little Snake River General Publications-Correspondence-Reports
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 10/1/1981
• Title: Little Snake River Water Management Project - Examination of Alternatives - Preliminary Report
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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INTRODUCTION

The 1979 Wyoming Legislature passed Enrolled Act No. 49 which called
for a water management study of the Little Snake River, authorized Stage II
of the Cheyenne Water Project, and defined Stage III. The Enrolled Act
defines "Stage III" as:

11 . a transbasin diversion of water from the headwater of
the Little Snake River and its tributaries on the western side of
the Continental Divide north and west of stage I and stage II. Stage
III proposes to construct storage structures to increase storage
for in-basin use and to construct interception lines and diversion
and collection structures to increase availability of water for
transportation of water across the Continental Divide from the
Little Snake River drainage into the North Platte River system,
and increase storage and availability of water for use by cities,
towns, and other water users located in Carbon, Albany, Natrona,
Converse, Niobrara, Goshen, Platte, and Laramie Counties. . ."

In 1980 the Wyoming Legislature appropriated monies and directed the
Wyoming Water Development Commission to prepare a feasibility study and pre-
liminary engineering plans for Stage III of the Little Snake River Water
Management Project. Pursuant to these objectives, the Wyoming Water Devel-
opment Commission selected the firm of Banner Associates, Inc. to conduct
a feasibility study of a system to provide water for transbasin diversion
as well as providing in-basin storage sufficient to meet projected demands.
The Wyoming Water Development Commission also contracted the services of
the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to supplement the Banner study by
identifying and enumerating populations of fish inhabiting the various
streams within the study area.

Under the coordination of WWDC, the Banner report entitled "Little
Snake River Water Management Project - Feasibility Study" was completed
in November, 1980. The timing made it impossible to digest the contents
of the report, hold public hearings, and formulate recommendations to
the legislature when it convened in 1981.

The 1981 Wyoming Legislature approved a footnote on the appropriation
bill identifying $5,000,000 to be used by the WWDC to prepare final plans
and specification for the Stage III project defined in W.S. 4l-2-204(a)(iv).
The exact items to be pursued by expenditures of these funds are more
particularly defined as follows:

An additional five million dollars ($5,000,000.00) is appropriated
from the Water Development Account under W.S. 39-6-305(g) to be
expended by the Wyoming Water Development Commission to obtain water
permits, plan methods of funding, develop plans and specifications
and perform geological and other studies and investigation necessary
to expedite the Stage III project defined in W.S. 41-2-204(a)(iv).
The plans and specifications shall be developed for the Battle
Creek to Jack Creek Collection System and Pipelines, Jack Creek
Reservoir and Jack Creek to North Platte River Pipeline and Upper
Savery Reservoir. Any city, town or special district contributing
to the costs under this section shall be included within the option