Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, ca. 1869-1883
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Temporary Use of Water in a Ground Water Control Area
The State Engineer’s Office (SEO) anticipates there will be a large demand for water supplies for oil and gas-related activities and/or other temporary activities in southeast Wyoming – many of which will occur within Ground Water Control Areas. To address issues related to temporary water supplies in a Ground Water Control Area, the SEO has developed the following documents so all interested parties clearly understand what the options are relative to obtaining water for temporary uses in a Ground Water Control Area:
- “Issuance of Temporary Use Agreements (TUAs) in Ground Water Control Areas” (Policy Memo dated February 12, 2010),
- “Control Area Advisory Board Review for Miscellaneous-Use Applications in Ground Water Control Areas” (Policy Memo dated July 28, 2010),
- Guidance: Obtaining Temporary Water Supplies (Dated August 2, 2010); and
- the Temporary Use Agreement form.
Anyone with questions regarding these policy or guidance documents may contact the State Engineer’s Office at 307-777-6150.
The Board of Control Division Intends to Amend their existing rules:
The State Engineer’s Office - Board of Control Division intends to amended its existing rules in Part IV of the State Engineer’s Office rules, “Introduction to Wyoming Water Administration”.
The proposed amended rules are available for public inspection for 45 days (commencing August 4, 2010 and ending September 17, 2010). Any interested person may submit written comments, views, or arguments on the proposed amended rules to the Board of Control Division on or before September 17, 2010 to Nancy D. McCann, Each objection shall contain, at a minimum, 1) the objector’s name, address and telephone number, and 2) the reason for the objection. Written comments and objections should be addressed to:
Wyoming State Board of Control
Attention: Nancy D. McCann
Herschler Building 4E
122 West 25th Street
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002
Copies of the proposed rules can be viewed and/or downloaded here: Amended Rules Sample Forms
For further information, contact Nancy D. McCann at 307-777-5958.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, special assistance or alternative formats will be made available upon request for individuals with disabilities.
SEO ANNOUNCES NEW WATER WELL MINIMUM CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS
The Wyoming State Engineer’s Office has promulgated new rules in Part III of the State Engineer’s Office rules, entitled “Water Well Minimum Construction Standards.” The State Engineer is authorized under W.S. §41-3-909 to establish standards for construction of water wells to protect the use of the state’s ground water resources. The new rules were filed with the Wyoming Secretary of State’s Office on April 6, 2010, and are effective immediately.
The rules are available at:
http://seo.state.wy.us/GW/PDFs/WaterWellMinimumConstructionStandards.pdf
or are available by writing to:
State Engineer’s Office
Groundwater Division
Herschler Building, 4 East
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002
Agency Contact:
Lisa Lindemann, Administrator
(307) 777-5063
e-PERMIT GOES LIVE
The Wyoming State Engineer’s Office (SEO) has announced that its new electronic workflow management system, dubbed, “e-Permit” is operational and available for public use. This multi-year project hosts numerous capabilities including the electronic submittal of applications for new water rights via an internet connection. Other features of the system include:
- Most SEO instruments including all applications, forms, statements of completion, and proof of appropriation/beneficial use forms are available for electronic submittal to the agency.
- All agency water right actions will be processed electronically using desktop computers. This reduces paper processing, improves efficiency and improves the accuracy of data storage.
- A new relational water rights database has been created to expand the search capabilities for water rights information.
- All new agency documents will be stored in digital form in the new Document Management System (DMS). These documents will be available through e-Permit.
- Existing digital images now available through the agency’s electronic water rights database will remain available by searching the old database. It should be noted that while the old database will remain available for public searches, it will not be updated after February 5, 2010. The new database will need to be utilized for agency actions taking place after February 5, 2010.
- As time and funding allow, existing paper, maps and microfilm records are being scanned and loaded into the DMS. The public will be able to search and view these images via the internet.
- Geographic Information Systems mapping is available to assist in locating water rights features.
In order to get started using e-Permit, the user needs to first register with the State through its e-Government on-line services. Log-on to https://egov.state.wy.us/ and follow the instructions to create a personal user profile.
Once the user profile has been created, go to https://seoweb.wyo.gov/ which is the SEO’s e-Permit site.
Embedded in e-Permit are multiple help screens to help users understand and navigate e-Permit. The agency is also planning to conduct e-Permit training sessions on an as needed basis. Anyone wishing to sign up for one of these training sessions should contact Nancy Bales at 307-777-6150 or nbales@seo.wyo.gov
The SEO is pleased to be able to offer to the public, the ability to submit online water rights applications. However, the agency will continue accept paper applications as it has done for the last 120 years. Any user comments regarding the system will be appreciated as we continue to improve the system.
Sage Grouse Conservation
The State Engineer’s Office has announced that it is adding a step in its water right permit application review procedures to comply with Governor’s Executive Order 2008-2. The executive order is intended to conserve greater sage grouse populations in the state and prevent listing of the species as a threatened or endangered species. Specifically, the executive order states, “New development on land uses within Core Population Areas should be authorized or conducted only when it can be demonstrated by the state agency that the activity will not cause declines in Greater Sage Grouse populations.” Core Population Areas have been identified in the state and represent areas of critical habitat necessary to conserve the species.
Effective January 4, 2010, the State Engineer’s Office will begin screening all new water right permit applications to determine if they are located within a defined Core Population Area. For those applications falling within a Core Population Area, the applicant will be notified of the need to conserve sage grouse and asked to select an option to accomplish this goal. Current options identified by the State Engineer’s Office include the following:
- Relocate the proposed facility outside of a Core Population Area.
- The applicant may provide a biological assessment demonstrating that full development of the project will not impact sage grouse populations.
- The applicant agrees to a set of special permit conditions. Specifically:
- No facilities or construction activities are allowed within 0.6 miles of the perimeter of an occupied sage grouse lek.
- No construction shall take place in a Core Population Area in the March 15th to June 30th time frame.
- The applicant provides evidence that the proposed project will be located in a previously disturbed area such as farmstead or industrial site.
- For small agricultural facilities that support existing land uses and generate limited operation and maintenance activities, the applicant agrees to a special permit condition. Specifically:
- No facilities or construction activities are allowed within 0.25 miles of the perimeter of an occupied sage grouse lek.
The State Engineer’s Office looks forward to working with water right permit applicants as these procedures are implemented. Anyone with questions regarding this policy may contact the State Engineer’s Office at 307-777-6150.
State Engineer’s Office Advises Early Application
for Ground Water Permits
If you anticipate applying for a ground water permit to drill a water well or develop a spring, be advised that the State Engineer’s Office – Ground Water Division is currently experiencing 5 to 6 weeks to process an application from start to finish. Note: you must have an approved permit before you begin drilling a well or developing a spring. Typically, the agency seeks to complete permit application review procedures in 30 days or less. However, staff availability and procedural modifications are extending review times somewhat in the near term. Please bear with us as we work through this process to improve and expedite your permit application review and approval. We hope to return to more typical processing times as soon as possible.
Prospective appropriators can minimize the amount of time it takes to process their application by insuring the U.W. 5 form, “Application for Permit to Appropriate Ground Water”, is completed correctly. Defective applications will be returned to the applicant, effectively extending processing times. Incomplete applications require more processing time if applicants must be contacted to obtain missing information.
Also, remember to include the correct application fee. As of May 1, 2009, the application fees for ground water permits increased to the following:
| Domestic and/or stock use wells | $50.00 |
| Irrigation, municipal, industrial, and miscellaneous use wells | $75.00 |
| Coalbed natural gas wells | $50.00 (unchanged) |
As of July 1, 2008, Wyoming Statute 33-42-101 through 33-42-117 requires most water well drilling and pump installation activities to be conducted by a licensed Wyoming Water Well Contractor. You can conduct an electronic search for a licensed contractor at http://seo.state.wy.us/wrdb/WDPI_search.aspx or call the Ground Water Division for assistance at (307) 777-6163. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.
Contact: Lisa Lindeman, Administrator, Ground Water Division
Office: 307-777-5063
- 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