TU's Wyoming Water Project is commited to passing a commonsense, responsible stream flow protection and restoration bill in Wyoming that gives landowners and ranchers greater flexibility to use their water rights, if desired, toward stream restoration work. In 2010, the Wyoming Legislature for the first time passed out of committee a balanced, pragmatic stream flow bill that would have achieved these goals. Although the measure subsequently died on the House floor, it was a sign of progress. TU will make a renewed push in the coming year to bring all stakeholders together to understand the benefits to both fish and landowners of a modernized water law.
What the statute update would do:
- Allow private landowners to use their water rights more flexiblly and creatively to support healthy stream flows and fisheries, without fear of forfeiture
- Ensure that nearby landowners' water rights would be held harmless
- Benefit both fish habitat and farm/ranch operations
Case Study: Popo Agie River - Hovendick Ranch
For over 15 years, the Hovendick family has run a traditional cow-calf operation at the base of the Wind River range, using water from the Popo Agie River. Stan has some of the oldest and best water rights in the area, and generally irrigates for two cuts of hay annually. But for years, Stan has wondered why he isn't able to leave some water in the stream to protect the local trout fishery without placing his water right at risk of forfeiture. The mainstem of the Popo Agie River, downstream of Lander, is a regionally significant trout fishery for wild rainbow and brown trout. Stan believes making Wyoming water law more flexible would further enhance state fish and wildlife values.
"As long as I'm not hurting another water right holder, I should be able to use my water right temporarily to help protect trout," says Stan. "There should be additional incentives to encourage such projects and protect my water right, especially where my operations are enhanced and the fishery benefits."
