SUBLETTE COUNTY – The title is an old saying that has lots of truth in its words. In Sublette County, our climate typically doesn’t produce enough moisture to grow a crop of hay without supplemental irrigation. So, water from the mountains that falls in the form of winter snow is critically important to landowners in Sublette County. 

With the changing climate, water has been in the spotlight in recent years due to falling reservoir levels. Concern is specifically targeted at the two largest reservoirs in the Colorado River system and the country, Mead and Powell.

Since the inception of the Colorado River Compact in 1922 there has never been a curtailment, or “call”, on the river, which spans seven states and two countries from Wyoming to Mexico. Colorado River Basin water users are unique to other water users in Wyoming. This is due to water users never having had to curtail water in accordance with a compact or decree.  

This is uncharted territory for water users and water regulators as well. Sublette County doesn’t have the needed infrastructure in place countywide for curtailment situations. Some of our larger diversions and reservoir outlets have lockable headgates and measurement devices approved by the Wyoming State Engineer's Office (SEO) – many of our smaller diversions don’t.

What does that mean to water users in Sublette County? When the SEO issues orders to all water right holders in the basin, they will give a deadline that water right holders have to comply with in order to have the ability to divert water after the deadline. These may include a lockable headgate and approved measuring device. According to Wyoming State Statute §41-3-613 these are to be installed and paid for at the expense of the water right holder.  

Now, I know people are saying after reading the last sentence, “How can we afford to do that?” 

The State of Wyoming Water Development Office (WWDO), SEO and Sublette County Conservation District (SCCD) have been applying for and constantly on the lookout for cost share opportunities to assist water right holders with this upcoming expense as well as other water infrastructure opportunities.

WWDO, along with partners including SCCD, were successful in getting a Regional Conservation Planning Partnership (RCPP) award through Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) specific to the Colorado River Basin within Wyoming.  This funding utilizes the NRCS office and contracting process for projects that qualify under the approved practices. If you have projects in mind, please contact the Pinedale NRCS office at 307-367-2257 or feel free to contact SCCD at 307-367-2364 and we can help you get in contact as well.

WWDO and SEO along with other local governments including SCCD are also looking at some potential funding through the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) that could also help cost share on projects. The BOR has yet to release details on what qualifies for the funding that they will be releasing. Stay tuned to SCCD’s Facebook page and website for more information. If you are not signed up for our email blasts, please go to our website (https://sublettecd.com) and subscribe to our website to receive our email blasts.

The Colorado River issues are constantly evolving.  The best way to stay tuned is through the SEO’s Colorado River Advisory Committees web page (https://seo.wyo.gov/wyoming-colorado-river-advisory-committee). I have the pleasure of serving on this committee representing conservation districts within the basin. If you have any questions, you can always contact me at 307-367-2364.