WyomingWyoming funds water projects and studies their effects and application process
The law provides grants and loans for listed water projects and funds state studies of forest treatments and small project applications.
What it does
Wyoming provides grants and loans for named water projects, including town water systems, irrigation repairs, and small projects. Some sponsors must provide matching funds, and some funding depends on transfers between state accounts.
The law states lawmakers intend no more time extensions for the Alkali Creek Reservoir project. Starting January 1, 2027, its appropriated funds cannot be spent or used for eminent domain for the project.
State researchers study how forest treatments may affect water supplies, while the water development office reviews the small project application process. Both offices report findings to the select water committee.
Argument forTowns and water districts could get state help to build or repair water systems, if they meet project conditions and secure required matching funds.
Argument againstSponsors may have to find matching money, and some must repay state loans with interest over many years.
More detail
The state provides grants and loans for listed water construction and repair projects. The listed projects include municipal, rural domestic, and agricultural water systems across Wyoming, plus small water projects for eligible public entities. Many grants cover no more than half of actual costs, and some sponsors must obtain the rest from other sources. Some project funding depends on money being transferred into Water Development Account II. Small project grants may cover up to half of eligible costs, capped at $35,000 per project; sponsors must show public benefit, and a resource agency must certify the project meets expectations and engineering standards. Unspent amounts for many listed projects return to their water development accounts on July 1, 2031.
The law states that lawmakers intend no further time extensions for the Alkali Creek Reservoir project and restricts use of its appropriation. The project is Alkali Creek Reservoir. The spending and eminent-domain restriction applies to funds from the appropriation for this project. The limit on spending or using these funds for eminent domain begins January 1, 2027.
State offices study water projects and programs and report their findings to lawmakers. The agricultural experiment station studies forest treatments under the Little Snake River Battle Lake project; the water development office studies the small water project program. The forest study examines how treatments under the Little Snake River project affect water loss to the air and potential water yield. The small project study examines application and review steps, costs, and ways to make the process more efficient. The small project study report is due by November 1, 2026. The forest study report is due by November 1, 2030, and its funding runs through June 30, 2030.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 7Assigned Chapter Number 73Latest
- Mar 7Governor Mark Gordon Signed SEA No. 0042Became Law
- Mar 4H Speaker Signed SEA No. 0042
- Vote recorded S Concur:Passed 21-10-0-0-0. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 4S President Signed SEA No. 0042
- Mar 4Assigned Number SEA No. 0042
- Mar 4S Concur:Passed 21-10-0-0-0
- Mar 4S Received for Concurrence
- Mar 3H 3rd Reading:Passed 59-1-2-0-0Passed 2nd Chamber
- Vote recorded H 3rd Reading:Passed 59-1-2-0-0. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded SF0070H3002: Amendment adopted 60-0-2-0-0. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 2H 2nd Reading:PassedMinor
- Vote recorded SF0070H2003: Amendment failed 7-51-4-0-0. Result: fail.Lower
- Feb 27H COW:PassedMinor
- Feb 25H Placed on General File
- Vote recorded H02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 7-0-0-0-0. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 25H02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 7-0-0-0-0Minor
- Feb 24H COW:Rerefer to H02 - AppropriationsMinor
- Vote recorded H05 - Agriculture:Recommend Do Pass 9-0-0-0-0. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 24H Placed on General File
- Feb 24H05 - Agriculture:Recommend Do Pass 9-0-0-0-0Minor
- Feb 19H Introduced and Referred to H05 - AgricultureMinor
- Feb 18H Received for IntroductionMinor
- Vote recorded S 3rd Reading:Passed 26-4-1-0-0. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 18S 3rd Reading:Passed 26-4-1-0-0Passed 1st Chamber
- Feb 17S 2nd Reading:PassedMinor
- Feb 16S COW:PassedMinor
- Feb 12S Placed on General File
- Vote recorded S02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 12S02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0Minor
- Feb 10:Rerefer to S02 - AppropriationsMinor
- Vote recorded S05 - Agriculture:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 10S05 - Agriculture:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0Minor
- Feb 9S Introduced and Referred to S05 - Agriculture 31-0-0-0-0Minor
- Vote recorded S Introduced and Referred to S05 - Agriculture 31-0-0-0-0. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 5S Received for IntroductionMinor
- Feb 4Bill Number AssignedIntroduced
AgricultureEnvironment & EnergyTaxes & Budget