Little Snake River Watershed tibttributary t o th e Y ampa, G reen, and Rivers. ¾ Located in south central . ¾ Elevation ranges from 6,000 to 10,000 feet. ¾ Precipitation ranges from 7 to 55 inches. ¾ Predominate water use in order of magnitude 1. Irrigated agriculture for hay production on 15,500 acres (est. consumptive use 28,500 ac ft.) 2. Municipal water use via transtrans--basinbasin diversion (20,000 ac ft) 3. Natural Gas Production (CBM) 4. Environmental & recreational (fisheries & wetlands). 5. Livestock water (pond, pits, springs, wells). ARTICLE XI Upper Compact 1948

Subject to the provisions of this Compact, the consumptive use of the water of the Little Snake River and its tributaries is herebyypp apportioned between the States of Colorado and W yomin g in such quantities as shall result from the application of the following principles and procedures: (A) Water used under rights existing prior to the signing of this Compact. (1) Water diverted from any tributary of the Little Snake River or from the main stem of the Little Snake River above a point one hundred feet below the confluence of Savery Creek and the Little Snake River shall be administered without regard to rights covering the diversion of water from any down-stream points.

(()2) Water diverted from the main stem of the Little Snake River below a point one hundred feet below the confluence of Savery Creek and the Little Snake River shall be administered on the basis of an interstate priority schedule prepared by the Commission in conformity with priority dates established by the laws of the respective States.

(B) Water used under rights initiated subsequent to the signing of this Compact. 1.Direct flow diversions shall be so administered that, in time of shortage, the curtailment of use on each acre of land irrigated there under shall be as nearly equal as may be possible in both of the States.

(2) The storage of water by projects located in either State, whether of supplemental supply or of water used to irrigate land not irrigated at the date of the signing of this Compact, shall be so administered that in times of water shortaggge the curtailment of storage of water available for each acre of land irrigated. There under shall be as nearly equal as may be possible in both States. (C) Water uses under the apportionment made by this Article shall be in accordance with the principle that beneficial use shall be the basis, measure and limit of the right to use.

(D) The States of Colorado and Wyoming each assent to diversions and storage of water in one State for use in the other State, subject to compliance with Article IX of this Compact.

(E) In the event of the importation of water to the Little Snake River Basin from any other river basin, the State making the importation shall have the exclusive use of such imported water unless by written agreement, made by the representatives of the States of Colorado and Wyoming on the Commission, it is otherwise provided.

(F) Water use projects initiated after the signing of this Compact, to the greatest extent possible, shall permit the full use within the Basin in the most feasible manner of the waters of the Little Snake River and its tributaries, without regard to the state line; and, so far as is practicable, shall result in an equal division between the States of the use of water not used under rights existing prior to the signing of this Compact.

(G) All consumptive use of the waters of the Little Snake River and its tributaries shall be charged under the apportionment of Article III hereof to the State in which the use is made; provided, that consumptive use incident to the diversion, impounding or conveyance of wat er i n one St at e f or use i n th e oth er sh all b e ch arged to th e l a tter St a te.

John C. Fremont (1844) on travels through the Little Snake Watershed “ The country here appeared more variously stocked with game than any part of the Rocky Mountains we had visited: and its abundance is owing to the excellent pasturage and its dangerous character as a war ground”. 1872 Noah Reader trails first cattle into the Little Snake River Valley .

1873 George Baggs trails cattle fihllfrom Texas into the valley near the present town that bears his name.

By the 1900’ s over 300 ,000 sheep were grazing on the Route – Medicine Bow National Forest.

First territorial irrigation water rights were filed March 1875. Creek Wetlands Project began in 1993. 1994 33--Geologic Channels Dammed to capture irrigation return flows. nstruct Irrigation Diversion for Red Wash Wetlands 1

Five main stem diversion structures built on Little Snake River to replace annual push-up gravel diversion structures. Cost of construction $2 .2 million . Small Dam and reservoir project. consist of the consttiftruction of small er impoundments to serve stock water, wildlife & fisheries, public recreation .

Upper Deep Gulch

Project consist of constructing ponds on 32 first order tributaries in the Little Snake River Basin. Eight have been constructed since 1998. Size of range from 70 – 300 acre feet. Total expenditures to date. $1.1 million. Canary Grove Loco Creek Deep Gulch

Smiley Reservoir Wild Cow Stock water program, over 55 stock ponds have been constructed in last 15 years.

Loco Creek 1992

Loco Creek 2004 Muddy Creek @ Doty Moun tai n 1989 an d 2005 Doty Mountain Muddy Creek 1989 and 2005 McKinney Creek, 1988 and 2005 below

Traditional and non-traditional partners in developing water and water infrastructure. Approximately $38 million from 1993-2008 ¾ Wyoming Water Development Commission ¾ Little Snake River Conservation District ¾ Savery-Little Snake River Water Conservancy District ¾ Private land owners ¾ Bureau of Land Management ¾ Natural Resources Conservation Service ¾ U. S. Department of Interior CUPCA ¾ U. S. F. W.S Partners of Fish and Wildlife Program ¾ U. S. Environmental Protection Agency ¾ Ducks Unlimited ¾ National Fish and Wildlife Foundation ¾ Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality ¾ Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities ¾ Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust Fund $980,000 for water related projects construction in 2009 including:

1. Reconstruction of Irrigation Reservoir (Grieve & Coal Gulch). 2. Construct & modifyyg 5 irrigation diversions. 3. Stock ponds. 4. Development of 90 acres of wetlands (5 ponds approx. 210 ac ft.). 5. Two & half miles of fisheries habitat improvement (Savery & Battle Creeks).

Issues for resolution and discussion in Green River Basin Plan

I. Prescriptive or Descriptive Plan?

II. Stream Gauging.

III. Future water use (Oil Shale)!