Wyoming Framework Water Plan - Living Rivers Home Page

6.0 PROJECTIONS
The Platte River Basin Mid Scenario assumes that a 1,000 MW natural gas-fired power plant is
constructed in the 30-year planning period. This plant would require 10,000 acre-feet of cooling water.
In the Powder/Tongue River Basin for the Mid Scenario, it is assumed that a 1,000 MW coalfired
power plant is constructed near Lake DeSmet Reservoir. The annual water need for this plant is
17,000 acre-feet.
The Mid Scenario for the Wind/Bighorn River Basin assumes that there will be a 200 MW coalfired
power generating plant built in the basin and that there will be a 500 MW natural gas-fired power
plant built in the basin during the planning period. The coal fired plant would require 4,000 acre-feet of
water while the natural gas-fired plant would require 5,000 acre-feet of water annually.
Future electric power generation water use projections for the Mid Scenario are presented in
Table 6-9.
Low Scenario
In the Green River Basin, the Low Scenario for future power
generation projects current levels of water consumption for power generation
to remain constant over the next thirty years (approximately 47,800 acre-feet
annually).
The Low Scenario is based upon the assumption that additional power
needs in the western U.S. over the next 30 years will be met by the
construction of new generating facilities outside of the basin, possibly cogeneration
facilities developed in conjunction with industrial plants in other
states.
The Low Scenario for Northeast Wyoming future electric power production assumes that only 50
percent of the 2,390 MW of announced new capacity will eventually be built. That additional capacity
would bring total generating capacity in the planning area to 1,625 MW during the 30-year planning
period. If dry cooling technology is used, total annual water use for power generation would rise to about
3,700 acre-feet annually. Almost all of this water would be supplied by ground water wells. If low cost
surface water or CBM water were available in sufficient quantities to make wet cooling technology
practical for the new plants, water consumption would rise to about 20,800 acre-feet annually.
The Low Scenarios for the Platte River, Powder/Tongue River, and Wind/Bighorn River Basins
assume that no new-coal fired or natural gas-fired power generation capacity is developed.
Future electric power generation water use projections for the Low Scenario are presented in
Table 6-9.
6.4.2 Coal, Uranium, and Miscellaneous Mining
Coal
Wyoming is the number one coal-producing state with the bulk of Wyoming’s coal being mined
in the Northeast Wyoming River Basin planning area. Northeast Wyoming has enormous resources of
low-sulfur, low-BTU coal that can be mined from the surface due to relatively shallow overburden.
During the year 2000, there were 14 active mines in the planning area with a total annual production of
322.7 million tons.
These coal mines use water primarily for dust abatement and reclamation, with lesser amounts
used for equipment wash-down and typical sanitary purposes. The primary sources of water for most
6-156-15