Wyoming Framework Water Plan - Living Rivers Home Page

8.0 OPPORTUNITIES
Cheyenne River Basin
The Cheyenne River Basin was identified as having substantial irrigation needs, particularly on
the northern and southern tributaries. No opportunities on the short list would meet these needs. If
sufficient interest in the basin is indicated, a Level I study of potential storage sites could be initiated to
determine if feasible projects could meet the shortages.
8.5.9 Future Groundwater Development
The current and projected groundwater use in the Northeast Wyoming River Basin is summarized
in Table 6-15 in Chapter 6. The projections were developed for Low, Mid, and High Scenarios. The
municipal and domestic groundwater projections are summarized in Table 6-8.
8.5.10 Coalbed Methane Waters
Substantial CBM development is occurring in Northeast Wyoming, particularly in the Belle
Fourche subbasin. In view of the needs in this basin and others, the beneficial use of CBM discharge
water should be considered. The subject of CBM waters is discussed in more detail in Chapter 6.
8.6 PLATTE RIVER BASIN
Future water use opportunities for the Platte River Basin are addressed in this section.
8.6.1 Physically Available Flows
The surface water resources of the Platte River Basin are fully appropriated in that new water
rights with current-day priorities could not be expected to be reliable in average or dry years due to the
potential that they would be regulated through water rights administration to protect supplies with more
senior priority dates.
8.6.2 Institutional Limitations
Wyoming water law, the North Platte Decree, and the Platte River Recovery Implementation
Program (PRRIP) limit future water development opportunities. Therefore, it is unlikely that there will be
new projects that cause major new depletions to the system. The list of opportunities provided below is
based on this premise.
8.6.3 Needs
Existing agricultural needs were not quantified in the basin plan. However, the current and
projected water demands for the agricultural, municipal, domestic, industrial, and recreational economic
sectors were estimated. The information for the High, Mid, and Low Scenarios is presented in Chapter 6.
The projected future needs for all economic sectors, based on the Low, Mid, and High Scenarios,
are summarized in Table 8-14. The table indicates the potential range of needs in the basin.
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