Wyoming Framework Water Plan - Living Rivers Home Page

8.0 OPPORTUNITIES
Reservoir, North Fork Crazy Woman Reservoir, and Negro Creek Reservoir Enlargement. These three
reservoir sites did not score very well on the short list evaluation.
If sufficient interest is present in this drainage, a Level I study should be pursued to evaluate the
potential sites. Off-channel sites should also be investigated.
Powder River Basin
The needs were identified primarily in the upper portions of the
Powder River Basin. Storage would be most effectively located in the North
Fork, Middle Fork, and the South Fork of the Powder River. Four sites were
short-listed that are located in this area: Morgareidge No. 7 Reservoir, Buffalo
Creek Reservoir, Middle Fork Powder River Reservoir, and Red Fork Powder
River Reservoir. The highest rated reservoir site was the Buffalo Creek
Reservoir of unknown size. The Middle Fork of the Powder River site has
been extensively studied and is a technically feasible reservoir site. However,
opposition to the project has stymied development. The Morgareidge No. 7
Reservoir on Beaver Creek was not rated very high, nor was the Red Fork Powder River Reservoir.
If sufficient interest is present in this drainage, a Level I study should be pursued to evaluate the
potential sites. Off-channel sites should also be considered.
Little Powder River Basin
No specific projects were identified.
8.7.7 Future Groundwater Development
The aquifer system descriptions provided in Section 8.2.5, Potential Groundwater Development,
apply to the Powder/Tongue River Basin. The current and projected groundwater use in the
Powder/Tongue 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.
8.7.8 Coalbed Methane Waters
The Powder River Basin has experienced rapid growth of CBM development. To date, the
development has not occurred in the areas of identified need. However, the potential for beneficial use of
CBM discharge waters should be considered. The subject of CBM water is discussed in more detail in
Chapter 6.
8.8 SNAKE/SALT RIVER BASIN
Future water use opportunities for the Snake/Salt River Basin are addressed in this section.
8.8.1 Physically Available Flows
The physically available flows are shown at significant locations within the Snake and Salt Rivers
on Figure 7-6 in Chapter 7. The irrigated acreages are summarized in Table 8-23. As indicated in Table
8-24, the Snake/Salt River Basin has very significant physically available flows, which are not legally
available.
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