Wyoming Framework Water Plan - Living Rivers Home Page

8.0 OPPORTUNITIES
Cottonwood/Grass Creek Watershed Management Plan – Level I Study
This study, currently under development, has the purpose to assess, describe, and inventory the
watershed and then to develop a management and rehabilitation plan for the watershed. One of the tasks
in the study is to assess water storage needs and potential alternative reservoir sites to meet the needs.
Owl Creek Master Plan
The purpose of this study (SEH, Inc., 2005) was to assess, describe, and inventory the watershed
and then to develop a management and rehabilitation plan for the watershed. One of the tasks was to
identify and evaluate reservoir sites. Five reservoir sites were identified as having the best potential to
meet shortages within the basin. These five sites were recommended for future study. A study is
currently in progress to analyze the alternative storage sites in detail.
Wind River Export Study – Level I
The purpose of this study (ECI, 2002) was to assess the potential of exporting water from the
Wind River Basin into adjacent basins to benefit the Wind River Indian Tribes. The study identified the
best potential for sale of the water to be the Colorado Front Range. The system investigated would
deliver 54,300 acre-feet per year to potential customers. The study also investigated delivery of water to
the North Platte River via the Sweetwater River. The compact issues concerning transbasin exportation
would have to be considered.
Ray Lake Enlargement – Level II Study
The purpose of this study (Gannett Fleming, 2005) was to assess the safety of dams issues with
the existing structure and evaluate the potential to enlarge the reservoir to provide water to areas of
existing shortage within the Little Wind River drainage. The rehabilitation of the existing dam to meet
safety of dams criteria was feasible as was enlargement of the reservoir. However, enlargement may
require realignment of the dam. The project is pending action by the sponsors.
8.9.7 Framework Scoring Matrix
The short list reservoir sites investigated in the referenced studies were evaluated utilizing the
Framework Scoring Matrix developed for the Framework Plan. The results are shown in Tables 8-30 and
8-31. The information developed in the Basin Plan and the specific reservoir studies was utilized for the
matrix scoring. The reservoir projects have been arranged with the highest scoring projects listed first.
The recommendations for storage opportunities were based on this information.
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