System
Conservation in
Wyoming
Steve Wolff
Wyoming State Engineer’s Office
2
16 December, 2015
Colorado River Water Users Association 2015
Program Summary - Wyoming
• 2015
• Eight projects submitted
• Five projects were approved
• All five were implemented as
proposed
• All were agricultural, late-season
fallowing
• 2016
• Ten projects submitted
• Selection is ongoing
• All are agricultural
3
16 December, 2015
Colorado River Water Users Association 2015
A Few Key Principles
• Program is “voluntary, temporary &
compensated”
• Payments based on water “conserved”
(i.e. historic consumptive use)
• On the ground verification of each
project was required (monthly)
• Pilot program
4
16 December, 2015
Colorado River Water Users Association 2015
Issues for Discussion
• Protecting conserved water
downstream (shepherding)
• Water right versus water available
(certainty of conserving water)
•Full supply and limited supply sources
• Use of storage water
• Accounting for water savings in Lake
Powell
• Venue?
5
16 December, 2015
Colorado River Water Users Association 2015
Closing Thoughts
• Outreach!
• Partners
•Trout Unlimited
• PILOT Program ………….
6
16 December, 2015
Colorado River Water Users Association 2015
Questions?
7
16 December, 2015
Colorado River Water Users Association 2015