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26LSO-0346
ORIGINAL House
Bill No
.
HB0087
ENROLLED ACT NO. 20,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2026 Budget Session
AN ACT relating to water development projects; authorizing specified level I and level II studies; providing appropriations; requiring reports; providing for the reversion of unexpended funds; authorizing unobligated funds to be used to complete other designated projects as specified; providing an appropriation for the office of water programs; extending an existing level II study; and providing for an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
[2026-2027 WATER PROGRAM]
[AUTHORIZED LEVEL I AND LEVEL II STUDIES]
Section 1
.
LEVEL I RECONNAISSANCE STUDIES – NEW DEVELOPMENT
. The following sums of money are appropriated from water development account I, as created by W.S. 41
‑
2
‑
124(a)(i), to the water development commission to be expended to conduct the following reconnaissance studies as defined in W.S. 41-2-114. Funds appropriated under this section for a particular project that are in excess of the actual amount necessary to complete the study may, subject to the review and recommendation of the select water committee, be expended by the commission to complete the reconnaissance study for any other project listed in this section. Appropriated funds not expended or obligated prior to July 1, 2029 shall revert to water development account I. The commission shall submit a report to the legislature on each of the following studies prior to the 2028 legislative session:
[LEVEL I RECONNAISSANCE STUDIES - NEW DEVELOPMENT]
Project
Location
Appropriation
Grover Water Master Plan
Lincoln County
$165,000
Kemmerer-Diamondville
Water Master Plan
Lincoln County
$292,000
Laramie Water Master Plan
Albany County
$276,000
Medicine Bow Water Master Plan
Carbon County
$174,000
Pine Bluffs Water Master Plan
Laramie County
$169,000
Superior Water Master Plan
Sweetwater County
$259,000
UW Water Research Program
Statewide
$374,997
Worland Water Master Plan
Washakie County
$263,000
Yoder Water Master Plan
Goshen County
$214,000
Total appropriation for Section 1
$2,186,997
Section 2.
LEVEL II FEASIBILITY STUDIES – NEW DEVELOPMENT
. The following sums of money are appropriated from water development account I, as created by W.S. 41
‑
2
‑
124(a)(i), to the water development commission to be expended to conduct the following feasibility studies as defined in W.S. 41-2-114. Funds appropriated under this section for a particular project that are in excess of the actual amount necessary to complete the study may, subject to the review and recommendation of the select water committee, be expended by the commission to complete the feasibility study for any other project listed in this section. Appropriated funds not expended or obligated prior to July 1, 2029 shall revert to water development account I. The commission shall submit a report to the legislature on each of the following studies prior to the 2028 legislative session:
[LEVEL II FEASIBILITY STUDIES - NEW DEVELOPMENT]
PROJECT
LOCATION
APPROPRIATION
Bedford and Turnerville
Regional Supply
Lincoln County
$327,000
Total appropriation for Section 2
$327,000
Section 3.
LEVEL I RECONNAISSANCE STUDIES – REHABILITATION
. The following sums of money are appropriated from water development account II, as created by W.S. 41
‑
2
‑
124(a)(ii), to the water development commission to be expended to conduct the following reconnaissance studies as defined in W.S. 41
‑
2
‑
114. Funds appropriated under this section for a particular project that are in excess of the actual amount necessary to complete the study may, subject to the review and recommendation of the select water committee, be expended by the commission to complete the reconnaissance study for any other project listed in this section. Appropriated funds not expended or obligated prior to July 1, 2029 shall revert to water development account II. The commission shall submit a report to the legislature on each of the following studies prior to the 2028 legislative session:
[LEVEL I RECONNAISSANCE STUDIES - REHABILITATION]
PROJECT
LOCATION
APPROPRIATION
Shoshone Irrigation District
Master Plan
Park County
$470,000
Total appropriation for Section 3
$470,000
Section 4.
LEVEL II FEASIBILITY STUDIES – REHABILITATION
. The following sums of money are appropriated from water development account II, as created by W.S. 41
‑
2
‑
124(a)(ii), to the water development commission to be expended to conduct the following feasibility studies as defined in W.S. 41
‑
2
‑
114. Funds appropriated under this section for a particular project that are in excess of the actual amount necessary to complete the study may, subject to the review and recommendation of the select water committee, be expended by the commission to complete the feasibility study for any other project listed in this section. Appropriated funds not expended or obligated prior to July 1, 2029 shall revert to water development account II. The commission shall submit a report to the legislature on each of the following studies prior to the 2028 legislative session:
[LEVEL II FEASIBILITY STUDIES - REHABILITATION]
Project
Location
Appropriation
Casper Alcova Irrigation District
Lateral Rehabilitation
Natrona County
$308,000
Wheatland Source and Transmission
Evaluation
Platte County
$220,000
Total appropriation for Section 4
$528,000
Section 5.
There is appropriated one hundred seventy five thousand dollars ($175,000.00) to the water development commission from water development account I, as created by W.S. 41-2-124(a)(i), to fund the office of water programs established under W.S. 41-2-125 for the period beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2028. This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose and any unexpended, unobligated funds remaining from this appropriation shall revert as provided by law on June 30, 2028.
Section 6.
2021 Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 11, Section 5, as amended by 2023 Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 186, Section 7 is amended to read:
Section 5.
LEVEL II FEASIBILITY STUDIES – DAMS AND RESERVOIRS
. In the 2015 Omnibus water bill – planning, 2015 Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 168, Section 5, the following sums of money are appropriated from water development account III, as created by W.S. 41-2-124(a)(iii), to the water development commission to be expended to conduct the following feasibility studies as defined in W.S. 41-2-114. A three (3) year time extension is granted for the Shell Valley Storage – Leavitt Reservoir project and appropriated funds for that project not obligated prior to July 1, 2021 shall revert to water development account III. A six (6)
year time extension is granted for the Clear Creek Storage project and funds appropriated for the project but not obligated prior to July 1, 2024 shall revert to water development account III. A
seven (7)
nine (9)
year time extension is granted for the Nowood River Storage – Alkali Cr. project and funds appropriated for the project but not obligated prior to
July 1, 2025
July 1, 2027
shall revert to water development account III. The commission shall submit a report to the legislature prior to the 2020 legislative session: on the Shell Valley Storage – Leavitt Reservoir project study; prior to the 2023 legislative session on the Clear Creek Storage study; and prior to the
2024
2026
legislative session on the Nowood River Storage – Alkali Cr. study.
[LEVEL II FEASIBILITY STUDIES – DAMS AND RESERVOIRS]
PROJECT
LOCATION
APPROPRIATION
Clear Creek Storage
Johnson County
$700,000
Nowood River Storage -
Big Horn,
Alkali Cr.
Washakie Counties
$4,420,000
$5,995,000
Shell Valley Storage -
Big Horn County
Leavitt Reservoir
$4,500,000
Total 2015 appropriation for Section 5
$9,200,000
Total 2018 appropriation for Section 5
$0
Total 2021 appropriation for Section 5
$0
Total 2023 appropriation for Section 5
$420,000
Total 2026 appropriation for Section 5
$1,575,000
Section 7.
This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.
(END)
Speaker of the House
President of the Senate
Governor
TIME APPROVED: _________
DATE APPROVED: _________
I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.
Chief Clerk
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