Committee Meeting Information

January 13, 2006

Room 302, Capitol Building

Cheyenne, Wyoming

 

Committee Members Present

Senator Gerald E. Geis, CoChairman

Representative Rodney “Pete” Anderson, CoChairman

Senator Pat Aullman

Senator Robert Peck

Senator Chuck Townsend

Senator Bill Vasey

Representative Marty Martin

Representative Layton Morgan

Representative Lorraine Quarberg

Representative Mark Semlek

 

Committee Members Absent

Senator Tex Boggs

Representative Owen Petersen

 

Legislative Service Office Staff

Mark Quiner, Assistant Director

 

Others Present at Meeting

Wyoming Water Development Office: Mike Besson, Director

Please refer to Appendix 1 to review the Committee Sign-in Sheet
for a list of other individuals who attended the meeting.

Call To Order

Chairman Anderson called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m.  The following sections summarize the Committee proceedings by topic.  Please refer to Appendix 2 to review the Committee Meeting Agenda.

 

Approval of Minutes

Minutes from the August 25 and 26, 2005 Committee meeting were approved with no changes..

 

Financial Report

Mr. Mike Besson provided the Committee with an update of the financial status of the Water Development Accounts I through III.  Following approval of the proposed 2006 water projects, Account I will have a balance of around $20 million, Account II will have a balance of roughly $1 million, and the new Account III for reservoirs and storage will have a balance of around $62 million. 

 

Contract Amendments

Mr. Besson explained the following contract amendments which were approved by the Committee:

 

• Alta Test Well, Level II
• Framework Waterplan, Level I

 

Omnibus water bill-planning, 06LSO-336.W1

Mr. Besson explained the bill draft authorizing all the Level I and Level II studies and providing appropriations therefor.  Appendix 3.

 

Mr. Greg Kerr of the University of Wyoming Office of Water Planning explained the glacier project in the Wind River Mountains and its funding.

 

Following discussion, Senator Geis moved the Committee sponsor the bill.  The motion passed with a roll call vote of 10 ayes, 2 absent.  Appendix 4.

 

Omnibus water bill-construction, 06LSO-335.W4

Mr. Besson explained the bill draft authorizing water development construction projects.  Mr.  Besson, as well as any interested person in attendance, provided information on each authorized water project.  Appendix 5. 

 

Pathfinder Modification Project

Mr. Besson explained the proposed Pathfinder Modification Project.  The proposal is to remove sediment to restore potentially 53,000 acre feet of water which has been lost due to sediment.  The project budget is around $8.5 million.

 

Representative Kurt Bucholz provided testimony in opposition to the Pathfinder Modification Project.  Appendix 6.   He expressed concern over the potential negative impact on the upper basin users.  Rep. Bucholz provided extensive testimony and information on the history of the Pathfinder Dam up to the present proposal. 

 

Mr. Jeb Steward, WWDC Commissioner, proposed an amendment to the project to address the call for priority regulation.  Appendix 7.

 

Ms. Ann MacKinnon, WWDC Commissioner, spoke in favor of the project without any changes (opposed to the amendment).  Ms. MacKinnon explained the potential impact of the Endangered Species Act on this and other water projects.

 

Mr. Pat Tyrrell, State Engineer, spoke against the amendment.  He indicated he was not exactly sure what the amendment meant.  He indicated he had been advised by the Attorney General's Office that there may be a potential conflict between the amendment and the North Platte consent decree which he must administer.

 

Following discussion, Senator Geis moved the amendment be removed from the bill.  The motion failed with a roll call vote of 3 ayes and 7 noes.  Appendix 8.

 

Small water projects

Mr. Besson explained the changes to the bill for the small water development projects program.  Appendix 9.  Several changes were made to the amendments.

 

Following discussion, Senator Vasey moved that Section 7 proposing amendments to the small water projects be deleted from the bill.  After discussion, the motion was withdrawn.

 

Following explanation of the bill, Senator Geis moved the Committee sponsor the bill as amended.  The motion passed with a roll call vote of 10 ayes, 2 absent.  Appendix 10.

 

Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund

Mr. Besson and Mr. Mike Hacker of the Wyoming Water Development Office explained the program and its funding.  Mr. Hacker explained that the fund has made 55 loans to 36 entities worth some $90 million.  The intended use plan for the fund is revised each year to determine priority and how the state will use the money.  Mr. Hacker indicated there will be around $23 million available for loans following receipt of the 2006 federal grant.  Appendix 11.

 

Meeting Adjournment

Mr. Besson announced the next joint  meeting of the Committee and the WWDC will be on June 8.  The water tour and meeting will be August 23 – 25, 2006.

 

There being no further business, Chairman Anderson adjourned the meeting at 12:30 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Representative Rodney "Pete" Anderson, Chairman