Instream Flow Water Rights in the Snake and Salt River Basins Paul Dey, Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Snake/Salt River Basin Instream Flow Water Rights Basis for instream flow work Segments, quantities, dates Questions
Mission: Conserving Wildlife - Serving People
Fish Division Mission As stewards of Wyoming s aquatic resources, we are committed to conservation and enhancement of all aquatic wildlife and their habitats for future generations through scientific resource management and informed public participation. We will use an integrated program of protection, regulation, propagation, restoration, and control to provide diverse, quality fisheries resources and angling opportunities. Our efforts will balance the productive capacity of habitats with public desires
Our Charge... report those segments of stream which have the most critical need for instream flows (from 41-3-1003(b)) We have interpreted this to mean important sport fisheries like the Salt River More recently, native trout fisheries Yellowstone, Bonneville and Colorado River Cutthroat trout.
Instream Flow Water Right Process Game and Fish Identify stream segments for instream flow Perform studies to identify flows to maintain or improve fisheries Water Development Sign the Instream Flow water right application and submit it to the SEO. Assess feasibility of recommended flow quantities. Hold the IF water right in the name of the State Game and Fish and Water Development present study results Public provides views and any additional information for the SEO to consider relative to the instream flow application State Engineer Public Hearing Assign priority date Schedule and conduct a public hearing State Engineer Decision Board of Control Adjudication
Instream Flow Water Right Process Game and Fish (89 IF applications since 86, recently submitted 5 for Water Development Greybull basin streams) State Engineer 26 approved 63 await decisions Public Hearing 4 adjudicated State Engineer Decision Board of Control Adjudication
89 filings on 88 segments covering 417 miles Segments range from 0.1 to 22.3 miles in length Priority dates range from 1986 to June 2003
Snake/ Salt Instream Flow Segments Fish Creek #1 & #2 Jackson Salt River Alpine Thayne Afton Greys River
Salt River Field studies in 1989 January 1993 Priority Date April 1997 Public Hearing
2.6 milelong instream flow segment Alpine Salt River
Salt River Instream flow water right filing for 221 cfs year-round
Greys River Field studies in 1992 October 1993 Priority Date April 1997 Public Hearing October 1998: IF water right Adjudication??
Greys River Alpine 10.1 mile segment
Greys River 204 cfs for July 1 March 31 350 cfs April 1 to June 30
Fish Creek Private Land - Requested by Crescent H Ranch and Tom Rossetter (2 segments) Field studies in 1991 October 1993 Priority Date April 1997 Public Hearing
Fish Creek #1, 0.6 Mile Jackson Fish Creek #2, 1.5 Mile
Instream flow filing for 150 cfs year-round, both segments
Flow measurements
Future No IF studies planned for Snake/Salt basins in 2004 If important fisheries are identified and an instream flow water right would provide protection then WGFD may do future studies.