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The bathtub ring above Lake Mead Marina in Nevada in February reveals the lack of water in the West\u2019s all-important Colorado River Basin. (Angus M. Thuermer Jr.\/Wyofile)<\/p>\nRecognizing \u201cvery dry conditions,\u201d the state\u2019s water boss Tuesday declared an emergency to allow ranchers to more easily get water to their stock.<\/p>\n
State Engineer Brandon Gebhart gave local water supervisors the authority to move what\u2019s known as the \u201cpoint of use\u201d of water that sustains livestock. Four district supervisors can now authorize the shift in water use with a simple form instead of requiring more burdensome changes to permits at state offices in Cheyenne.<\/p>\n
The emergency authorization came as the state faces a dire summer, Gebhart told legislators and members of the Water Development Commission on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s terrible this year,\u201d he said of the statewide outlook. \u201cWe had a manager\u2019s meeting this morning and it was pretty disappointing listening to the superintendents around the state talk about the conditions that they\u2019re facing, the regulation that\u2019s already started.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMany parts of the state are on pace to probably be one of, if not the, worst year on record.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brandon Gebhart<\/p>\n
Regulation happens when there\u2019s not enough water to go around and some users are cut off. On Tuesday, Montana exercised its rights to demand flows under the Yellowstone River Compact, potentially impacting upstream Wyoming water users.<\/p>\n
Even before that, restrictions were imposed in parts of the Bear River drainage in western Wyoming and also in the sprawling North Platte drainage, site of the Seminoe and Pathfinder reservoirs. About a quarter of Wyoming lies in the North Platte basin.<\/p>\n
Users there have backup plans, Gebhart said, even though most people don\u2019t understand that. \u201cAll of those municipalities and industries had arrangements made, so none of the junior rights went without water,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Beached boat ramps<\/p>\n
In the Colorado River Basin, including areas drained by the Green and Little Snake rivers, \u201cdismal reservoir storage and the terrible hydrologic conditions right now are making the challenge even more difficult,\u201d Gebhart said at Wednesday\u2019s meeting.<\/p>\n
The Colorado River Basin\u2019s problems are perhaps the largest in the West. Lake Powell is currently 23% full, which is 39% of the average storage for this time of year. Farther downstream, Lake Mead is 31% full, which is half the average storage for this time of year.<\/p>\n
The bathtub ring above Lake Mead Marina in Nevada in February reveals the lack of water in the West\u2019s all-important Colorado River Basin. (Angus M. Thuermer Jr.\/Wyofile)<\/p>\n
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A teacup diagram of major reservoirs in the West shows how drought is affecting the region, particularly the Colorado River Basin. (Bureau of Reclamation)<\/p>\n