Water Management and Instream Flow

Wyoming is internationally renowned for its many World Class streams and rivers. Thousands of people from around the world visit the state each year, many coming here solely to sample the unparalleled fishing and scenery offered by our riverine resources.Tourism and recreation is the second leading industry in the state behind the minerals industry.By some estimates, water-based recreation generates almost $1 billion annually.

Yet, it wasn't until 1986 that legislation was passed extending the same opportunity to manage water in stream channels as had been afforded uses of water out of the stream. Today, the department has submitted instream flow water right applications for many of the state's most important streams so residents and visitors alike can continue to enjoy these spectacular resources for generations to come. Though much has been accomplished, much work remains to better understand the relationships between the amount of water in streams at different times of year and stream health, to address the needs of all the state's citizens, and afford instream flow water rights the same privileges extended to other kinds of water rights.

Presentations

  Meeteetse Public Hearing Presentation

Technical Reports

 Five Year Plan: 2006 to 2010

 Five Year Plan: 2001 to 2005

 Wiggins Fork Instream Flow Studies - April 2009

 Bear Instream Flow Studies - April 2009

 East Fork Instream Flow Studies - April 2009

 Rock Creek Instream Flow Studies - September 2006

 Marquette Creek Instream Flow Studies - May 2006

 Trout Creek Instream Flow Studies - April 2006

 Wood River Drainage Instream Flow Studies - May 2005

 Winter Flow Recommendations for the Shoshone River Below Buffalo Bill Dam 

 Clear Creek Instream Flow Studies - August 1994

 Dry Fork Little Bighorn Instream Flow Studies - October 2000

 Wagonhound Creek Instream Flow Studies - August 2000

Greybull River

 Greybull Instream Flow Studies - February 2004

 Francs Fork Instream Flow Studies - Februaru 2002

 Jack Creek Instream Flow Studies - Februart 2002

 Pickett Creek Instream Flow Studies - June 2003

 North Fork Picket Creek Instream Flow Studies - February 2004

 Piney Creek Instream Flow Studies - February 2004

 Timber Creek Instream Flow Studies - February 2002

Flow Monitoring

    Flow Monitoring: Calendar Year 2003

• 2003 Flow Report

    Flow Monitoring: Water Years 2002 - 2003

• 2002 Flow Report

Articles and Publications

    Clearing the Air on Water

• Instream Flow - Threat or Opportunity?
• Instream Flow - What is an instream flow?
• Instream Flow - An Inside Look at the Departments Instream Flow Program and Future Plans
• Dams and Instream Flow
• Instream Flow and Return Flow
• Instream Flow - A History of Water and Fisheries in Wyoming
• Real Instream Flows