Water Quality
Our water quality program was established to safeguard water quality in Wyoming and to advocate for its protection. With this program we work toward strong state and federal regulations governing the quality of our streams, lakes, and groundwater. Pollution known as “produced water,” which is discharged as a byproduct of oil, gas, and coalbed methane drilling, can threaten our surface waters. Without adequate treatment of this pollution, the ecology of lakes and watersheds suffers. Groundwater, too, can be contaminated by mining or reinjection of wastes back into the ground. We also seek to keep plenty of high-quality water flowing in our streams and rivers, to benefit fish and other aquatic life and recreation. As in our public lands program, our focus with water quality is the consequence of energy development. A balanced approach to energy production includes protecting Wyoming’s waterways and underground aquifers.