Transbasin Diversion for the Green River?

by Steve Jones

It's time to start talking about transbasin water diversion. At least, that's what Wyoming Water Development Office Director Mike Besson says. He figures the way to cure the North Platte River Basin's continuing water shortage is to grab some water from another basin. He's got his eye on the Green River Basin.

Wyoming has never failed to deliver water from the Green River Basin to downstream states, as required under the Colorado River Compact. But the same cannot be said for the North Platte River Basin, under the Missouri River Basin Compact.

Governor Freudenthal calls transbasin diversions "risky propositions."

The Wyoming Water Development Commission is conducting an analysis of possible solutions to the North Platte's water-shortage problems. Two alternatives would divert water from either the Little Sandy River or the East Fork of the New Fork River to the Sweetwater River (a tributary of the North Platte). Other alternatives include piping water from Fontenelle Reservoir to the Sweetwater River or from the Green River below the city of Green River all the way to the North Platte near Rawlins.

The transbasin diversion analysis appears to be driven by concerns about the State of Utah's interest in acquiring approximately 60,000 acre feet of water from Wyoming. But these concerns ignore one important factor. The Colorado River Compact has granted Wyoming a certain percentage of acre feet of water from the Green River Basin. Wyoming's right to that water cannot be taken away unless a new compact is drawn up and signed by all involved states.

Whatever the alternative, Besson says that a transbasin diversion project might cost a cool $300 million. Geology professor Charles Love of Western Wyoming Community College derides the scheme. "If this is going to go for agriculture," he says, "then tell me how the state coffers are ever going to pay back the cost of the pipeline from the profits ... and pay for any future [water] development in southwest Wyoming."

Governor Freudenthal has said in no uncertain terms that he opposes transbasin diversions, characterizing them as "risky propositions." While he is willing to allow an inhouse analysis to proceed, he doubts that the Wyoming Legislature will approve any of the proposed alternatives.

Stay tuned.