Managing water

Gov. Matt Mead is seeking opinions from interested individuals and groups across the state on how Wyoming can better manage, develop, protect, conserve and restore its water. The meeting in Saratoga is from 1 to 3 p.m. Nov. 12, at the Platte Valley Community Center and is co-hosted by the Saratoga-Encampment-Rawlins Conservation District. Nine meetings across the state are hosted to listening to water users in the first step of developing a Wyoming Water Strategy.

Creating a Water Strategy has been identified as one of the most important initiatives of “Leading the Charge: Wyoming’s Action Plan for Energy, Environment and Economy,” according to a press release from Mead’s office.

“The Wyoming Energy Strategy lays out a direction for how we can best develop energy and conserve the environment,” Mead said. “Water is our most valuable resource and that is why we need to ensure we, as a state, identify specify action items on how to be leaders in water management.”

SERCD board chairman Jack Berger said that water users have been invited to the meeting and that anyone affililated with water use should attend the meeting including ranchers and municipalities who have a stake in Wyoming water.

Berger said there are so many water users that he is not sure what the focus will be at the listening sessions.

“I hope it doesn’t get too bogged down,” Berger said. He wants all water users to be heard at the meeting. The future of water in Wyoming affects everyone, Berger said.

Mead said he is hopeful that the listening sessions will be widely attended and help shape the Water Strategy.