Little Snake River Valley

As drought continues to plague the West, Wyoming is in a unique position as a headwater state to the Colorado River, and how the state diverts its water will impact the entire region. That is why lawmakers are considering a bill that would give Wyoming community stakeholders a voice at the table.

Federal and state officials are outlining plans and soliciting public comment for a potential concrete dam project in the Medicine Bow National Forest. The dam would create a new reservoir in the Colorado River Basin.

The Wyoming State Legislature begins its lawmaking session this week. One bill, called the "Colorado River Authority of Wyoming Act," would create a board and commissioner to manage Wyoming’s water in the Colorado River Basin.

For most of Wyoming's history, mineral rights have clearly taken precedence over surface rights. But in 2005, the Legislature passed a split estate law…