Senate committee advances omnibus water bill after debate over Alkali Creek and LaPrelle funding

The Wyoming Senate’s Committee of the Whole reported House Bill 117 favorably after debate and two standing-committee amendments that altered project funding and deadlines.

Senator Steinmetz, explaining the omnibus water construction bill, said a handout listing all projects and accounts (Water 1, Water 2, Water 3) was available to senators and noted that the House removed cloud-seeding projects from the bill before it reached the Senate. “They decided to remove all of the cloud seeding projects,” he said.

The bill as advanced includes notable appropriations and transfers discussed on the floor. Senator Steinmetz and other sponsors described three items highlighted during debate:

- $20,000,000 appropriated from the LSRA for Goshen Irrigation District tunnels 1 and 2 rehabilitation. - $10,000,000 appropriated from the LSRA for LaPrelle Dam rehabilitation. - A $50,000,000 transfer (reversion) from the Alkali Creek Reservoir project to help fund LaPrelle, plus a $5,000,000 retention for Alkali Creek to continue easement work.

Proponents argued the LaPrelle Dam work is urgent: the dam has been condemned and demolition underway, and the project will be a complete rebuild. Supporters said federal funds will also be part of the financing package and that the LaPrelle work is an emergency needing prompt state action.

Opponents and skeptical senators warned about unresolved easement and right-of-way issues on the Alkali Creek (Alkali Reservoir) project and questioned whether large appropriations should be committed before design, easement acquisition and final cost estimates are complete. Senator Coble, among others, called the Alkali Creek easement situation “a giant mess” and urged caution. Senator Driscoll, Senator Hicks and others urged ensuring projects have design and easement readiness before moving construction dollars.

Senators debated two standing committee amendments. Standing committee amendment number 1 removed house-added well projects for LaPrelle where the beneficiary had declined the groundwater source; it also adjusted project deadlines and removed provisions no longer applicable after partial dam demolition. That amendment was adopted by voice vote.

Standing committee amendment number 2, an appropriations amendment, reinstated $50,000,000 previously moved out of the Alkali Creek Reservoir account and returned it to support that project. Adoption of that amendment was contested on the floor; senators called for a division and the amendment passed on a division vote (recorded at 19 yes on the standing division). After debate, the Committee of the Whole approved the bill with amendments and reported it to the Senate.

Senators on both sides urged continued negotiation among district leaders, landowners and the state. Several speakers noted the projects’ long histories and emphasized that if easement or design issues persist the funds could revert or be reconsidered in a future session.

The omnibus bill was reported out by the Committee of the Whole with amendments; sponsors said they will provide senators with additional project-level information and fiscal details ahead of second reading.