Water From Tongue River and Its Tributaries To Be Diverted To Reservoir In Montana

Wyoming State Engineer Brandon Gebhart announced that on April 1st, 2022, Montana placed a call under Article V(A) of the Yellowstone River Compact to fill the Tongue River Reservoir, located about 5-10 miles northeast of Decker.

As a result, priority administration is in effect on post-1950 water rights in Wyoming, which divert water from the Tongue River and its tributaries.

The Tongue River Basin has been experiencing drought conditions over the past year with below average winter snowpack and streamflow conditions.

These unfavorable conditions led to Montana’s interstate call, and prompted administration of the Tongue River Basin in Wyoming.

The priority administration will affect post-1950 water right within the Tongue River Basin, including storage in reservoirs, stream diversions, and groundwater withdrawals which affect river flows.

As provided in the Compact, domestic uses less than 1/2 acre in area, and livestock uses, including stock reservoirs less than 20 acre-feet capacity, are excluded from this administration, but could be subject to future regulation to satisfy senior Wyoming water rights.

All other post-1950 rights will be regulated off or prevented from turning on.

Wyoming water commissioners will continue to administer reservoir storage and post-1950 diversions throughout the spring and work with affected water users until the administration is lifted.

Beginning on April 1st, Wyoming water commissioners have worked diligently to record current storage levels of reservoirs which have post-1950 water rights.

Going forward, those reservoirs can continue to accrue storage with the understanding that post-1950 storage gained after April 1st, must remain in storage until either the water is released to satisfy the Montana call or Montana lifts the call, because Tongue River Reservoir will fill.

Reservoirs that have unfulfilled pre-1950 water rights can also continue to store water, and that storage will not be subject to regulation due to Montana’s call. However, that storage could be subject to regulation to satisfy senior Wyoming water rights.

The priority administration will be carried out pursuant to state law by the hydrographer/water commissioners assigned to various portions of the Tongue River basin, working under directions of Mr. David Schroeder, Division II Superintendent.

A public meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 26th from 4:30 to 6:30pm, located in the Inner Circle room at the Sheridan County Public Library.

The 2022 Yellowstone River Compact Commission Technical Advisory Committee will hold a meeting via Zoom on April 14th.

Click here for more information about the Yellowstone River Compact.