#WY

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Lawmakers and trust board members press for action on Russian olive and invasive species

Committee members and trust speakers urged more funding and coordination to control Russian olive and other invasives on river corridors, citing lost water, habitat and recurring reinfestation.

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University of Wyoming demos conservation tracker and fence‑prioritization tool to committee

Dr. Jared Merkel and Rick King showed two tools that map conservation actions and prioritize fence repairs using animal collar data; they said the tools can help target investments and preserve private landowner privacy.

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Outdoor Recreation trust funds 21 projects, board highlights two large awards and flag funding gaps

The Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Trust Fund received 80 applications and partially or fully funded 21 projects for just over $1.9 million; the board fully funded four small projects and committed seed grants to two large projects: Belfry Bridge ($215,000) and Cottonwood Canyon ($300,000).

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Select Water Committee votes to sponsor stormwater draft bill (LSO 27-0015) with pledge to keep working group

After extended debate and public testimony, the Select Water Committee voted 9–2 (1 excused) to sponsor draft LSO 27-0015 (Surface Water Management) as a committee bill and asked sponsors and a continued working group to refine language before session.

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Wildlife trust director urges December meeting as large project bill, seeks $50 million supplemental

Wildlife Natural Resource Trust director Bob Budd told the select committee the trust will bring a large project bill next session and asked the legislature to consider supplemental funding to continue fire‑restoration and invasive‑species work.

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Game and Fish warns Flaming Gorge boat ramps risk closure; asks for phased funding and partnership

Wyoming Game & Fish told lawmakers that several Flaming Gorge boat ramps are already losing capacity due to drawdown; the department estimates major access infrastructure needs could total about $12.5 million on the Wyoming side and asked the committee to consider state support.

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University of Wyoming warns draft stormwater bill could let contested local fees return

A University of Wyoming representative told the committee the draft stormwater statute remains vague and could allow municipalities to reimpose contested fees without voter approval; he called the bill "not ready for prime time."

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Committee reviews draft bill to clarify municipal stormwater authority and rate-setting

Legislative staff walked the Select Water Committee through draft LSO 27-0015, which would let cities set rates for stormwater services subject to an ordinance adopting an engineering-based methodology, require credits/appeals and tie voter approval to tax-like financing mechanisms.

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Wyoming eyes voluntary Colorado River conservation; UCRC gets IRA funding

The state engineer told legislators the Upper Colorado River Commission received roughly $100 million in Inflation Reduction Act funding to stand up an upper-basin conservation program; Wyoming aims to make its voluntary program eligible to avoid uncompensated mandatory curtailments.

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Wyoming state engineer warns of statewide drought, details Colorado River risks

Wyoming State Engineer Brandon Gebhardt told a legislative select committee that much of the state is in severe or extreme drought, several basins are tracking toward record lows, and Lake Powell and Lake Mead sit at historic low storage levels that complicate downstream operations.

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Cody awards $624,884 TAP grant construction bid for pedestrian hybrid beacon at Bighorn and Freedom

Council approved awarding bid #2026-07 to Casper Electric for $624,884.84 for a pedestrian hybrid beacon funded by an FY24 TAP grant totaling $1,205,000 (including $1,000,000 YDOT grant). Construction expected to start in early September and finish within 2–3 months, subject to material availability.

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Cody adopts water-rate ordinance tied to $60 million-plus capital plan; council approves about 8% increase

Council approved Ordinance 2026-14 to raise treated and raw water rates by approximately 8%, citing a water-master plan that identified roughly $45 million in treated-water and $15 million in raw-water capital projects; billing changes to take effect Dec. 1, 2026.