Wyoming issues emergency water order for livestock amid severe drought

State Engineer Brandon Gebhart declared a water emergency in Wyoming, giving local water supervisors the authority to shift the “point of use” for livestock with a simple form, bypassing the usual permit process. The move responds to “very dry conditions” that officials say could make this one of the worst water years on record for the state.

The emergency follows water restrictions already in place across the Bear River, North Platte and Colorado River basins. Reservoirs such as Lake Powell (23% full) and Lake Mead (31% full) are at historically low levels, prompting concerns about downstream hydroelectric generation. Montana’s recent invocation of the Yellowstone River Compact may further impact upstream Wyoming users. Gebhart noted that three of Wyoming’s five boat ramps at Flaming Gorge could become unusable if conditions worsen.