Wyoming’s Water Rights

WHEREAS, the Wyoming Republican Party supports Wyoming’s primacy over its water and the doctrine of prior appropriation; and

WHEREAS, Wyoming’s economic future is dependent on its water resources; and

WHEREAS: Sending Wyoming water downstream to out-of-state users causes irreversible long-term harm to wetlands, ranches, wildlife, ground water and the economy of our great state. It affects every aspect of life in Wyoming, whether it is livestock, agriculture, wildlife, tourism, recreation, or industry, and

WHEREAS: The loss of land value from out-of-state sales of Wyoming water would be devastating to the economy.

BE IT RESOLVED that the Wyoming Republican Party opposes any attempt to encroach upon water and/or water rights belonging to and administered by the State of Wyoming, and compels the state engineer to vigorously defend Wyoming’s water rights, laws, and compacts, and

BE IT RESOLVED that the Wyoming Republican Party opposes new Transbasin diversions of water resources, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Wyoming Republican Party supports the development and management of upstream water storage and other water projects to benefit Wyoming’s economy, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That legislation be enacted to protect Wyoming water from this devastating loss by prohibiting the sale of water to out of-state users, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: Wyoming water must stay in Wyoming and not be used as a commodity to the benefit of a few people or companies with devastating effects to the whole of Wyoming.

Passed:

Wyoming Republican Party, 19 Apr 2024 WYGOP State Convention