WWRC 85-09
Evaluation of Factors and Models Pertinent to Estimating Natural Losses in Wyoming Streams
Introduction
Wyoming is truly the "headwaters of the West" with 96 percent of
its land area in four major drainage basins—the Missouri River, the
Colorado River, the Great Salt Lake, and the Columbia River. The
water produced from these lands due to rainfall and snowmelt flows
from Wyoming to the major river systems of the Western United
States. These waters help meet the needs of industries in Wyoming,
such as the energy and mineral development industry and the recreation
and tourism industry. The water is also used by municipalities and by
others for agricultural, livestock, and domestic purposes (Brosz and
Jacobs, 1980). Proper allocation of the available water resources
between all of these users is necessary for their prosperity and,
consequently, the prosperity of the State of Wyoming.
In order to meet future needs, it has become necessary for
existing and prospective appropriators to acquire additional water
rights. However, in many situations, all of the available water has
already been appropriated. To meet this increase in demand, various
users have purchased existing water rights with hopes of transferring
the water to a new point downstream. Conveyance losses must be
assigned to this transference of water to insure that all of the
available water is properly allocated and that no existing lawful
appropriators are injured.
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