(a) Authorization is granted for the Level III new development construction projects identified in this section subject to the general conditions specified in W.S. 99-3-103, provided that W.S. 99-3-103(a)(iii) shall not apply to the projects identified in this section unless required by W.S. 41-2-121.

Source Notes for subsection (a): (Laws 2026, Ch. 73, § 1.)

(b) Project - Alpine Well #4 Transmission Pipeline 2026:

(i) Project sponsor: Town of Alpine;

(ii) Project purpose: Municipal water supply;

(iii) Project description: Design and construction of water transmission pipeline, structures and appurtenances necessary to make the project function in the manner intended;

(iv) Total project budget: Four hundred twenty thousand dollars ($420,000.00);

(v) Project grant: The state of Wyoming shall grant to the sponsor from water development account I through the commission for the design, permit procurement, project land procurement, construction engineering and construction of the project an amount not to exceed two hundred ten thousand dollars ($210,000.00) or fifty percent (50%) of these actual development costs, whichever is less;

(vi) Appropriations: There is appropriated from water development account I to the commission two hundred ten thousand dollars ($210,000.00) or as much thereof as is necessary to carry out the purpose of this subsection. Unexpended funds appropriated under this subsection shall revert to water development account I on July 1, 2031;

(vii) Special conditions: The sponsor is responsible for acquiring fifty percent (50%) of the total project budget from other sources.

Source Notes for subsection (b): (Laws 2026, Ch. 73, § 1.)

(c) Project - Cloud Seeding: Wind River and Sierra Madre mountain ranges 2027 (ground-based):

(i) Project sponsor: The state of Wyoming;

(ii) Project purpose: To enhance the winter snowpack in the Wind River and Sierra Madre mountain ranges;

(iii) Project description: Conduct a ground-based operational winter snowpack augmentation program during the 2026-2027 season;

(iv) Total project budget: Eight hundred ninety-one thousand four hundred twenty-nine dollars ($891,429.00);

(v) Special conditions: Prior to commencing project operations, the Wyoming water development office shall acquire

funding commitments from other Colorado River basin water users or other interested parties for a minimum of one hundred percent (100%) of actual project operations costs.

Source Notes for subsection (c): (Laws 2026, Ch. 73, § 1.)

(d) Project - Gillette Red Hills Tank 2026:

(i) Project sponsor: City of Gillette;

(ii) Project purpose: Municipal water supply;

(iii) Project description: Construction engineering and construction of a tank, structures and appurtenances necessary to make the project function in the manner intended;

(iv) Total project budget: Five million one hundred nineteen thousand dollars ($5,119,000.00);

(v) Project grant: The state of Wyoming shall grant to the sponsor from water development account I through the commission for the construction engineering and construction of the project an amount not to exceed two million five hundred fifty-nine thousand five hundred dollars ($2,559,500.00) or fifty percent (50%) of these actual development costs, whichever is less;

(vi) Appropriations: There is appropriated from water development account I to the commission two million five hundred fifty-nine thousand five hundred dollars ($2,559,500.00) or as much thereof as is necessary to carry out the purpose of this subsection. Unexpended funds appropriated under this subsection shall revert to water development account I on July 1, 2031;

(vii) Special conditions: The sponsor is responsible for acquiring fifty percent (50%) of the total project budget from other sources.

Source Notes for subsection (d): (Laws 2026, Ch. 73, § 1.)

(e) Project - LaGrange Well Connection 2026:

(i) Project sponsor: Town of LaGrange;

(ii) Project purpose: Municipal water supply;

(iii) Project description: Design and construction of a well connection, well treatment, pumping facilities, transmission pipelines, structures and appurtenances necessary to make the project function in the manner intended;

(iv) Total project budget: Seven hundred forty thousand dollars ($740,000.00);

(v) Project grant: The state of Wyoming shall grant to the sponsor from water development account I through the commission for the design, permit procurement, project land procurement, construction engineering and construction of the project an amount not to exceed three hundred seventy thousand dollars ($370,000.00) or fifty percent (50%) of these actual development costs, whichever is less;

(vi) Appropriation: There is appropriated from water development account I to the commission three hundred seventy thousand dollars ($370,000.00) or as much thereof as is necessary to carry out the purpose of this subsection. Unexpended funds appropriated under this subsection shall revert to water development account I on July 1, 2031;

(vii) Special conditions: The sponsor is responsible for acquiring fifty percent (50%) of the total project budget from other sources.

Source Notes for subsection (e): (Laws 2026, Ch. 73, § 1.)

(f) Project - Little Snake River Battle Lake Modification and Forest Management Demonstration Project 2026:

(i) Project sponsor: Little Snake River Conservation District and Savery-Little Snake River Water Conservancy District;

(ii) Project purpose: Agricultural water supply;

(iii) Project description: Design and construction of forest management treatments, lake outlet, structures and appurtenances necessary to make the project function in the manner intended;

(iv) Total project budget: Two million one hundred eighty-four thousand dollars ($2,184,000.00);

(v) Project grant: The state of Wyoming shall grant to the sponsor from water development account I through the commission for the design, land access, permit procurement, construction engineering and construction of the project an amount not to exceed one million ninety-two thousand dollars ($1,092,000.00) or fifty percent (50%) of these actual development costs, whichever is less;

(vi) Appropriation: There is appropriated from water development account I to the commission one million ninety-two thousand dollars ($1,092,000.00) or as much thereof as is necessary to carry out the purpose of this subsection. Unexpended funds appropriated under this subsection shall revert to water development account I on July 1, 2031;

(vii) Special conditions: The sponsor is responsible for acquiring fifty percent (50%) of the total project budget from other sources.

Source Notes for subsection (f): (Laws 2026, Ch. 73, § 1.)

(g) Project - Small Water Development Projects - New Development 2026:

(i) Project sponsor: Eligible public entities;

(ii) Project purpose: Multi-purpose - agriculture, recreation and environmental;

(iii) Project description: Small dams, windmills, springs, guzzlers and other water collection, storage and drinking systems, pipelines, and similar small projects, to impound, develop and convey water for livestock, wildlife, irrigation, environmental and recreational purposes;

(iv) Total project budget: Two million dollars ($2,000,000.00);

(v) Project grant: The state of Wyoming shall grant to sponsors of small water development projects from water development account I through the commission for the design, permit procurement, project land procurement, construction engineering and construction of the project a total amount not to exceed one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) or fifty percent (50%) of the actual development costs of the small water development projects, whichever is less;

(vi) Appropriation: There is appropriated from water development account I to the commission one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) or as much thereof as is necessary to carry out the purpose of this subsection. Unexpended funds appropriated under this subsection shall revert to water development account I on July 1, 2031;

(vii) Definition: 'Small water development project' means a project where the maximum financial contribution from the commission is thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000.00) or less;

(viii) Special conditions:

(A) The commission may grant a sponsor fifty percent (50%) of the design, permit procurement, project land procurement, construction engineering and construction cost of a small water development project. No grant shall be more than thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000.00);

(B) The small water development project sponsors shall substantiate the public benefit that will be derived from proposed small water development projects;

(C) The commission may make monthly progress payments of not more than fifty percent (50%) of eligible monthly project expenses;

(D) An appropriate land management or resource management entity shall certify that the proposed small water development project will meet expectations and that appropriate engineering standards, as approved by the commission, will be adhered to;

(E) The establishment of criteria and administrative procedures for the development of small water development projects under this subsection and decisions of the commission relating to the recommendations, prioritization or disqualification of small water development projects are specifically exempt from the provisions of the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act including judicial review under W.S. 16-3-114 and 16-3-115;

(F) W.S. 16-6-116 shall not apply to a small water development project unless the project sponsor determines the small water development project meets the definition of a 'public work' as defined in W.S. 16-6-101(a)(ix).

Source Notes for subsection (g): (Laws 2026, Ch. 73, § 1.)