Surface Water
About the Surface Water Division
Wyoming State Engineer's Office
122 West 25th Street
Herschler Building
2nd Floor West, Surface Water
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002
307-777-6475
Contact Surface Water Division: 307-777-6475
The Surface Water and Engineering Division is responsible for reviewing permit applications which beneficially use surface waters of the state of Wyoming. Permits are issued for:
diverting water through ditches or pipelines
storage in reservoirs
enlargements to existing ditch or storage facilities
instream flow purposes
temporary industrial water hauls
weather modification
The Surface Water Division entertains changes to water rights through the petition process prior to their adjudication. An exception to this rule is that all exchange petitions are filed with the State Engineer whether the rights are adjudicated or not.
The Surface Water Division is also responsible for water use agreements. An owner with an existing water right can sell his appropriation(s) for other purposes on a temporary basis. The water use agreement is a contract between the appropriator and users to allow this temporary change of use to occur.
This Division also carries out the Safety of Dams Program for Wyoming. The State Engineer is responsible for ensuring the safety and structural integrity of water storage facilities in the state. On-site inspections of facilities are made and any new or rehabilitation construction plans must be reviewed and approved by the State Engineer's Office.
