Wyoming Administrative Code Agency 037 - Engineer, State
1. What is the Wyoming Administrative Code (WAC)?
The Wyoming Administrative Code is a collection of all the administrative rules and regulations created by state agencies. These rules explain how laws passed by the Wyoming Legislature are applied and enforced. In other words, the WAC tells you how the state agencies implement the law.
Each agency is assigned a number. For example, Agency 037 is the Office of the State Engineer.
2. What is the Office of the State Engineer?
The State Engineer in Wyoming is responsible for:
Managing water resources – This includes both surface water (rivers, streams, lakes) and groundwater (wells and aquifers).
Approving water rights – Wyoming follows the prior appropriation system, meaning “first in time, first in right.” The State Engineer ensures that water is allocated fairly according to law.
Maintaining records – Keeping track of who owns water rights, the amount of water used, and monitoring water supply.
Regulating water projects – This includes dams, reservoirs, wells, and irrigation systems.
The Office of the State Engineer ensures that Wyoming’s water resources are used efficiently and legally.
3. Agency 037 in the WAC
In the WAC, Agency 037 refers specifically to the rules that guide the State Engineer’s office. These rules explain the procedures for things like:
Obtaining Water Rights
How to apply for a permit to use surface water or groundwater.
Requirements for proving “beneficial use,” which means water must be used in a way the law considers productive (like irrigation, municipal use, or industrial use).
Water Rights Administration
How water is allocated during shortages.
How priority dates are enforced (older water rights get first use).
Well Construction and Groundwater Use
Rules for drilling wells and submitting reports to the State Engineer.
Regulations to prevent overuse of groundwater and protect aquifers.
Reporting Requirements
How water users must report water usage.
Recordkeeping to ensure transparency and compliance.
Dam Safety and Reservoir Regulations
Rules for constructing, operating, and maintaining dams.
Ensuring dams are safe and comply with state engineering standards.
Enforcement and Penalties
Actions the State Engineer can take if someone violates water laws.
Fines or corrective orders to prevent illegal water use.
4. Why Agency 037 Matters
Water in Wyoming is a scarce and valuable resource, especially in the western U.S. The rules under Agency 037 make sure that:
Water use is fair and legal.
Conflicts between water users are minimized.
Water is used efficiently for agriculture, cities, and industry.
Groundwater and surface water resources are protected for future generations.
Without these rules, there would be chaos in water distribution, especially during droughts.
5. How the Rules Are Organized
The WAC typically organizes Agency 037 rules into sections called Chapters and Sections, for example:
Chapter 1 – Definitions (explaining terms like “appropriator” or “beneficial use”)
Chapter 2 – Permits for water use
Chapter 3 – Well construction rules
Chapter 4 – Dam safety regulations
Chapter 5 – Enforcement procedures
Each section tells the public exactly what they must do and what the State Engineer will do in response.
✅ Summary:
Agency 037 of the Wyoming Administrative Code is all about how the State Engineer manages and regulates water resources in Wyoming. It provides rules on water rights, well construction, reporting, dams, enforcement, and overall water administration. It’s critical because Wyoming’s laws require careful oversight of water, a limited but essential resource.
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