And I get to be the bad guy

[jodywy]

Neighbor digging a quarter mile to the highway, Got permission to take a pipe thru and existing culvert then down a few hundreds yards more to a creek and spring creek to place a pump in the creek to run a center pivot. It a creek that runs out of the mountains then a few spring creeks all in one that late summer across the fence probably runs 5 CFS, spring early summer maybe7-8. Well I have water rights 1880s up to 1955 for over 4 1/2 CFS to flood irrigate over 300 acres thru 3 diversions and a number of ditches. They have a 2014 right, gee I don't get my ditches full I putting in a water call. They laying pipe today.

 

[Triangle Bar]

1st in time, 1st in right.

Yeah, seems like you're always the bad guy when you use your own property rights. Center pivot, pipeline and pump seems like a lot of infistructure for a junior water right.

 

[jodywy]

1st in time, 1st in right.

Yeah, seems like you're always the bad guy when you use your own property rights. Center pivot, pipeline and pump seems like a lot of infistructure for a junior water right.

and for maybe 2 cutting of alfalfa a year.... oh and I bet our tax dollars are subsiding that center pivot too( two pumps one to lift out of the creek another right before the highway to pump the last 1/4 mile and run the pivot)

 

[littlejoe]

1st in time, 1st in right.

Yeah, seems like you're always the bad guy when you use your own property rights. Center pivot, pipeline and pump seems like a lot of infistructure for a junior water right.

and for maybe 2 cutting of alfalfa a year.... oh and I bet our tax dollars are subsiding that center pivot too( two pumps one to lift out of the creek another right before the highway to pump the last 1/4 mile and run the pivot)

I think you're projecting, Jody. And I'll bet Wyoming's water laws are about as tough as Montana's.

And I doubt nrcs is involved, $$ wise---process is too competitive and at first blush, this one don't make sense.

In Montana, 15% of water users on a drainage is enough to petition for a water commissioner. Sounds like you can maybe do that all by yourself.

Do you currently measure your water, have devices in place? If not, suggest you put some in--very simple--and start documenting your use and flow.

Are you familiar with Cipoletti stick? If not, look it up. Make measuring device multiples of 10"--not necessary, but makes math a no brainer.

I have been sticking up for myself--water rights wise--since 1982---it'll give you ulcers if you let it---but one can deal with it and be a tad proactive.

Good Luck~~

 

[Ned Jr.]

That's unbelievable they're letting him put that in. Around here new rights are unheard of. Most of our rights are 1870's and anything junior to that probably isn't going to run on a below average snow pack year. I hope it doesn't turn into too much of a headace for you. I know the stress of having a upstream water user/stealer and is not healthy. Hopefuly they're making him instaul some kind of lock so it's not automaticly cominig on when the lights in your house go out.

 

[Denny]

Here I dig and clean ditches put in drain tile just to move the water downstream to my neighbors.

 

[Wyoming Wind]

Did you get anything resolved thru the water commissioner Jody? We are just starting to have water issues over the mts on our creek---and all from neighboring ranches selling and subdividing and new folks being uneducated on water and their water rights. They got sold on buying a chunk of land because of their early water rights but never understood that even if you have historical early rights you still can only get the amt of water written in the right. Everyone that has lived over here for a number of years has figured out how to get along for the most part and help each other out. What is scary though is folks like your neighbor changing things up after the unbelievable water year we have had---wait for the next drought year (which dang sure could be next year) and you'll really have a fight on your hands . Let us know how it turns out.

 

[jodywy]

Did you get anything resolved thru the water commissioner Jody? We are just starting to have water issues over the mts on our creek---and all from neighboring ranches selling and subdividing and new folks being uneducated on water and their water rights. They got sold on buying a chunk of land because of their early water rights but never understood that even if you have historical early rights you still can only get the amt of water written in the right. Everyone that has lived over here for a number of years has figured out how to get along for the most part and help each other out. What is scary though is folks like your neighbor changing things up after the unbelievable water year we have had---wait for the next drought year (which dang sure could be next year) and you'll really have a fight on your hands . Let us know how it turns out.

I found out after the right had been filed , the commissioner just said the engineering company told them they may not get water sometimes.

 

[mrj]

While I'm rather surprised the 'founding grandfather' of our ranch didn't file for water rights on the creek he settled on, having come from the Lewiston/Clarkson area and they surely had irrigation out there very early didn't they? He left that area before 1890 and bought horses to sell 'back east' as far as Ft. St. Paul that we know of.

Anyway, there is little area we could have irrigated along this creek and the water dries up when it would be needed most, along other problems associated with irrigation, we are probably better off without it.

I hope it all works out well for you JodyWy.

What is happening there, with the subdivisions seems to jibe with what Vilsack is promoting: sort of a new 'homesteading' for young and other 'wannabe' farmers/ranchers. Promoting beginning rancher programs, with what seems to me to be a similar set of problems as first homesteading in SD: too little land to make a living on given the climate and soil types. Now it is a form of 'truck gardening' to supply fresh vegetables to people that seems to be promoted. Maybe that is the best way to deal with the inner city blight which has made so many large cities more or less un-inhabitable in recent years, tho. Not so sure about out in the boondocks!

mrj