Agenda

Registration:                        8:00 – 8:30 am

Morning Session:                8:30 am – 12:15 pm

Lunch (On your own):         12:15 – 1:15 pm

Afternoon Session:             1:15 – 4:30 pm

Understanding Wyoming Groundwater Rights
and Surface Water Rights
J.M. Stewart

    Ownership of groundwater and surface water
Regulation of groundwater rights and surface water rights
Obtaining groundwater rights and surface water rights
Application and permitting process
Amending water rights
Current issues in groundwater rights

Permitting Nontraditional Water Supplies:
Looking Beyond Rivers and Wells
L. Blain

Permitting in compliance with Wyoming water laws, rules and regulations
Alternatives to freshwater sources for meeting increasing water demands
Examples of water rights for nontraditional water supplies
Water management planning and nontraditional water supplies

Maximizing Water Use: Industrial and Agricultural Programs
L. Harmon

Water and wastewater construction permitting program
Use and reuse of water from industrial operations including oilfield produced water
Why land application recovered water is public and environmental enhancement

Overview of Wyoming’s Interstate Compacts and Decrees
C.M. Brown

Interstate decrees
• Related Platte River recovery implementation program
Interstate compacts
Montana v. Wyoming outcome
• Colorado River demand management investigation

Agricultural Water Use
P. Stump

Irrigation in Wyoming
Wells for agricultural use
Groundwater as a public resource
Tributary vs. non-tributary
Water quality and agricultural runoff

Water Sustainability – Reduce Your Use
D. Egenhoff

City of Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities water conservation and efficiency efforts

Reuse Water – Beyond Irrigation Water
M. Buelow, B. Dorr, D. Egenhoff

Accelerating natural cleaning process to make water
suitable for intended purpose

Class V Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program
C.T. Brown

Overview of Class V UIC well subclasses
Most common types permitted in Wyoming (e.g. large capacity septic systems)
UIC permitting process, monitoring, and reporting requirements
Recent rule changes affecting Class V wells

Credits

Attorneys
6.5 Wyoming CLE Hours
8.0 Colorado CLE Hours
6.5 Nebraska CLE Hours

Professional Engineers
     6.5 Wyoming CPC Units/PDHs

Continuing Education Credit Information

This seminar is open to the public. The Wyoming State Bar has approved this course for 6.5 CLE hours for attorneys, and the Colorado Office of CLJE has approved it for 8.0 CLE hours. The Nebraska MCLE Commission has approved this program for 6.5 CLE hours for attorneys.

This seminar offers 6.5 CPC Units to Wyoming professional engineers to whom the subject matter is professionally relevant. Wyoming engineers with continuing education requirements in other states will be able to apply the continuing education credits earned at this seminar, in most cases. Refer to specific state rules to determine eligibility.

Attendance will be monitored, and attendance certificates will be available after the seminar for most individuals who complete the entire event. Attendance certificates not available at the seminar will be mailed to participants within fifteen business days.

 

Speakers

Liberty Blain

Water Scientist at Western Research & Development Ltd.

Liberty Blain is a water scientist and Land Survey Intern for Y2 Consultants with a specialty in water rights. She has over 20 years of experience working on water resource issues in Wyoming. Ms. Blain spent over a decade with the Laramie County Conservation District monitoring water quality in local streams and engaging stakeholders in watershed planning efforts.  She spent several years in the Ground Water Division of the Wyoming State Engineer’s Office processing and maintaining water rights records throughout the state. Ms. Blain served as the primary contact for permitting questions related to groundwater supplies for the oil/gas industry as well as ranching operations.  In recent years, her focus has been on the land surveying profession to complement her water resources career. 

Christopher M. Brown

Attorney at the Office of Attorney General, Water & Nat. Res. Div.

Christopher M. Brown is a Senior Assistant Attorney General with the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office and supervisor of its Water Section. Before joining the Attorney General’s Office in 2011, Mr. Brown was a partner in a private Wyoming law firm. Attorneys within the Water Section represent the Wyoming State Engineer’s Office, the Wyoming Board of Control, and several divisions of the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality. Mr. Brown provides day-to-day advice and representation to the Wyoming State Engineer’s Office on all Wyoming water matters and national water issues affecting Wyoming. He provides the primary legal representation to the state on all interstate river compacts and decrees and was part of the litigation team which defended Wyoming in the United States Supreme Court original action, Montana v. Wyoming. Mr. Brown is a member of the Western States Water Council and Chair of its Legal Committee. He is also a member the Upper Colorado River Commission’s legal committee. 

Christopher Brown

Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division (WDEQ/WQD)

Christopher T. Brown is the Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program manager for the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division (WDEQ/WQD). He provides oversight for permitting, inspection, compliance functions of the UIC Program, and also serves as the enforcement coordinator for the WQD Groundwater Section. Prior to coming to the WDEQ, Mr. Brown worked as an environmental consultant. He is a Wyoming licensed professional geologist.

Matthew Buelow

Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities

Matthew Buelow is the Water Reclamation Division manager for the Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities. He started his water career eight years ago as a wastewater operator. Since then, he has worked as a maintenance operator, lead O&M operator and now the division manager.

Bryce Dorr

Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities

Bryce Dorr serves as the capital projects supervisor for the Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities. He received a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and a master’s degree in Environmental Engineering, both from the University of Wyoming.

Dena Egenhoff

City of Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities

Dena Egenhoff is the Water Conservation and Public Relations Specialist for the City of Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities. She has over 20 years of experience in the water world and holds an M.S. degree in Watershed Science from Colorado State University.

Louis Harmon

Western Research & Development, Ltd.

Louis B. Harmon is senior project manager with Western Research & Development, Ltd. He has over 40 years of experience with municipal utility engineering and planning. Mr. Harmon is the past Program Manager of the Water and Wastewater Program of the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division. He has worked with many concentrated animal feeding operations. He is licensed as a Professional Engineer (WY, CO,KS,NE), Professional Geologist (WY), Land Surveyor (CO, KS), and is a nationally certified Cross-Connection Control Surveyor and Tester.

J. Stewart

Partner with Davis & Cannon, LLP

J. Mark Stewart is a partner with Davis & Cannon, LLP. His practice is concentrated in water and natural resources law, primarily representing Wyoming ranchers. Mr. Stewart also practices in the areas of construction law and represents several Wyoming municipalities. He became an attorney after a 16 year career as a civil engineer, starting at a small firm followed by five years with the Wyoming Highway Department. Mr. Stewart then worked for a Wyoming environmental engineering firm where he designed and managed the construction of groundwater remediation and containment systems, soil remediation projects, and landfills.

Phillip Stump, PE

Senior Project Manager with HDR in the Cheyenne Office

Mr. Stump provides water rights and water resources planning and engineering expertise to public, mining, energy, and agricultural clients throughout Wyoming. Mr. Stump has led many successful teams completing diverse water infrastructure projects, meeting client needs while addressing regulatory requirements. Prior to joining HDR he served as North Platte coordinator for the Wyoming State Engineer’s Office and served with the Water Quality Division of the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality.

On-Demand Price: $

Save $20 per person when registering 3 or more people.

Each registration includes a PDF copy of a manual prepared by the seminar speaker.