Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., introduced legislation yesterday to allow for an agreement that would give Cheyenne needed water storage to protect its water rights in the Platte River and to use water the city would otherwise have to release to downstream water users.

Enzi introduced S. 943, a bill that would authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to enter into a long-term contract of up to 40 years with the City of Cheyenne for water storage in Seminoe Reservoir. The bill would preserve the water rights of other water users in Seminoe Reservoir while requiring the city to pay reasonable accounting costs and its proportionate share of the operation, maintenance, and replacement costs for the reservoir.

"For the past few years Cheyenne has only been permitted to enter into one-year water storage contracts," said Enzi. "However, the annual renewal of such an important contract creates uncertainty and is not conducive to long term water supply and use planning."

Cheyenne and the Bureau of Reclamation entered into an interim water storage contract in 1983 that provided the city with 10,000 acre feet of storage space at Seminoe Reservoir. Under the agreement, Cheyenne could store the water it released to fulfill its minimum flow requirements during the winter months and use that water during the spring and summer when consumption on Douglas Creek increased.

The original agreement was for a term of 15 years with the option of a five-year renewal, but both the original agreement and the five year extension have expired.

Enzi said he is hopeful that there will be little, if any, opposition to the bill.

The bill was referred to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.