City council approves preliminary budget despite about $3.15 million general fund deficit

Bureau of Reclamation to increase Flaming Gorge releases to prop up Lake Powell

Massive water drawdown threatens Flaming Gorge boat ramps

Rock Springs faces vulnerabilities over junior water rights

Water board builds reserve fund to brace for future curtailment costs

City could explore tiered rates, zoning changes to curb water consumption

New state conservation program offers hope for municipal water users

Wild West Wranglers Adaptive Rodeo returns for second year

1. City council approves preliminary budget despite about $3.15 million general fund deficit

ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. — The Rock Springs City Council approved the city's preliminary budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, though officials noted about a $3.15 million shortfall remains in the general fund. City staff have already cut roughly $5 million from original departmental requests to narrow the gap. The city council urged department heads to find creative solutions to address the remaining deficit before the final budget approval in June, citing inflationary pressures, rising personnel costs and stagnant sales tax revenues that sit around $22 million to $23 million.

2. Bureau of Reclamation to increase Flaming Gorge releases to prop up Lake Powell

ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. — The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation plans to release between 660,000 and 1 million acre-feet of water from Flaming Gorge Reservoir to stabilize critically low water levels at Lake Powell. Brian Seppie, general manager of the Green River/Rock Springs/Sweetwater County Joint Powers Water Board, presented a bleak winter hydrology report to the Rock Springs City Council, noting that warm spring temperatures severely diminished snowpack runoff across the Colorado River Basin. The drought response operation aims to keep Lake Powell above the minimum power pool elevation of 3,490 feet, preserving hydroelectric power generation and Glen Canyon Dam operations.

3. Massive water drawdown threatens Flaming Gorge boat ramps

ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. — Boaters and anglers at Flaming Gorge Reservoir will likely feel the impact of the federal government's drought response operations by late summer and into next spring. Anticipated increased water releases from the reservoir are expected to drop water levels significantly, potentially leaving the Anvil Draw boat ramp dry by late summer. By March and April 2027, lower water levels could also render the Firehole and Brinegar ramps unusable, though the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is reportedly working with the U.S. Forest Service to extend the ramps while the water is low.

4. Rock Springs faces vulnerabilities over junior water rights

ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. — A recent water rights study revealed that only 25 percent of the Green River/Rock Springs/Sweetwater County Joint Powers Water Board's water rights are considered highly senior and safe from potential curtailment. With the Colorado River system facing long-term declines, General Manager Brian Seppie warned the Rock Springs City Council that a Colorado River Compact call, or forced reduction, could force the city to find replacement water for much of its summer demand. Without senior rights, the city could face a deficit of 3,000 to 6,000 acre-feet during tight restrictions, forcing the board to explore costly water replacement options.

5. Water board builds reserve fund to brace for future curtailment costs

ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. — To prepare for the possibility of costly water replacement purchases, the Green River/Rock Springs/Sweetwater County Joint Powers Water Board is building a water reserve fund. The fund, currently sitting at $1 million and expected to reach $1.25 million by the end of the fiscal year, aims to shield ratepayers from sudden rate spikes if the city is forced to buy temporary senior water rights during a curtailment. The board, overseen by General Manager Brian Seppie, has been funneling surplus revenues into the reserve, treating the uncertain future costs of water replacement like an impending debt service obligation.

6. City could explore tiered rates, zoning changes to curb water consumption

ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. — As regional water supplies dwindle, Rock Springs residents may face tiered water rates and new landscaping ordinances in the future. General Manager Brian Seppie of the Green River/Rock Springs/Sweetwater County Joint Powers Water Board advised the Rock Springs City Council that while the Joint Powers Water Board Treatment Facility cannot dictate user demand, the city can implement strategies to reduce overall consumptive use. Potential measures discussed include a tiered rate structure that increases costs for high water usage, targeted public education and updated building codes limiting traditional lawn turf in favor of more functional or lower-water landscaping for new housing developments.

7. New state conservation program offers hope for municipal water users

ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. — Senate File 84, the Voluntary Water Conservation Pilot Program enacted into Wyoming state law during the 2026 legislative budget session, could offer Rock Springs a critical tool for managing future water shortages. General Manager Brian Seppie of the Green River/Rock Springs/Sweetwater County Joint Powers Water Board praised the legislation, which allows water rights holders to receive credit for reducing their consumptive use, such as through municipal turf buyback programs or closed-loop industrial cooling systems. Local officials hope the program will mature into an accounting system that grants junior municipal water users long-term credit for permanent conservation efforts.

8. Wild West Wranglers Adaptive Rodeo returns for second year

GREEN RIVER, Wyo. — The Overland Stage Stampede Rodeo Committee will host its second annual Wild West Wranglers Adaptive Rodeo on June 5, providing a tailored rodeo experience for special needs individuals across Sweetwater County. Rodeo committee member Karrie Collins told the Green River City Council the free event features modified events such as stick-horse barrel racing, dummy roping and interactions with live horses. Last year's inaugural event drew 33 participants, and organizers expect continued growth, adding customized "Cowboy and Cowgirl of the Day" belt buckles to this year's honors. The broader Overland Stage Stampede Rodeo is scheduled for June 5–6, 2026.

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