§ 41-2-118 — Powers, duties, salaries and expenses of commission

(a) The commission shall:
(i) Repealed by Laws 1992, ch. 42, § 4.
(ii) Have authority to contract for legal counsel
upon approval of the governor to assist in matters related to
water resource development as directed by the commission. By
request of the commission and upon approval of the governor, the
legal counsel shall be entitled to use monies appropriated for
legal matters relating to water development. Legal counsel shall
consult with the commission, director of the Wyoming water
development office, state engineer and attorney general on a
regular basis;
(iii) Submit an annual report of its activities,
expenses, recommendations and other items to the governor and
the joint agriculture, state and public lands and water
resources interim committee by December 31;
(iv) Meet quarterly and as necessary and as the
governor may direct;
(v) Biennially on or after March 1 elect a chairman
from the nine (9) persons;
(vi) Establish and adjust priorities for water
development projects;
(vii) Adopt rules and regulations to implement the
provisions of W.S. 41-1-106 through 41-1-108 and 41-2-107
through 41-2-118, including establishment of qualifications for
the administrator;
(viii) Perform other duties as directed by law;
(ix) As nearly as possible represent and assist all
interests advocating water development and conservation in the
state;
(x) Have the duty and the authority to conduct
studies, develop plans, and recommend legislation which may be
enacted for the purpose of securing full utilization of the
waters of the state of Wyoming, giving priority to projects for
utilization of waters not now being beneficially used in
Wyoming;
(xi) Repealed by Laws 1992, ch. 42, § 4.
(xii) Establish an application fee not to exceed one
thousand dollars ($1,000.00) which shall be paid by potential
project beneficiaries prior to commission consideration of a
project for inclusion in the water development program.
Application fees shall be deposited into water development
account I;
(xiii) Represent or advocate the state's interests in
negotiations and construction of water projects assigned by the
legislature or the governor;
(xiv) Have authority to temporarily defer the
principal amount due on debt service payments for money loaned
to an irrigation district, watershed improvement district,
conservation district or a conservancy district for construction
of water development projects whenever the governor has declared
that a drought emergency exists within the affected district's
service area. The district shall be eligible for the temporary
deferral of the principal amount due, provided the interest
payments on the remaining principal amount are paid and current.
The commission shall amend the amortization schedule to reflect
the length of time from the date the affected district seeks the
temporary deferral to the date the governor declares the
emergency drought condition no longer exists;
(xv) With the approval of the governor, have the
authority to enter into contracts and agreements with the United
States of America or its duly authorized representative agency
to accept federal funds through grants or matching funds or from
other sources for project costs pertaining to the utilization of
Wyoming's water resources; and
(xvi) Have authority to promulgate rules to delegate
administrative duties to the Wyoming water development office to
facilitate the effective operation of the commission.
(b) Commission members shall receive a salary of one
hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00) per day and actual and
necessary traveling expenses while away from home while engaged
in the performance of commission duties.