§ 41-3-701 — Purpose

(a) It is hereby declared that to provide for the
conservation of the water resources of the state of Wyoming and
for the greatest beneficial use of water within this state, the
organization of water conservancy districts and the construction
of works as herein defined by such districts are a public use
and will:
(i) Be essentially for the public benefit and
advantage of the people of the state of Wyoming;
(ii) Indirectly benefit all industries of the state;
(iii) Indirectly benefit the state of Wyoming in the
increase of its taxable property valuation;
(iv) Directly benefit municipalities by providing
adequate supplies of water for domestic use;
(v) Directly benefit lands to be irrigated or drained
from works to be constructed;
(vi) Directly benefit lands now under irrigation by
stabilizing the flow of water in streams and by increasing flow
and return flow of water to such streams;
(vii) Promote the comfort, safety and welfare of the
people of the state of Wyoming, and it is therefore declared to
be the policy of the state of Wyoming:
(A) To control, make use of and apply to
beneficial use all unappropriated waters in this state to a
direct and supplemental use of such waters for domestic,
transportation, industrial, manufacturing, irrigation, power,
recreation and other beneficial uses;
(B) To obtain from water in Wyoming the highest
duty for domestic uses and irrigation of lands in Wyoming within
the terms of interstate compacts;
(C) To cooperate with the United States under
the federal reclamation laws or other federal laws now existing,
or hereafter enacted, and agencies of the state of Wyoming for
the construction and financing of works in the state of Wyoming
as herein defined and for the operation and maintenance thereof;
(D) To promote the greater prosperity and
general welfare of the people of the state of Wyoming by
encouraging the organization of water conservancy districts as
provided in this act.