Dam Funding Request Postponed in Wyoming
Wyoming lawmakers paused a $44 million request for the Alkali Creek Dam while a local water district board election shifted its majority.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Elections
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Wyoming's Select Water Committee and Water Development Commission postponed the Nowood Watershed Improvement District's $44 million funding request for the Alkali Creek Dam without dissent. The Nov. 3 district election kept a board majority that favors condemning private property near Hyattville.
Why it matters
The project's estimated cost has risen to $103.4 million, and affected landowners are disputing its benefits and the compensation offered for right-of-way easements. The outcome will shape how Wyoming weighs water infrastructure against private property rights.
Election tallies show Todd Jones led with 182 votes among 453 ballots mailed, replacing Martin Mercer, who received 158. The project's cost estimate now stands at $103.4 million, more than double the $44 million request, and it remains unclear whether negotiations over the $97,000 easement offer will succeed.
The players
Nowood Watershed Improvement District
A special district responsible for the Alkali Creek Dam project, which seeks easements to enlarge the Anita Ditch and build a reservoir for irrigation and recreation.
Wyoming Water Development Commission
A state body that reviews and funds water infrastructure projects across Wyoming, and jointly paused the Nowood district's request.
The details
The joint boards paused the district's request and asked the Nowood district and five area landowners to keep negotiating over easements on 35 acres. If landowners do not accept appraised compensation, condemnation would proceed under letters already sent to affected property owners.
Timeline
Nov. 3, 2026: Big Horn and Washakie county district election preserved the condemnation-favoring board majority.
Nov. 6, 2026: Joint legislative and water commission meeting in Casper postponed the funding request.
Dec. 17, 2026: Joint boards are scheduled to revisit the Alkali Creek Dam issue.
Political Context
Affected landowners have questioned both the project's benefits to them and the compensation offered for rights of way, a dispute that echoes broader Wyoming debates over condemnation for water projects. The state's joint committees now must weigh that opposition against a project whose cost has grown to $103.4 million.
Landowners near Hyattville face possible condemnation of 35 acres if easement negotiations fail. Residents of the area should watch the Dec. 17 meeting, since its outcome will determine whether the dam's funding and property takings move forward.
The takeaway
Water infrastructure projects in Wyoming can stall when private property rights and rising costs collide, so the Dec. 17 meeting is worth following for anyone with a stake in land near Hyattville.
What happens next
The Wyoming joint boards are scheduled to revisit the Alkali Creek Dam issue on Dec. 17, 2026.
Further reading
Track the outcome of local ballot races in Wyoming Elections.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WyoFile.
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