Laramie County Hires Experts to Come Up With Water Plan

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Laramie County has hired experts from the University of Wyoming to help it come up with ways to solve its groundwater supply problems.

The commissioners approved a $20,000 contract with the university's Ruckelshaus Institute of Environmental and Natural Resources last week. The institute will run meetings of the county's new water appropriation committee and provide its members with expertise.

The county has been depleting its aquifer and the state engineer's office recently told the county that it needs to come up with a solution by next April.Some complained that the committee's first meeting was disorganized.

County commissioner M. Lee Hasenauer opposed the contract and says academia and government have too much representation on the committee.