Clean Water

Access to clean drinking water in sufficient quantities is a basic human right, now and for future generations. Clean and sustainable supplies of surface water and groundwater are essential for the health of Wyoming’s people, and our state’s economy. The Wyoming Outdoor Council is proud to have advanced a rule that the state adopted, requiring companies to sample nearby well water prior to drilling for oil and gas. This rule helps provide assurances to landowners and companies both.

Today we’re addressing the state’s categorical reclassification of nearly 80% of the recreational streams in Wyoming. Based on what we believe is a flawed model, the state’s decision permits 500 times more E.coli to be present in streams people come into contact with while hiking and camping. This summer we’ll be in the field with teams of volunteers to document examples where streams were improperly downgraded—and to challenge these findings.