Lead Hydrographer Commissioner

General Description

Responsible for the water use and management decisions for a broad area of the State of Wyoming, in an assigned Water Division. Trains, advises and directs staff regarding proper water rights administration, procedures, water law and agency rules and regulations.

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid vacation, sick leave, FMLA, and holidays
• Retirement:
  Pension and 457B plans that help you build a secure future
• Flexible schedules and work‑life balance options
• Meaningful work that makes a difference for Wyoming communities
• More benefits and resources available – see the State of Wyoming Total Compensation Calculator for full details.

Rachael Reinhardt 307‑777‑6143 rachael.reinhardt2

• Administers water rights of the State according to law and rules and verifies water use is being accomplished in a beneficial way within the permit terms.
• Measures, monitors, regulates, documents, and accounts for the use of available water supplies and makes daily determination of available supply and demand.
• Reduces and analyzes data collected and prepares it for publication.
• Researches, compiles, and reports water right and water use information.
• Oversees the filling of reservoirs by tracking and accounting and ensuring the stream flow is stored in priority and according to permitted amounts.
• Inspects water use facilities, structures and land under water right permits for permit compliance and adjudication.
• Conducts technical inspections of reservoirs for dam safety and detailed inspections of irrigation facilities to assure permit compliance.
• Indexes and maps water rights and the associated water use facilities within assigned districts.
• Meets with, confers with, and counsels water resource users and mediates water rights disputes between appropriators.
• Assists the public with inquiries regarding water rights and the filing of water rights applications.
• Responds to public requests for inspection of irrigation systems or structures, measuring devices, gaging stations, and reservoirs.
• Conducts snow surveys for the purpose of recording snow depths and water content.
• Installs, operates, designs and maintains stream gaging equipment.
• Trains, advises and directs staff regarding proper water rights administration, procedures, water law and agency rules and regulations. Reviews the work of subordinate employees for quality and accuracy.
• Provides technical expertise and training for staff regarding stream gauging equipment and operation, records reduction and processing, and principles and methods of accurate discharge measurements.
• Sets an example for staff in proper time management, prioritization of duties, and ethical practices.

Preference may be given to applicants with a Bachelor’s degree in an environmental or natural science field PLUS four years of work experience in a regulatory occupation, agriculture, hydrology, ranch or farm irrigation, field work and data collection, engineering, or experience with water use as it relates to water resource management. Two years of experience supervising employees preferred.

• Knowledge of Wyoming water law; rules, regulations, policies and procedures of the State Engineer's Office and Board of Control; hydrology; water rights; water measurement techniques, practices and equipment; hydrologic and irrigation principles; legal land descriptions; surveying principles.
• Skills in interpersonal, written and verbal communications; managing people and resources; computer applications (database, spreadsheet, presentation, word processing, GIS software); hydrologic data collection, interpretation, analysis and reporting; use of a variety of hydrologic measuring and monitoring equipment; streamgaging telemetry; measuring device installation and maintenance; complex mathematical computations, maps and records interpretation.
• Ability to develop collaborative relationships to facilitate the accomplishment of work goals and to build strategic relationships among people, work groups and divisions (both internal and external); deal with others in difficult and complex…