Wyo. Stat. » Wyo. Stat. / Title 41 - Water / Chapter 3 - WATER RIGHTS; ADMINISTRATION AND CONTROL / Article 9 - UNDERGROUND WATER
Wyoming Statutes

Wyo. Stat. § 41-3-911 (2026)

Authority to order interfering appropriator to

✓ current as of May 2026
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cease withdrawals of water; hearing complaints by appropriators.

     (a) Whenever a well withdrawing water for beneficial
purposes shall interfere unreasonably with an adequate well
developed solely for domestic or stock uses as defined in W.S.
41-3-907, whether in a control area or not, the state engineer
may, on complaint of the operator of the stock or domestic well,
order the interfering appropriator to cease or reduce
withdrawals of underground water, unless such appropriator shall
furnish at his own expense, sufficient water at the former place
of use to meet the need for domestic or stock use. In case of
interference between two (2) wells utilizing water for stock or
domestic use as defined in W.S. 41-3-907, the appropriation with
the earliest priority shall have the better right.

     (b) Any appropriator of either surface or underground
water may file a written complaint alleging interference with
his water right by a junior right. Complaints are to be filed
with the state engineer and are to be accompanied by a fee of
one hundred dollars ($100.00) to help defray costs of
investigation. This section is not applicable to interference
between two (2) surface water rights. Upon receiving the
complaint and fee, the state engineer shall undertake an
investigation to determine if the alleged interference does
exist. Following the investigation, the state engineer shall
issue a report to all interested parties stating his findings.
The report may suggest various means of stopping, rectifying or
ameliorating the interference or damage caused thereby.

     (c) Any interested appropriator who is dissatisfied with
the results of the foregoing procedure may proceed under the
applicable provisions of the Wyoming Administrative Procedure
Act. If a hearing is to be held, it shall be held before the
appropriate water division superintendent. The superintendent
shall report to the board of control at its next meeting. The
board shall issue its order to include findings of fact and
conclusions of law.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1987–2024 · leading case: William F. West Ranch, LLC v. Tyrrell, 2009 WY 62 (Wyo. 2009).
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William F. West Ranch, LLC v. Tyrrell, 2009 WY 62 (Wyo. 2009). · cites it 4× “First, Turner could file a well interference action pursuant to Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 41-3-911 (LexisNexis 2007) 13 to remedy the alleged interference with their wells by CBM wells.”
Willadsen v. Christopulos, 731 P.2d 1181 (Wyo. 1987). · cites it 16× “*1184 Section 41-3-911(b), W.S. 1977, [1] merely provides that upon receipt of a written complaint of a water appropriator alleging interference by a junior right, the State Engineer will undertake an investigation to determine if the alleged interference exists and shall report…”
City of Laramie, Wyoming v. Univ. of Wyoming & Univ. of Wyoming Bd. of Trs., 2024 WY 13 (Wyo. 2024). “, Wyoming Statute § 41-3-911 (LexisNexis 2021). Because the University is subject to Title 41, the City has a remedy for any inference with its water rights, and the statute does not impermissibly give the University the ability to interfere with the City’s water supply.”
Wyoming State Eng'r v. Willadsen, 792 P.2d 1376 (Wyo. 1990). · cites it 6× “Wyo. Stat. § 41-3-911 (1977) provides in pertinent part: (b) Any appropriator of either surface or underground water may file a written complaint alleging interference with his water *1378 right by a junior right.”
— Wyo. Stat. § 41-3-911(b) — 2 cases
Willadsen v. Christopulos, 731 P.2d 1181 (Wyo. 1987). “*1184 Section 41-3-911(b), W.S. 1977, [1] merely provides that upon receipt of a written complaint of a water appropriator alleging interference by a junior right, the State Engineer will undertake an investigation to determine if the alleged interference exists and shall report…”
Wyoming State Eng'r v. Willadsen, 792 P.2d 1376 (Wyo. 1990). “Wyo. Stat. § 41-3-911 (1977) provides in pertinent part: (b) Any appropriator of either surface or underground water may file a written complaint alleging interference with his water *1378 right by a junior right.”
— Wyo. Stat. § 41-3-911(c) — 2 cases
Willadsen v. Christopulos, 731 P.2d 1181 (Wyo. 1987). “*1184 Section 41-3-911(b), W.S. 1977, [1] merely provides that upon receipt of a written complaint of a water appropriator alleging interference by a junior right, the State Engineer will undertake an investigation to determine if the alleged interference exists and shall report…”
Wyoming State Eng'r v. Willadsen, 792 P.2d 1376 (Wyo. 1990). “Wyo. Stat. § 41-3-911 (1977) provides in pertinent part: (b) Any appropriator of either surface or underground water may file a written complaint alleging interference with his water *1378 right by a junior right.”
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