41-3-908. Division advisory committee; appointment; removal; duties; expense allowances.

(a) In each of the water divisions of the state, as defined in W.S. 41-3-501, there shall be established a division advisory committee on underground water. Each committee shall consist of three (3) persons, appointed by the governor, who shall in making such appointments, select persons who, in his opinion, will adequately represent the landowners and water users of the division, the geographical areas of the division and the public interest. The first committee in each division shall consist of one (1) member appointed for a term of two (2) years, one (1) member appointed for a term of four (4) years, and one (1) member appointed for a term of six (6) years. Their successors shall each be appointed for a term of six (6) years. The governor may remove any member of any advisory committee as provided in W.S. 9-1-202.

(b) The duties of the division advisory committee on underground water are:

(i) To call and supervise the election of the members of control area advisory boards;

(ii) To assist and advise the state engineer and the board regarding policies that affect the underground water of this state, such assistance and advice to consider both the interests of underground water users and the interests of the general public;

(iii) To provide advice and assistance to the state engineer and superintendents in arriving at solutions to underground water problems as they arise within the water division;

(iv) To provide advice and assistance to control area advisory boards, particularly in the development of control measures which are recommended to the state engineer for adoption;

(v) To provide underground water users within the division with information relative to the policies and procedures of the state engineer and board which affect the use of underground water.

(c) The members of each of the division advisory committees shall receive the same per diem, mileage and expense allowances while attending and traveling to and from control area board meetings and other official business of the committee in the same manner and amount as employees of the state.