Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon announced on October 16, 2026, the beginning of a process to transfer federal water management authority over Wyoming's portion of Yellowstone National Park to the state. The authority being transferred includes Clean Water Act Section 401 oversight, which will shift to Wyoming's Department of Environmental Quality following a 60-day notice period to Congress, the Interior Department said.
Governor Gordon said the transfer recognizes an existing partnership between state and federal agencies that has been functioning effectively, and that it will increase certainty and responsiveness for park visitors while protecting water resources according to Wyoming's standards.
Secretary Burgum said the move aligns with the administration's priority of reducing federal regulations. "The people of Wyoming know its land and water better than Washington ever could, and the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality has proven it has the expertise and commitment to protect its own water resources," Burgum said.