Montana State Legislature

2007-2008 Water Policy Committee

The Water Policy Interim Committee (WPIC) is a joint bipartisan committee of the Legislature created by the passage of House Bill No. 304 (2007). The Legislature authorized the committee for the 2007-2008 biennium to conduct an interim study on surface water/ground water interaction, exempt wells, water quality and water quantity, and other water related issues.

REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT BOGGIO (R)

REPRESENTATIVE JILL COHENOUR (D)

REPRESENTATIVE BILL MCCHESNEY (D)

REPRESENTATIVE WALTER MCNUTT (R)

SENATOR JIM ELLIOTT (D)--Chair

SENATOR LARRY JENT (D)

SENATOR TERRY MURPHY (R)

SENATOR GARY L PERRY (R)--Vice Chair

Agenda
September 11, 2008 minutes - Listen
September 12, 2008 minutes - Listen
Memo to Committee
Water--Montana's Treasure
Findings and Recommendations (9-5-2008)
Board of Investments Intercap Program
LC5007, Data study through MBMG
LC5009, Discharge permits required
LC5012, Water right for aquatic resource activities carried out by MDT
LC5014, Public water and sewer
LC5015, Revolving fund
LC5020, Preliminary determinations
LC5021, Revises water enforcement laws
LC5022, Public water and sewer systems for subdivisions
LC5023, Sustainable development program
LC5024, Renewable resource loans for public systems
Economic analysis of irrigation

Agenda
August 12, 2008 minutes - Listen
August 13, 2008 minutes - Listen
Memo to Committee
Water--Montana's Treasure
Public Comment (Updated 8-7-2008)
Press Release about draft report
Case Study Report, MBMG
Public Comment
Water rights in closed basins, Nicklin
Public Comment
DNRC proposed legislation
DEQ proposed legislation
Draft legislation to extend RWRCC
DNRC and Bureau of Reclamation memorandum of understanding
2006-07 Water Leasing Report, Fish, Wildlife and Parks
Findings and Recommendations
LC5009, Discharge permits required
LC5014, Public water and sewer
LC5015, Revolving fund
LC5019, Subdivision water systems
LC5020, Preliminary determinations
LC5021, Revises enforcement laws

Agenda
June 10, 2008 minutes - Listen
June 11, 2008 minutes - Listen
Water--Montana's Treasure, draft report to the Legislature
Study Tasks and Responses
Flood to sprinkler water supply impacts, DNRC
Ground water quality and subsurface wastewater systems, DEQ
Converting from flood to sprinkler irrigation, DNRC
Irrigation loses from a ground water point of view, MBMG
Proposed ground water investigation program (LC5007)
Findings and Options for Recommendations
Potential Expansion of Consumptive Use, DNRC
Cost comparison on exempt wells and public water supply systems, MAR
Prior appropriation, Bloomquist
Bostwick Properties, Inc. vs. DNRC - Decision
Bostwick Properties, Inc. vs. DNRC - legal analysis
Water rights in closed basins, Nicklin

Agenda
Summary of work group meeting
Adverse effect discussion, Don MacIntyre
Enforcement costs discussion, Don MacIntyre
Outsourcing discussion, Don MacIntyre

Agenda
April 29, 2008 minutes - Listen
April 30, 2008 minutes - Listen
Economic Benefits of Irrigation, DNRC
WPIC Findings and Recommendations (4-29-2008)
Projects Funded for Irrigation Research
Net depletion analysis of Lower Beaverhead, MBMG
Conjunctive ground water and surface water management, Kirk Engineering
Ruby Valley inventory, Payne
State Water Plan, Moy
LC5007, Data study through MBMG
LC5012, Water right for aquatic resource activities carried out by MDT
LC5014, Public water and sewer
Summary of work group meeting
        DNRC proposed amendments
        DNRC explanation
        Utility Solutions negotiations
Excerpt from Montana Water Court Guidebook

Summary of work group meeting
        DNRC proposed amendments
        DNRC explanation
        Utility Solutions negotiations

Agenda
March 12, 2008 minutes - Listen
March 13, 2008 minutes - Listen
Planning Grants for Community Infrastructure
Planning Grants Availability to Communities
Project Tracking Tables
An analysis of water marketing and reallocation options in Montana, Joe Kolman
2006 Water Leasing Report, Fish, Wildlife and Parks
Water Marketing in the West, Scarborough
Saving our Streams, Scarborough and Lund
Growing Communities, Mountain Water Co.
DNRC response to Mountain Water Co.
Memo about growing communities doctrine, Greg Petesch
Analysis of Water Banks in the Western States, Washington State Department of Ecology
Private Water Leasing, Trout Unlimited
Water Marketing 101, Katelyn E. Stahley
State Water Projects
Administration of Water Court decrees
Starting at the Source, Michelle Bryan-Mudd
Bucket for bucket memo, DNRC
DNRC enforcement of water rights
Effects of exempt wells, DNRC
HB 831 application status
Mitigation guide for the Walla Walla Basin, Washington Water Trust
Water Marketing, Holmes
HB 831 update
LC5009, Discharge permits required

Agenda
Minutes
Water Right Application Process, Terri McLaughlin, DNRC
Stream Closure Policy, Bill Schenk, FWP
Ground water case studies, update, John Metesh, MBMG
Update on Evaluations Significance of Exempt Wells, Nicklin
LC5001, Accelerated permitting process
LC5002, Notice of intent to drill
LC5003, Enforcement
LC5004, Ground water quality
LC5005, MDT water reservations
LC5006, Subdivision and water right disconnect
LC5007, Data study through MBMG
LC5008, Adjudication issue remarks
Enforcement of senior rights in relation to ground water rights

Agenda
Minutes
Blackfeet water compact
Teton Basin, DNRC
Teton Basin, Allan Rollo, Teton River Watershed Group
Consumptive use, Steve Custer
Consumptive use, John LaFave, MBMG
Determining consumptive use, Bill Uthman, DNRC
Exempt wells and sportsmen, Laura Ziemer, Trout Unlimited
One well vs. many, John Metesh, MBMG
Community vs. single wells, Eric Regensburger, DEQ
Source water protection, Jim Stimson, DEQ
Domestic and irrigation water usage, Eric Regensburger, DEQ
DEQ subdivision review, Steve Kilbreath, DEQ
Typical household water need
Necessity of exemption, Glenn Oppel, Montana Association of Realtors

Enabling Legislation (HB 304)

HB 831 (2007) Revise water use laws in closed basins

Staff and State Agency Memos

Proposed Legislation

Publications

EQC WPIC Joint Subcommittee

The Water Policy Interim Committee created for the 2007-08 biennium by House Bill No. 304 will terminate June 30, 2009. The EQC and the WPIC formed a joint subcommittee to discuss future water policy development options in Montana.

Membership