Montana State Legislature
2021-2022 Water Policy Committee
Next Scheduled Meeting:
Sept. 20-21
Note: Public comments on HJ37, SJ28 reports may be submitted . All comments are due Aug. 31.
The Water Policy Interim Committee has oversight of issues "where the primary concern is the quality or quantity of water."
Committee Members
July 11, 2022: Agenda - Minutes Log - Audio/Video
July 5, 2022: HJ37 Special Committee - Agenda - Minutes Log - Audio/Video
May 18, 2022: Agenda - Minutes Log - Audio/Video
May 17, 2022: Agenda - Minutes Log - Audio/Video
April 5, 2022: Agenda - Minutes Log - Audio/Video
March 16, 2022: Agenda - Minutes Log - Audio/Video
March 15, 2022: Agenda - Minutes Log - Audio/Video
February 28, 2022: HJ37 Special Committee - Agenda - Minutes Log - Audio/Video
January 27, 2022: HJ37 Special Committee: Agenda - Minutes Log - Audio/Video
January 19, 2022: Agenda - Minutes Log - Audio/Video
January 18, 2022: Agenda - Minutes Log - Audio/Video
October 13, 2021: Agenda - Minutes Log - Audio/Video
October 12, 2021: Agenda - Minutes Log - Audio/Video
July 15, 2021: Agenda - Minutes Log - Audio/Video
July 14, 2021: Agenda - Minutes Log - Audio/Video
Link to study pages:
HJ 37: Study of selenium standard for Lake Koocanusa
SJ 28: Study of Flathead River erosion
Note: Public comments may be submitted here. All comments are due Aug. 31.
Committee issues:
Background information
- Resources for WPIC members (LEPO, Jan. 2022)
- DNRC presentation (Jan. 18, 2022)
- Water Court presentation (Jan. 18, 2022)
Combined appropriation guidance
- Department guidance (DNRC, March 2022)
- Memo on consistency in guidance (DNRC, March 2022)
Compacts
CSKT water rights settlement
- Flathead Water Management Board, registration of existing uses, adjudication, and other frequently asked questions (DNRC, Jan. 2022)
Drought
- Montana Water Supply & Drought Outlook--Spring 2021 (DNRC; April 15, 2021)
- Montana Drought Forecast Report--Summer 2021 (DNRC; July 15, 2021)
- 2021: Fall drought and water supply update (DNRC, Oct. 12, 2021)
- Montana Water Supply Outlook Report--Spring 2022 (DNRC, May 2022)
Information about progress on updated Montana Drought Plan:
- Website: mtdroughtinfo.org
- Previous drought plans (1977, 1995)
- The Plan and the People (DNRC, 2021)
- Montana Drought Management Plan presentation (DNRC, March 2022)
Missouri Headwaters Basin Study (Bureau of Reclamation; Aug. 2021)
Lead in school water
- DEQ handout to WPIC (May 2022)
- Letter from WPIC to ARPA Infrastructure Advisory Commission (May 2022)
Management
Comprehensive Review of Water Administrations and Management: Meeting Montana's Water Needs in the 21st century:
Link to DNRC website
Nutrients ( SB 358)
- Link to Nutrient Work Group materials
- Proposed administrative rule for the adaptive management program to implement narrative nutrient standards (MAR 17-420, Dec. 2021)
- Update and explanation of an Adaptive Management Program (DEQ, March 2022)
- Action letter from EPA re: SB358 and Clean Water Act (May 2022)
Ownership updates
- 2021 Water rights ownership changes (DNRC, Jan. 2022)
Storage
-
Water Storage in Montana (report required by 85-1-704; DNRC, June 2021)
- Related presentation (DNRC; Oct. 12, 2021)
Water storage in Wyoming: Wyoming Water Development Office:
- 2020 Legislative report(Wyo. WDO, Dec. 2020)
- Wyo WDO presentation (Jan. 2022)
Ballot initiative review
Ch. 554, L. 2021 created a new duty in 5-5-215(1)(g) for interim committees to review proposed ballot initiatives within the interim committee's subject area and vote to either support or not support the placement of the text of an initiative on the ballot in accordance with 13-27-202. WPIC amended its rules to allow for 3 days' notice of a meeting to review a ballot issue.
- Interim committee review of ballot issues (LSO, July 2021)
- Draft ballot issue regarding designation of outstanding resource waters (Cottonwood Environmental Law Center, Dec. 2021)
- Attorney general's sufficiency review of ORW initiative (Jan. 2022)
- Supreme Court decision overturning AG review (March 2022)
- Letter from Sec. of State to WPIC requesting review of proposed ballot Initiative 191 (March 2022)
- Agenda for WPIC review of I-191 (April 5, 2022)
- Final I-191 language (March 2022)
- Map of areas affected by I-191
- Public comments to WPIC (rec'd by 5 p.m. April 4, 2022)
- Add'l public comments to WPIC (rec'd after 5 p.m. April 4, 2022)
- WPIC letter to SOS not supporting I-191 (April 5, 2022)
Rule review
- Overview of administrative rulemaking and committee rule review (LSO, June 2021)
- Administrative rulemaking update (LSO, Oct. 2021)
- Memo from Legal Services Office (May 2022)
- Narrative nutrient standards
Required reports
- Appropriation rights changed to instream flow (FWP, 85-2-436, MCA)
- Biennial Progress Report (FWP, Jan. 2022)
- Consult on state water plan (DNRC, 85-1-203)
- Memo on 2022 update on State Water Plan implementation activities (DNRC, March 2022)
- Presentation on implementation of 2015 Montana State Water Plan (DNRC, March 2022)
- Economic and environmental feasibility of small-scale, hydroelectric power-generating facility on a state water project (DEQ, 85-1-501)
- Ground Water Investigation Program (Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology, 85-2-525)
- Ground Water Investigation Program (MBMG, Oct. 2021)
- Proposed projects (MBMG, Nov. 2021)
- MBMG presentation to WPIC (Jan. 2022)
- Prioritization of water storage projects (85-1-704)
- Water Storage in Montana (Governor's office, June 2021)
- Progress of the adjudication of pre-1973 water rights (DNRC and Water Court, 85-1-621)
- July 2021 reports: DNRC Adjudication Status report, Water Court report to WPIC
- Oct. 2021 reports: DNRC Adjudication Status Report, Water Court report to WPIC
- Jan. 2022 reports: DNRC, Water Court
- May 2022 reports: DNRC, Water Court
- Renewable Resource Grant and Loan Program (DNRC, 85-1-621)
- Stream gauge oversight work group (DNRC, 2-15-3308--expires July 1, 2023)
- Stream gauge oversight work plan (DNRC, 2020)
- Work group presentation (DNRC, March 2022)
- Review of state water reservations (DNRC, 85-2-316--by Sept. 15, 2026)
- Total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for impaired and threatened water bodies (DEQ, 75-5-703)
- Upper Clark Fork River Basin Steering Committee (85-2-338)
- U.S. Forest Service state water reservation applications (DNRC, 85-20-1401)
- 2020-2021 report on Forest Service compact implementation (DNRC, Jan. 2022)
- Water-related research (85-2-105)
- Evaluating irrigation efficiency (Montana Water Center; July, 2021)
- Overview of water research programs (Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology; July 2021)
-
Water Information System (State Library)
- Presentation handout (State Library, March 2022)
Other resources and publications
Water rights in Montana (WPIC, 2018)
A guide to Montana water quality regulation (WPIC, 2021)
State water plan (DNRC, 2015)
SB330 water reservation 10-year review (DNRC, 2016)
Draft legislation from Adjudication Advisory Committee (Adj. Adv. Cmte, 2021)
- Cover letter from Judge McElyea to Governor's office
Committee rules (as amended Jan. 19, 2022)
Work plan (as amended Jan. 19, 2022)