Montana State Legislature

Meeting Materials

Next meeting: Jan. 18-19, 2022

Agenda

Staff memo to committee (Jan. 10)

A background on water rights: Where to go for relevant information

• Resources for WPIC members (LEPO)
• 2021 Water right ownership changes (DNRC)
• DNRC presentation
• Water Court presentation

Adjudication update (85-2-281, MCA)

• Adjudication status report (DNRC)
• Adjudication report (Water Court)

CSKT water rights compact: Establishment of Flathead Reservation Water Management Board

• Flathead Water Management Board, registration of existing uses, adjudication, and other frequently asked questions (DNRC)

U.S. Forest Service water reservations (85-20-1401)

• 2020-2021 report on Forest Service compact implementation (DNRC)

Instream leasing report (85-2-436)

• Biennial progress report (FWP)

Water storage in Wyoming: Wyoming Water Development Office

• 2020 Legislative report (Wyo. WDO, Dec., 2020)
• Wyo. WDO presentation

Comprehensive review of water administration and management

• Draft key water challenges and proposed action plans (DNRC, Oct. 2021)
• DNRC presentation

Ground Water Investigation Program (85-2-525)

• Ground Water Investigation Program (Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology, Oct. 2021)
• Proposed projects (MBMG, Nov. 2021)

Study of Flathead River erosion (SJ28): Boat use estimates, 310/404 permits, bank stabilization, and historical maps and photos

• List of 310 permits issued by Flathead Conservations District (1976-2021)
• Presentation from Flathead Conservation District

American Rescue Plan Act irrigation grants

• DNRC presentation

Agency rulemaking update: Narrative nutrient standards (SB358)

• Proposed administrative rule for the adaptive management program to implement narrative nutrient standards (MAR 17-420, Dec. 2021)
• Memo from Legal Services Office

Interim committee review of proposed ballot initiative: Designation of outstanding resource waters

Letter to SoS with draft ballot language (Dec. 2021)

Proposed amendment to committee rules for consideration of ballot initiatives (LSO)

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