The Water Policy Interim Committee will host a committee conference call on Dec. 11 on the geocoding of water rights. The call will feature presentations by staff, the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and perhaps others. The meeting will take place at 9 a.m. in a first-floor meeting room at the Capitol building in Helena.

The conference call follows a November conference all about errors related to the DNRC’s water rights database. The database uses a “geocode” — a unique identification number — to indicate a water right’s place of use. The committee has heard the use of geocodes is the source of inaccuracies and may be complicating land sales, property improvements, probate proceedings, and use of water. The committee is searching for a solution that helps all parties involved.

Per committee rules, committee members will join the meeting by phone. Anyone interested in providing public comment on the subject may submit comments to committee staff or testify during the call at the Capitol building. Staff will notice the exact room of the conference call in the coming week.

The meeting will be livestreamed at http://leg.mt.gov and will be broadcast on the Montana Public Affairs Network (MPAN). For more information on the committee’s activities and upcoming meeting, including a full agenda, please visit the committee’s website or contact Jason Mohr, committee staff.

Committee Website:  leg.mt.gov/water

Committee Staff:  jasonmohr@mt.gov or 406-444-1640