Montana State Legislature

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)
DEQ response to EPA water quality standards action letter re: narrative nurient standards (DEQ, Aug., 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
- MAR 17-420
- Re: narrative nutrient standards and the Montana Administrative Procedures Act (LSO, Jan. 2022)
Memo from Legal Services Office (Sept. 2022)

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)
- Survey of Power Generation Capacity (DNRC, July 2022)
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
- Sept. 2022 reports: DNRC, Water Court
Renewable Resource Grant and Loan Program (DNRC, 85-1-621)
- Report on RRGL program and ARPA water and sewer grants (DNRC, Sept. 2022)
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)
- Report to the 2022 Montana WPIC on Stream Gagin in Montana (DNRC, Sept. 2022)
  - Report appendices
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)

Revise duties of stream gauge oversight workgroup (PD0006, as approved by WPIC, Sept. 21, 2022)

Submitted comments on bill draft (Sept. 2022)

Agency bill proposals approved for preintroduction:

Legislator Expense Form

Committee rules (as amended Jan. 19, 2022)

Work plan (as amended Jan. 19, 2022)