Water News
The Montana Water Center recently updated the governor's drought committee on the Montana Climate Assessment (MCA), scheduled to be released in 2017. The presentation gave the committee a first look at projected future climate trends and how they may influence water supply in the state. This meeting was held in the context of updating Montana's drought response plan. Updates to the existing plan can be viewed here and will be available for public comment until Dec. 1, 2016.
The Montana Water Center is leading a ‘Water Sector’ report for a new collaborative statewide Montana Climate Assessment. Our overarching goal is to provide objective information about the influence of climate on water supply, quality, and management in Montana. Our water team is now assembled and we’ll be posting some updates here as we move forward. You can also learn more about the broader effort, as well as the other sectors (climate, forestry, agriculture) at: http://montanaioe.org/mca. Stay tuned!
From the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology:
March and April are typically very busy months for the Ground Water Investigation Program of the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology (MBMG). Ongoing projects in the Gallatin Valley provide an excellent example.
In March, a team led by Tom Michalek conducted a synoptic run of the streamflow measurements on the Gallatin River, the East Gallatin, and other major tributaries. Over the two days, the team - consisting of personnel from MBMG's Butte and Billings offices - used acoustic doppler and electromagnetic technologies to put together a snapshot of flow conditions in the northern Gallatin Valley. During this time of year, not much is happening in the way of natural flow changes or irrigation diversions, so this is a great time to collect data on hydrologic relationships among tributaries, streams, and groundwater. These data also increase our understanding of general stream behavior, including identification of gaining and losing reaches, inputs from springs and groundwater, and seasonal variability of flow.
In addition, two week-long aquifer tests were conducted in April near the town of Belgrade, MT. These tests consist of pumping a single well at a constant rate, and measuring the consequent effects on water levels in the pumped well, in addition to nearby wells across the landscape. Hydrogeologists use this information to estimate flow properties of aquifer materials and the hydraulic connection (or separation) between different layers of the aquifer.
These are common field research activities for MBMG water scientists working all over Montana. Keep a look out - maybe you'll see them out there!
From the Montana Department Natural Resources and Conservation:
"Montana’s economy and quality of life rely on water for everything from agriculture, livestock, industry, fisheries, and recreation, to municipal and domestic uses. It is with this recognition of our dependence on water that the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) is proud to release the 2015 State Water Plan."
The 2015 State Water Plan is a synthesis of the vision and efforts of regional Basin Advisory Councils (BACs) established in Montana’s four main river basins, including the (1) Clark Fork/Kootenai, (2) Upper Missouri, (3) Lower Missouri, and (4) Yellowstone.
Overall, the 80 members of the four BACs represent the most diverse group of water users and interests ever brought together by the state of Montana. As part of the planning process, the BACs and DNRC were assisted by the hundreds of Montanans who took the time to provide comments and feedback on what they feel are the key water related issues facing Montana and how we, as a state, can address them together.
