Montana Water Project

TU's Montana Water Project has made protecting river flows an accepted part of the dialogue in nearly all aspects of water management in the state. This is remarkable progress compared to the marginal role of instream flow protection before TU launched the Montana Water Project in 1998. TU has since worked to insert protection of river flows into every major water policy discussion in the state.

In the next two years, the Montana Water Project Staff will be moving forward on passing state-wide legislation to improve groundwater management and working toward better reservoir management with the Bureau of Reclamation. Other efforts include our water leasing program-particularly, expanding stream flow restoration into the Big Hole River basin, a high-priority area for the imperiled native arctic grayling. Our work will also be a focal point for leveraging permanent protections for water on National Forest lands, as the Forest Service and State of Montana attempt to bring their multi-year negotiations on the Forest Service's federal reserved rights to a close.

The ability to engage at a high level on these different fronts comes from our substantial track-record of success in Montana. By building alliances with agricultural producers and cultivating relationships with key leaders in Montana agriculture and water management, TU's Montana Water Project has been successful in arenas that just ten years ago had little experience in protecting water flowing in rivers and streams.

Building Political Will

Retoring Stream Flows in Key River Basins

Defending Instream Flows 

Montana Water Project Reports:

Montana Water Leasing Report

A Buyer's Guide to Montana Water Rights

Blueprint For A Ground Water Mitigation Exchange Pilot Project In Montana

For more information contact:

Montana Water Project
321 E Main St #411
Bozeman, MT 59715
406-522-7291
406-522-7695 (fax)

Laura Ziemer, Director
Contact Laura Ziemer

Stan Bradshaw, Counsel
Contact Stan Bradshaw

Patrick Byorth, Staff Attorney
Contact Patrick Byorth

Montana Trout Unlimited website

Montana Water Project Press Archive