Montana - Defending Instream Flows

TU will be involved in another important defensive effort over the next two years: defending stream flows on Forest Service lands. The ongoing negotiation between the Forest Service and the State of Montana over the Service's federal reserved right is coming to a head, under the pressure imposed by a 2009 statutory deadline for completion of the negotiation that started in 1997. To meet this deadline, the parties must submit a negotiated agreement for ratification by the 2007 state legislative session. TU has been the only public voice consistently involved with the negotiations over the eight-year-long negotiation process. As the only entity with the expertise and experience to translate the significance of this complex negotiation into important public values, it is imperative that TU leverage its position as a public interest entity. We intend to work closely with TU's Public Lands Initiative to mobilize public support for healthy streams on public lands in order to press the state for greater protections for National Forest streams during this final year of the negotiations, and during the 2007 legislative session.

Montana Water Project Reports:

Montana Water Leasing Report

A Buyer's Guide to Montana Water Rights

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, Montana Water Project
Contact Laura Ziemer

Stan Bradshaw, Counsel, Montana Water Project
Contact Stan Bradshaw

Julie Eaton, Program Administrator
Contact Julie Eaton

Montana Trout Unlimited website