Distinctly Montana Magazine

w w w. d i s t i n c t ly m o n ta n a . c o m 51 y e a r S The state has moved away from a "one size fits all" statewide water policy and instead focuses on management of the larger river basins across the state. This strategy is unique because it has the potential to take into account the characteristics of individual basins and the needs of citizens within them. My hope is that it takes into account water demands and economic develop- ment, while satisfying existing social and ecological uses. Initially this start- ed with a plan for the Clark Fork River Basin and by 2015 will have progressed to the Yellowstone, Upper Missouri and Lower Missouri River Basins. However, a key need will be to move from basin scale management to individual wa- tersheds. People tend to identify and care more about what happens in their backyard. A key factor in the success of this management approach will be a sustained and open dialogue between scientists, local communities, and on the ground managers. in what ways will MOntana likely exPeri- enCe COnservatiOn Of water suPPly? The management and conservation of Montana's water supplies is going to be one of the toughest environmental challenges during the next century. Water demand will rise along with the population of Montana. At the same time, due to higher temperatures and increased aridity, water supplies will be on the decrease. To meet the increasing need for water along with its decreasing availability we will need to become more efficient at storing and utilizing water. This may occur through a variety of approaches such as groundwater banking, increased irriga- tion efficiency, and better accounting of water use. Another potential solution in some areas would be to switch from irrigated crops to rain fed crops that require less water. The downside is that this could cost farmers money in terms of reduced crop yields and it would not be feasible in areas that currently receive little rain. hOw will MOntana's water aPPrOPriatiOn laws Change Over the next 30 years? Good question. The honest answer is I don't know. Montanans allocations of water are based on prior appropriation doctrine. This is summarized as first in time, first in right, meaning that priority to users is given based upon when the water was first put to a beneficial use. Increased competition for decreasing water resources are creating challenges for the implementation of this doctrine. The challenges result from reliance on individual water users to regulate their water use, groundwater development that reduces surface water recharge, and federal statutes and regulations that protect the operation of federal water projects. I have a lot of respect for policy makers that have to address these important challenges. Many have sug- gested giving more priority to domestic water users, contracting for stored water, or utilization of groundwater. Changes to existing water rights would lead to an increased reliance on the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation to monitor and enforce water use. While some additional water may be available from privately or state owned reservoirs, the most likely source of purchasing water for new users are large federally owned reservoirs in Montana. Another possibility is aquifer storage and recov- ery, which involves the injection of excess surface water during the spring into underground aquifers for later withdrawal. aN INtErESt- INg FaCt IS tHat MoNtaNa aND arIzoNa CurrENtLy rECEIvE aBout tHE SaME aNNuaL prECIpItatIoN. tHE oNLy rEaSoN tHat arIzoNa IS MuCH DrIEr IS BECauSE oF WarMEr tEMpEraturES aND INCrEaSED EvaporatIoN. For more info on Montana's water conditions www.distinctlymontana.com/water142 DISTINCTLY MONTANA | DIGITAL

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