Ground Water Investigation Program

HB 52 —Ground Water Investigation Program

The 2007/2008 Water Policy Interim Committee (WPIC) recognized that competition for water resources and the lack of detailed information on groundwater/surface water interaction has challenged informed water-resource management and development in Montana. The WPIC found that "continued and expanded study of groundwater resources is vital to shaping statewide policy as well as providing the data necessary for local decisions regarding water."  HB 52 was drafted by the WPIC in response to this finding.

The 61st Montana Legislature passed HB 52 with a first biennium appropriation of $4.2 million; based on the program design, this will provide funding for 6 to 8 projects lasting 1 to 3 years.

The Ground Water Investigations Program (GWIP) established by HB 52 will add to Montana's capability to deal with important water-resource issues including:

• stream depletion from groundwater development by subdivisions or changes in irrigation projects,
• cumulative effects of existing and proposed water development on stream flow,
• impacts to groundwater and surface water from changes in irrigation practices or land use,
• implementation of aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) in Montana, and
• evaluating the success of mitigation/offset plans in closed basins.

The Ground Water Investigation Program is in its inaugural stage and will be rapidly evolving over the coming months.  The Steering Committee will continue to develop selection criteria and procedures as well as encourage ideas for potential projects from stakeholders and water management agencies.

This website will be updated frequently with new information
about the program and individual projects.

HB 52 Elements

• Directs the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology to conduct 1-3 year focused investigation of groundwater and surface water in high growth, or over-appropriated areas.
• Adds a member of the development community to the Ground-Water Assessment Steering Committee authorized in 2-15-1523 MCA.
• Directs the Ground-water Assessment Steering Committee to prioritize sub-basin investigations based on anticipated growth in housing, agriculture, industry and commercial activity.

Ground Water Investigation Program Products

Each sub-basin investigation product will include:

• A detailed report that describes the hydrogeologic system,
• Models that simulate hydrogeologic features and processes, and
• A comprehensive set of hydrogeologic data available through the MBMG Ground-Water Information Center (GWIC)

Each project will be a focused investigation of groundwater and surface water in a sub-basin of sufficient size to construct models and a detailed report of the investigation. The models, reports and supporting data will be technical in nature and used directly by scientists and engineers representing agencies, applicants, senior water-right holders, and other stakeholders.