Ground Water Investigation Program

 
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John Metesh— MBMG Research Division Chief
406.496.4159

John Wheaton—GWIP Manager, Flathead Valley project
406.496.4848

Ginette Abdo—Beaverhead and Florence projects
406.496.4152

Julie Ahern—North Hills and Beaverhead projects
406.496.4854

Andrew Bobst—North Hills and Scratchgravel projects
406.496.4409

Jane Madison—North Hills and Florence projects
406.496.4865

Tom Michalek—Belgrade and Four Corners projects
406.496.4405

James Rose—Flathead project
406.496.4829

Glenn Shaw —Beaverhead and Florence projects
406.496.4809

Dean Snyder—Beaverhead and Florence projects
406.496.4882

Mary Sutherland—Belgrade and Four Corners projects)
406.496.4410

Kirk Waren—North Hills and Scratchgravel projects
406.496.4866

Jen Wilson—Belgrade and Four Corners projects
406.496.4838

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.

GWIP project areas Eureka Flathead Valley Smith Valley Noxon Missoula Valley Florence Hamilton Georgetown Lakem Philipsburg North Fork Flathead Flaxville gravels Clear lake Sidney Priest Butte Lake Greenfield Bench Summit Valley North Hills Scratchgravel Jills Townsend, Toston Three Forks Manhattan Belgrade Four Corners Pine Creek West Yellowstone Belt, Momarch Little Belt Mountains Stillwater Valley Prior Mountains Park City West Billings East Billings Roundup Coalbed methane Lower Beaverhead River-west Big Syk Upper Madison River Boulder River Lower Madison River

1 Eureka 8 Georgetown Lake, Philipsburg 16 Manhattan 24 Rock Creek 32 Sidney
2 Flathead Valley 9 Summit Valley 17 Belgrade 25 Prior Mtns 33 Coalbed methane
3 Smith Valley 10 Priest Butte Lake 18 Four Corners 26 Park City 34 North Fork Flathead
4 Noxon 11 Greenfield Bench 19 Pine Creek 27 West Billings 35 Lower Beaverhead River - West
5 Missoula Valley 12 North Hills 20 West Yellowstone 28 East Billings 36 Big Sky
6 Florence 13 Scratchgravel Hills 21 Belt, Monarch 29 Roundup 37 Boulder River
7 Hamilton 14 Townsend, Toston 22 Little Belt Mtns 30 Flaxville gravels 38 Upper Madison River
  15 Three Forks 23 Stillwater Valley 31 Clear Lake 39 Lower Madison River

High growth areas

Subdivision grwoth in Montana

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.

     Beaverhead Drilling Spring creek