Stream Gage Oversight Work Group

Stream Gage Oversight Work Group Meeting

Check Back for Next Meeting Date

DRAFT Report

DRAFT Report to the 2022 Montana Water Policy Interim Committee on Stream Gaging in Montana (4MB)

The Stream Gage Oversight Work Group Seeks Your Feedback! The Draft Report is available for public comment from July 13, 2022 to August 12, 2022, 5:00 p.m.

Submit electronic comments here

Or mail to:
Montana DNRC
Attn: Paul Azevedo
PO Box 201601
Helena, Montana 59620-1601

Or email:
Do you need to send an attachment? Have more to say than 2,000 characters? Email your comments to
DNRCDroughtPlan@mt.gov

About

The Stream Gage Oversight Work Group was created in 2019 by the 66th Montana Legislature in response to stakeholders’ concerns over the shutdown of 10 U.S. Geological Services (USGS) stream gages due to a lack of funding to support operation and maintenance. The loss of these gages came with little warning to the water user communities who depended on them for monitoring and cooperatively managing local water resource plans. The event revealed that as demand for water continues to grow, the continuity of Montana’s stream gaging network is threatened by declining funding support. It also highlighted the disconnect between those entities that operate and/or fund the system and those entities or individuals who rely on it daily for real-time stream information, local planning and response.

Purpose

The Work Group is to:

Review the locations, uses, and funding arrangements for the stream gage network of the USGS;
Review priorities, needs, and expectations of those funding the maintenance and operations of these stream gages and those using data measured by these stream gages; and
Create annually a stream gage infrastructure work plan.

Members

Working Group members represent the seven agencies on the Governor’s Drought and Water Supply Advisory Committee
Organization	Name
Dept of Natural Resources & Conservation	Paul Azevedo, Co-Chair
Dept of Fish Wildlife & Parks	Stephen Begley, Co-Chair
Dept of Military Affairs/DES	Andrew Long
Dept of Agriculture	John Peterson
Dept of Livestock	Mike Honeycutt
Dept of Commerce	Cody Fergeson
Dept of Environmental Quality	Darrin Kron

Meetings

#1 - August 27, 2019 Agenda | Meeting Summary

#2 - December 18, 2019 Agenda | Meeting Summary

#3 - February 21, 2020 Agenda | Meeting Summary

#4 - June 16, 2020 Agenda | Meeting Summary

#5 - August 12, 2020 Agenda | Presentations | Meeting Summary

#6 - November 4, 2020 Agenda | Presentations | Meeting Summary

#7 - February 17, 2021 Agenda | Presentations | Meeting Summary

#8 - May 19, 2022 Agenda | Presentations | Meeting Summary

Stream Gage Notification Plan

The Stream Gage Notification Plan lays out the steps and processes the U.S. Geological Survey Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center (USGS) and the state of Montana will take to ensure the timely exchange of information regarding program changes with the potential to impact the ongoing operation of the USGS stream gage network in Montana. The end goal is minimizing network disruptions by exchanging information far enough in advance that it can be acted on.