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    • Basin Closures

    If a person wants to appropriate water in a controlled ground water area located within a basin closure area and an Application for Beneficial Water Use Permit is required, the applicant is subject to the requirement of §§ 85-2-360, 85-2-361, and 85-2-362, MCA. Click on the HB831 link below.

    HB831 Ground Water Permit Information in Closed Basins

    Montana Basin Closures and Controlled Ground Water Areas – information, types of closures, closure listings, boundary maps.

    Map of Montana Surface Water Closures, Compacts and CGWA

    (PDF file links viewable with Acrobat Reader)

     

    Stream Depletion Zones

    The department has authority to designate a stream depletion zone within a closed basin to limit the amount of water used under the exceptions to permit requirements under § 85-2-306, MCA, due to the availability of water for the protection of existing water rights. (§ 85-2-102(23) and § 85-2-380, MCA)

    A petition may be filed by a municipality; county; conservation district; local water quality district formed under Title 7, chapter 13, part 45; or the owners of at least 15% of the flow rate of the surface water rights in the area estimated to be affected.  The petition must be filed with the department pursuant to § 85-2-380, MCA, and there must exist a hydrogeologic assessment for the area where the stream depletion zone is proposed.

    Permanent

    Controlled Groundwater Areas

    Active Permanent

    Ravalli County

    Reason for Closure: Water Quality

    Restrictions: Groundwater appropriation is by permit only. See ARM 36.12.909 for specific restrictions/details.

    Note: The original Bitterroot Valley Sanitary Landfill Controlled Groundwater Area was made effective February 9, 2004 through a Department Order (and subsequent Modification to that Order on May 28, 2004). The Department’s adoption of ARM 36.12.909 on September 9, 2023, revoked and replaced the 2004 Order and Modification to Order.

    Sanders County

    Reason for Closure: Water Quality

    Restrictions: Ground water appropriations within all aquifers are prohibited. See Final Order for specific restrictions/details.

    Flathead County

    **ACTIVE**
    Reason for Closure: Water Quality

    Restrictions: See MAR Notice 36-22-199 Notice of Public Hearing on Proposed Adoption for specific restrictions/details.

    Gallatin County

    Reason for Closure: Water Quality

    Restrictions: Ground water appropriations by permit only. See Final Order for specific restrictions/details.

    Proposed Groundwater Permit Packet (Application No. 41H 30127867)

    Silver Bow County

    Reason for Closure: Water Quality

    Restrictions: New ground water appropriations must be approved by Butte-Silver Bow Board of Health acting as the Butte Silver Bow Water Quality District office. See Final Order for specific restrictions/details.

    Lewis and Clark County

    Reason for Closure: Water Quality

    Notices:

    East Valley CGWA Maps:

    Missoula County

    Reason for Closure: Water Availability

    Restrictions: Ground water appropriations by permit only. See Final Order for specific restrictions/details.

    Stillwater County

    Reason for Closure: Water Quantity

    Restrictions: Ground water appropriations by permit only. See Final Order for specific restrictions/details.

    Lawn and Garden
    Water use for lawn and garden irrigation under all water rights issued after the effective date of this rule (January 13, 2012) that do not have mitigation will be discontinued when the 90 day standard precipitation index (SPI) is less than or equal to -1. *The SPI for the preceding 90 days will be posted as soon as it is available.

    • The SPI for Horse Creek is -1.141 based on mean precipitation for the preceding 90 days. Watering restrictions ARE in place. (Last updated September 3, 2024)

    602-HCCGWA Notice of Completion of Ground Water Development – Horse Creek Controlled Groundwater Area

    For a completed groundwater well or developed spring in the HCCGWA where the water has been put to domestic, lawn & garden, and/or stock use with a maximum use of 35 GPM not to exceed 1 AC-FT per year. (If use exceeds 35 GPM or 1 AF/year or is for another purpose, file a Form 600, Application for Beneficial Water Use Permit.)

    Gallatin County

    Reason for Closure: Water Quality

    Restrictions: New ground water appropriations are prohibited. Replacement wells for existing appropriations will be allowed as authorized by the department Exceptions exist. See Final Order for specific restrictions/details.
    Ravalli County

    Reason for Closure: Water Availability

    Restrictions: Ground water appropriations by permit only. See Final Order for specific restrictions/details.
    Yellowstone County

    Reason for Closure: Water Quality

    Silver Bow County

    Reason for Closure: Water Quality

    Restrictions: Ground water appropriations by permit only. See Final Order for specific restrictions/details.

    Powder River County

    Reason for Closure: Water Availability

    Location

    • All sections in Township 6N Ranges 45E and 46E
    • All sections in Township 5N Ranges 40E and 47E
    • All sections in Township 4N Ranges 38E and 39E, 41 E through 46E and 48E
    • All sections in Township 3N Ranges 37E through 49E
    • All sections in Township 2N Ranges 36E through 50E
    • All sections in Township 1N Ranges 36E through 50E
    • All sections in Township 1S Ranges 37E through 50E
    • All sections in Township 2S Ranges 37E through 51E
    • All sections in Township 3S Ranges 37E through 51E
    • All sections in Township 4S Ranges 37E through 51E
    • All sections in Township 5S Ranges 36E through 50E
    • All sections in Township 6S Ranges 36E through 51E
    • All sections in Township 7S Ranges 37E through 51E
    • All sections in Township 8S Ranges 37E through 51E
    • All sections in Township 9S Ranges 37E through 51E

    The area includes all formations above the Lebo member of the Fort Union Formation.

    Effective Date: December 15, 1999

    Information

    Applies only to wells designed and installed for the extraction of coalbed methane (CBM).

    CBM development must follow the standards for drilling, completing, testing, and production of CBM wells as adopted by the Board of Oil and Gas Conservation.

    CBM operators must offer water mitigation agreements to owners of water wells or natural springs within one-half mile of a CBM operation or within the area that the operator reasonably believes may be impacted by the CBM operation, whichever is greater. This area will automatically be extended one-half mile beyond any well adversely affected.

    DNRC will designate a Technical Advisory Committee to oversee groundwater characteristics and monitoring and reporting requirements.

     

    Coal Bed Methane Annual Reports

    Powder River Basin Controlled Ground Water Area Technical Advisory Committee

    The purpose of these reports are to describe the activities of TAC and the impacts of CBM development on ground water resources.

    Silver Bow County

    Reason for Closure: Water Quality

    Restrictions: Closed to all new ground water appropriations. See Final Order for specific restrictions/details.

    Fallon, Prairie and Wibaux Counties

    Reason for Closure: Water Availability

    Effective Date: November 1, 1967

    Location

    • Township 12N Range 55E
    • Township 11N Range 55E
    • Township 11N Range 56E
    • Township 12N Range 56E, west of Cedar Creek Anticline
    • Township 13N Range 55E
    • Township 11N Range 57E, west of Cedar Creek Anticline in Fallon and Wibaux Counties

    Information

    No new appropriations of groundwater may be made except by permit request (regardless of size).
    No presently inactive well may be used except with the approval of DNRC.
    No presently active well may increase its flow rate except with the approval of DNRC.

    Other Information

    Park, Gallatin, Madison and Sweet Grass Counties

    Reason for Closure: Protect park’s thermal features

    Restrictions: Ground water appropriations by permit only. See Rules and Procedures for specific restrictions/details. For individual assistance contact the Bozeman Regional Office of the DNRC at the following address:
    DNRC Bozeman Regional Office
    2273 Boot Hill Court, Suite 110
    Bozeman, MT 59715
    Ph. (406) 586-3136 



    Yellowstone Controlled Groundwater Area Technical Oversight Committee Progress Reports

    Deer Lodge County

    Reason for Closure: Water Quality

    Restrictions: Closed to all appropriations of ground water within 40 feet of ground surface. See Final Order for specific restrictions/details.

    Denied

    Flathead County


    Other Information
    Gallatin County

    Other Information

    Expired

    Lewis and Clark County

    Other Information