Lawmakers consider tapping Tribal water supply
Posted: Jul 30, 2010 4:08 PM
Updated: Jul 30, 2010 6:29 PM
HELENA - The Missouri, Yellowstone and Clark Fork rivers provide resources for more than just Montana residents. So, when lawmakers heard the future of these resources are threatened, they decided to do something.
Members of the Clark Fork River Task Force is charged with managing the Clark Fork River Basin and providing council to legislators about the area.
On Monday, the Water Policy Committee heard the Clark Fork is the largest river by volume leaving the state.
Gerald Mueller the Facilitator for the Clark Fork River Task Force told the Committee with so much water flowing out there aren't reserves for future basin uses. So, the Task Force is beginning negotiations with the Salish Kootenai Tribe to use water on their land.
Mueller shared the Task Force's plan, "To use water stored in the Hungry Horse reservoir, both to provide for new uses and to increase the security of the water rights. We believe that the Hungry Horse water storage will be key to Clark Fork Basin water management in the future."
Mueller says before a contract can be written, the Bureau of Reclamation needs to complete an environmental analysis. This analysis could cost the Department of Natural Resources $1 million to $2 million.
