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1539 Eleventh Ave. Helena, MT 59601
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Front Page News


DNRC Rescinds Municipal Water Right Guidance to Ease Burden on Municipalities
HELNEA, Mont. — The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation announced the rescission of a 2014 memo intended to provide guidance on changes in use for municipal water rights. “After reviewing the memo and its implementation over the last six years, we have determined that the memo is restrictive in how it directs historical use to be calculated and does not account in full for the variety of ways municipalities can produce historical use information,” said Nate Ward, Water Rights Bureau Chief.
Madison County Fire Warden Recognized as DNRC Fire Cooperator of the Year
Joe Brummell, the Madison County Fire Warden and Disaster and Emergency Services Coordinator, was recognized as the 2022 Fire Cooperator of the Year by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.
Continued Misuse Prompts Shooting Restrictions on State Trust Lands in Gallatin County
Due to ongoing misuse of State Trust Land associated with recreational shooting – including public safety concerns, shooting debris left on site, and concerns that private property will be further damaged – the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation announced that two new firearm restrictions will be implemented on the affected lands in Gallatin County.
Drought Summary Oct. 5, 2022
According to the latest report to the Governor’s Drought and Water Supply Advisory Committee, recent rainfall across most of Montana has done little to pull the state out of long-term drought conditions.
Montana Drought Management Plan Drought Task Force Meeting, Oct. 5, 2022
Meeting objectives: • Examine Montana’s Current Drought Conditions & Season Summary • Update on Streamflow • Fall & Early Winter Forecast • Drought Planning Progress Update • Drought Response Framework - Presentation and Discussion
Gov. Gianforte Announces Relief for Irrigators Impacted by Flooding Disaster
Governor Greg Gianforte announced today the state has awarded $645,846 in relief to irrigation districts and water user associations impacted by the flooding disaster.
MT Forest Action Plan Grant Application Period is Now Open
The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation is now accepting applications for grants through the Montana Forest Action Plan to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health on state, private, county and Tribal lands, and on federal lands through the Good Neighbor Authority Program.
Montana Invasive Species Council Offers a Series of Free Webinars
The Montana Invasive Species Council is hosting a series of one-hour webinars this fall. Registration is required, but all webinars are free. Register online at invasivespecies.mt.gov. All webinars will run from 10:00 -11:00 AM (MST).
DNRC Announces Fee Waivers for Montanans Affected by Spring Flooding
Unprecedented spring flooding in Montana created a financial burden as individuals and communities moved into the recovery and rebuilding phase. Under Governor Greg Gianforte’s leadership, state departments were asked to determine how to help relieve that burden. The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation identified waiving application fees for water users affected by flooding in Montana as one way to support recovery efforts.
Stream Gage Oversight Work Group Seeks Your Feedback
The Stream Gage Work Group is seeking public feedback on the draft Report to the 2022 Montana Water Policy Interim Committee on Stream Gaging in Montana
State of Montana Leadership Selected to Serve on Presidential Wildfire Fire Mitigation and Management Commission
State Forester and Forestry Division Administrator of the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Sonya Germann, has been selected to serve on the Presidential Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission.
Landowners Urged to Plan Ahead, Acquire Permits for Stream-Modification Projects
Conservation Districts have received an influx of emergency notifications and stream permits due to the flooding of the Yellowstone River. The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation encourages residents who live on or near a river or stream to familiarize themselves with the stream permitting process ― including the needed permits before starting a stream project ― due to the potential for delays with increased submissions.
Montana Drought Management Plan Drought Task Force, July 6
Meeting Objectives: • Examine Montana’s current water supply conditions & view a drought monitoring demonstration • Update on drought planning progress • Discuss drought response actions and the role of DWSAC in current/future drought management
Montana Drought Management Plan Drought Task Force, July 6
Meeting Objectives: • Examine Montana’s current water supply conditions & view a drought monitoring demonstration • Update on drought planning progress • Discuss drought response actions and the role of DWSAC in current/future drought management
State Fire Officials Urge Montanans to Celebrate Safely this Independence Day
As the Fourth of July approaches, fire officials at the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation remind Montanans and visitors to celebrate safely and be aware of fire danger across the state.
DNRC to Convene First Stakeholder Working Group Meetings of the Comprehensive Water Review; Launches Dedicated Website
Under the leadership of DNRC Director Amanda Kaster, the agency initiated a comprehensive review of the state water management system in June 2021 resulting in the identification of a series of key challenges and action plans to address the challenges. The review is now moving into phase three of the project – implementation of the action plans. Individual Stakeholder Working Groups will meet for the first time to collaboratively discuss how to address two of the identified key water challenges - final decree transition and changes, mitigation, and exceptions. The working meetings are open to the public for observation with opportunities to submit comments during a public comment period at each meeting or online at any time.
Sage Grouse Program Announces $5.2 Million Available for Conservation Project Grants
The Montana Sage Grouse Oversight Team (MSGOT) has announced that approximately $5.2 million in grant dollars are available for conservation projects to benefit the sage grouse and its habitat. Applicants are required to submit an online pre-proposal review no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 30, 2022, to qualify for full proposal submission.
DNRC Seeks Public Comment Ahead of Infrastructure Advisory Commission Meeting
At the direction of the Infrastructure Advisory Commission (IAC), the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) is seeking public comment on updates to the Water and Sewer Infrastructure Grant Guidelines which incorporate the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Final Rule for the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) program. The Final Rule is formally in effect starting April 1, 2022.
Flathead Water Management Board Selects Fifth Member
Appointed members of the Flathead Reservation Water Management Board selected Georgia Smies to serve as the fifth board member on February 2, 2022, during the second meeting of the Board. The Secretary of the Interior will select a sixth, ex officio member, which will complete the board selection process.
Public Notice: Montana Sage Grouse Oversight Team to Meet February 11, 2022
The Montana Sage Grouse Oversight Team (MSGOT) will meet at DNRC Headquarters in Helena, Montana, in the Montana Room, Friday, February from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Members of the public are invited to participate in person or virtually via Zoom, with a time dedicated for public comment.
Public Notice Resource Conservation Advisory Council Meets February 23
The Resource Conservation Advisory Council (RCAC) will hold its next meeting February 23, 2022, at Lubrecht Experimental Forest in Greenough. The meeting will take place from 9 am-12 pm. A virtual option will be available. The Council will review 223 grant applications and make funding recommendations for DNRC to approve.
Joint Notice of a Flathead Water Management Board Meeting
The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation in partnership with the Confederate Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation, invite the public to the second meeting of the Flathead Reservation Water Management Board on Wednesday, February 2, 2022.
Public Notice of Infrastructure Advisory Commission Meeting
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Infrastructure Advisory Commission will meet on Thursday, January 27, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. to review Minimum Allocation Grants and receive updates.
First Meeting of the Flathead Reservation Water Management Board
The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation in partnership with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation, invite the public in the Flathead Reservation area, particularly water users, to the first meeting of the Flathead Reservation Water Management Board on Thursday, January 20, 2022, from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. The Board will meet at the Ronan Community Center with the public invited to attend via Zoom or in person.
Gov. Gianforte Announces Firefighter Pay Increase
Gov. Gianforte Brings Water and Sewer Infrastructure Funds to Dillon
Gov. Gianforte Announces Application Scores for Water and Sewer Investments
Governor’s Drought & Water Supply Committee Meeting – August 11
Governor Gianforte Secures Support from FEMA to Fight Poverty Flats Fire
Governor Gianforte Announces Project Agreements for Active Forest Management Across Montana

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