Bill > SB358

This bill revises Montana's ground water laws to provide more comprehensive management and monitoring of water rights and usage across the state. It introduces several key provisions, including establishing new categories of controlled ground water areas (public health/safety, water quantity, and water quality), with specific criteria for designating and managing these areas. The bill modifies existing exemptions for water right permits, requiring more detailed reporting and metering for wells and water appropriations, particularly in areas with high concentrations of exempt wells. For example, in designated water quantity areas, the bill limits water appropriations and requires semiannual reporting of water usage using totalizing metering devices. The legislation also mandates that the state's natural resources department conduct a statewide analysis to identify potentially noncompliant water uses by December 2026, with a grace period for landowners to demonstrate lawful water use until December 2028. Additionally, the bill provides a framework for monitoring and potentially closing or restricting water appropriations in specific aquifer areas to protect water resources, public health, and existing water rights. The bill aims to balance water resource development with conservation and responsible management, particularly in areas experiencing water scarcity or potential environmental impacts.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC1455