Montana State Legislature

The Water Policy Interim Committee (WPIC) is a partisan committee of the Legislature that analyzes and advises the Legislature on the adequacy of the state's water policy and on important state, regional, national, and international developments that affect Montana's water resources. WPIC has a total of 10 legislative members.

The committee's statutory duties are in 85-2-105, MCA.

Committee Members

REPRESENTATIVE
KENNETH WALSH (R) --Chair

SENATOR
WILLIS CURDY (D) --Member

SENATOR
BRUCE GILLESPIE (R) --Member

SENATOR
WALT SALES (R) --Member

SENATOR
JEFF W. WELBORN (R) --Member

REPRESENTATIVE
BOB CARTER (D) --Member

REPRESENTATIVE
MARTY MALONE (R) --Member

REPRESENTATIVE
RUSS MINER (R) --Member

REPRESENTATIVE
BOB PHALEN (R) --Member

REPRESENTATIVE
JILL COHENOUR (D) --Vice Chair

The audio minutes are the official minutes of the committee. Both the video and audio recordings of each meeting are available shortly after the meeting ends. A minutes log will be published later, noting the time at which various items were discussed.

March 19, 2024
Minutes- Audio/Video

March 18, 2024
Minutes - Audio/Video

March 4, 2024 Subcommittee
Minutes- Audio/Video

January 17, 2024
Minutes - Audio/Video

January 16, 2024
Agenda- Minutes- Audio/Video

November 28, 2023 Sub Committee
Agenda - Minutes - Audio/Video

October 11-12, 2023 
Agenda -  Minutes - 11th Audio/ Video 12th Audio/Video

July 24, 2023
Agenda -  Minutes - Audio / Video

Committee studies

HB 520: Interim study of private ponds

Fish Wildlife and Parks pond application (October, 2023)
FWP ponds permitting costs (January, 2024)
DNRC ponds prepsentation

Study of water storage
DNRC state water plan (October, 2023)
​​​​​​​Water Storage in Montana

Committee issues

Comprehensive water review

• DNRC website

Drought

• Presentation on draft Montana drought management plan (2023, DNRC)
• Montana drought outlook report -- Summer 2023 (DNRC)

Flathead Lake levels

• Flathead Lake water level update 7.24.23 (Energy Keepers)

Nutrients

• Narrative nutrient standards proposal  (July 2023, DEQ)
• Draft nutrient rule (Sept. 2023, DEQ)

Water research

Ground water assessment program (July 2023, MBMG)

Ground water investigation program (July 2023, MBMG)

Aquifer Storage (January 2024, MBMG)

For issues where the primary concern is the quality or quantity of water, the Water Policy Interim Committee monitors functions for the following executive branch agencies and the entities attached to the agencies for administrative purposes:

Administrative Rule Review

• Overview
• July 2023
  • MAPA Requirements and Timelines

Ballot Initiative Review

Required Reports

Other resources and publications

• Water Rights in Montana (WPIC, 2018)
• A Guide to Montana Water Quality Regulation (WPIC, 2021)
• State Water Plan (DNRC, 2015)
• SB 330: Water Reservation 10-year Review (DNRC, 2016)

The WPIC will determine over the course of the 2023-24 interim whether to pursue any legislative proposals. The committee will also review any relevant statewide initiatives.

• 2023 Natural Resource Legislation Summary

Committee rules, procedures, guidelines (July, 2023)

2023-24 WPIC work plan (updated April 2024)

Public Comment Guidelines

Legislator Reimbursement Form