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69th Legislature 2025 LC0551.1
1 _____________ BILL NO. _____________
2 INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________
3 BY REQUEST OF THE WATER POLICY INTERIM COMMITTEE
4
5 A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT PROVIDING LEGISLATIVE INTENT REGARDING STREAMFLOW
6 INFORMATION.”
7
8 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
9
10 NEW SECTION. Section 1. Intent. (1) The 2015 state water plan recognizes that improving
11 Montana's water supply and distribution monitoring network improves the ability of water managers and water
12 users to adjust to seasonal supply and demand imbalances as well as plan for longer-term imbalances
13 associated with climate variability.
14 (2) It is the intent of the legislature to support local, state, and federal efforts and programs to
15 collect and distribute timely and accurate information on Montana streamflows.
16 (3) The legislature recognizes that streamflow information is collected by numerous state and
17 federal agencies and tribes to meet their statutory responsibilities.
18 (4) The legislature recognizes that streamflow information collected by state, tribal, and federal
19 entities is critical to the administration of the Montana Water Use Act, distribution of water by decree, water
20 supply planning for municipalities, and implementation of plans and agreements that address irrigation and
21 agricultural uses and locally developed drought, fish habitat, or water supply objectives.
22 (5) The legislature recognizes it is in the public interest to support and encourage coordination in
23 the collection and distribution of streamflow information.
24
25 NEW SECTION. Section 2. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an
26 integral part of Title 85, chapter 2, part 1, and the provisions of Title 85, chapter 2, part 1, apply to [section 1].
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