Big Sky Area Sustainable Watershed Stewardship Plan

Big Sky Area Sustainable Watershed Stewardship Plan January 26, 2018 BIG SKY AREA SUSTAINABLE WATERSHED STEWARDSHIP PLAN Prepared by Jeff Dunn, Watershed Hydrologist Troy Benn, Water Resources Engineer Zac Collins, GIS Analyst And Karen Filipovich, Facilitator and Analyst Gary Ingman, Water Resources Scientist, Headwaters Hydrology Prepared for And Big Sky Sustainable Water Solutions Forum Big Sky, MT January 26, 2018 PO Box 160513 Big Sky, MT 59716 Over 2016-2017, the Gallatin River Task Force hosted a collaborative stakeholder driven effort to develop the Big Sky Area Sustainable Watershed Stewardship Plan. The Gallatin River Task Force (Task Force) is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Big Sky, with a focus on protecting and improving the health of the Upper Gallatin River and its tributaries. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many entities and individuals involved in this effort. The main funders of plan development included the Big Sky Resort Area Tax District, and Gallatin and Madison Counties. Initial seed funding was provided by the Big Sky Water and Sewer District, Lone Mountain Land Company, and the Yellowstone Club. Thank you to the stakeholders and their representative organizations that contributed time, energy, and brain power to become educated in water issues in the Big Sky Community, roll up their sleeves and spend countless hours developing creative solutions to complex water issues. Thank you to the many member of the public who provided input by attending stakeholder and public meetings or taking our survey. Implementation of this plan will ensure that the ecological health of our treasured river systems are enhanced and protected as our community and region continue to grow in residential and visitor population. Cold, clean and abundant water will be critical to sustain the many attractions to the Big Sky area that include our free-flowing rivers, abundant wildlife, world class recreational opportunities, and scenic landscapes This is an ambitious plan and success of this plan will depend entirely on strong community engagement, partnerships, and support in implementation. Now is the time to get involved! Thank you for taking the first step by reviewing this plan. Kristin Gardner Executive Director Gallatin River Task Force Big Sky Area Sustainable Watershed Stewardship Plan TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................................... i List of Tables ................................................................................................................................................ iii List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................... iii Appendices ................................................................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................................... v Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................... vi 1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Stakeholder-Driven Process ................................................................................................................ 2 1.2 Community Engagement and Input .................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Goals and Objectives for Three Water Resources Focus Areas .......................................................... 5 1.4 Challenges and Opportunities ............................................................................................................. 7 1.5 Expected Outcomes of Implementation ............................................................................................. 8 1.6 Project Area Boundaries ................................................................................................................... 10 1.6.1 River Systems and Subwatersheds ............................................................................................ 10 1.6.2 Ownership Boundaries and Demographics................................................................................ 13 2.0 Alternatives Analysis for Areas of Consensus ....................................................................................... 15 2.1 Ecological Health of River Systems ................................................................................................... 15 2.1.1 Watershed Status and Trends Monitoring Program .................................................................. 19 2.1.2 Watershed Status and Trends Dashboard ................................................................................. 21 2.1.3 Watershed Restoration and Conservation ................................................................................ 25 2.2 Water Supply and Availability ........................................................................................................... 27 2.2.1 Groundwater Monitoring and Modeling ................................................................................... 30 2.2.2 Strategies for Water Conservation ............................................................................................ 32 2.2.3 Stormwater Management.......................................................................................................... 34 2.2.4 Mitigation of Water Rights ......................................................................................................... 36 2.3 Wastewater Treatment and Reuse ................................................................................................... 38 2.3.1 Treat Wastewater to the Limits of Technology ......................................................................... 40 2.3.2 Address Septic Systems and Small Community Systems ........................................................... 43 2.3.3 Expand Water Reuse for Irrigation ............................................................................................ 45 2.3.4 Develop Water Reuse for Snowmaking ..................................................................................... 48 2.3.5 Investigate Shallow Groundwater Recharge .............................................................................. 50 2.4 Alternatives Analysis for Areas that Did Not Receive Consensus ..................................................... 51 3.0 Implementation Plan ............................................................................................................................ 52 1/26/18 i Big Sky Area Sustainable Watershed Stewardship Plan 3.1 Capacity for Implementation ............................................................................................................ 52 3.1.1 Partnerships for Watershed Stewardship Plan Implementation ............................................... 52 3.1.2 Partnership Structures for Continuing Collaboration ................................................................ 54 3.1.3 Funding for Watershed Stewardship Plan Implementation ...................................................... 56 3.2 Action Items for Ecological Health of River Systems ........................................................................ 58 3.2.1 Action Items – Watershed Status and Trends Monitoring Program.......................................... 58 3.2.2 Action Items – Watershed Status and Trends Dashboard ......................................................... 61 3.2.3 Action Items – Watershed Restoration and Conservation ........................................................ 63 3.3 Action Items for Water Supply and Availability ................................................................................ 65 3.3.1 Action Items – Groundwater Monitoring and Modeling ........................................................... 65 3.3.2 Action Items – Strategies for Water Conservation .................................................................... 69 3.3.3 Action Items – Stormwater Management ................................................................................. 73 3.3.4 Action Items – Mitigation of Water Rights ................................................................................ 75 3.4 Action Items for Wastewater Treatment and Reuse ........................................................................ 77 3.4.1 Action Items – High Treatment Levels for Treated Wastewater ............................................... 77 3.4.2 Action Items – Address Septic Systems and Small Community Systems ................................... 79 3.4.3. Action Items – Expand Water Reuse for Irrigation ................................................................... 83 3.4.4 Action Items – Develop Water Reuse for Snowmaking ............................................................. 86 3.4.5 Action Items – Investigate Shallow Groundwater Recharge ..................................................... 90 3.5 Action Items for Areas of Sustaining Funding and Community Engagement ................................... 92 3.5.1 Action Items – Sustaining Funding ............................................................................................

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