University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present University Relations 10-3-1978 Water-use system is unfinished business for Montana Legislature University of Montana--Missoula. Office of University Relations Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/newsreleases Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation University of Montana--Missoula. Office of University Relations, "Water-use system is unfinished business for Montana Legislature" (1978). University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present. 29606. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/newsreleases/29606 This News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the University Relations at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. f neujs Information Services • University of Montana • Missoula, Montana 59812 • (406) 243-2522 IMMEDIATELY WATER-USE SYSTEM IS UNFINISHED lenihan/jg BUSINESS FOR MONTANA LEGISLATURE 10/3/78 dailies MISSOULA— A possible water-use preference system remains a major item of unfinished business for upcoming sessions of the Montana Legislature, according to Robert Eagle of the University of Montana political science department. Writing in the autumn issue of the Montana Business Quarterly, published Sept. 29 by UM's Bureau of Business and Economic Research and School of Business Administration, Eagle reviews the history of Montana’s water rights management program up to the present. The article also assesses the Montana Water Moratorium Act, which has temporarily delayed decisions regarding water appropriations of the Yellowstone River, and the Yellowstone River reservations currently before the Board of Natural Resources and Conservation. According to Eagle, implicit in the reservation requests are potential conflicts among different water users." These requests include those for municipal, industrial, agricultural and recreational uses, and presently total more than the average streamflow of the Yellowstone River. Adding to this issue's complexity are Wyoming's claim to the river under the Yellowstone River Compact, and the stream- flow claims of both the Crow and Northern Cheyenne tribes. Eagle emphasizes that "the responsibility for resolving these and other conflicting demands for water use rests with the seven Montanans serving on the Board of Natural Resources and Conservation. In deciding water reservation requests, the Board will have to set priorities among the various possible uses of water in the Yellowstone Basin." -more- WATER-USE SYSTEM IS UNFINISHED BUSINESS FOR MONTANA LEGISLATURE— page 2 The expiration date for the Moratorium Act is Jan. 15, 1979. The upcoming session of the Montana Legislature will determine if it should be extended. Since Montana’s potential water users come under the jurisdiction of several state agencies, "the fragmented responsibility of Montana state government in these interrelated areas makes truly comprehensive and coordinated decision-making difficult.” But, Eagle concludes, "despite these difficulties, some major steps have been taken to move Montana water resources policy away from the old loose, decentralized, incremental system toward a more comprehensive approach." ###.