Ken Gragg

This report, submitted by the Office of the Governor to the Montana Legislature, outlines the state's strategic approach to water storage. It prioritizes new rehabilitation and construction projects for the 2025-2026 biennium, details ongoing and recently completed initiatives, and reviews the state's water storage policy and statutory criteria. The plan emphasizes enhancing state-owned water projects, managing hydropower resources, and securing various funding streams to ensure safe, efficient, and sustainable water management across Montana.

The Montana Drought Management Plan is a comprehensive, stakeholder-driven document designed to enhance the state's drought resilience. The plan establishes a framework for drought preparedness by detailing monitoring and assessment processes, evaluating drought vulnerability and adaptation strategies, outlining operational and administrative structures for management, defining response actions, and presenting 36 stakeholder-generated recommendations for building future resilience. Its overarching goal is to prepare Montana for all phases of the drought cycle, ensuring a more drought-resilient future.

This IT Strategic Plan outlines how the Office of Information Technology (OIT) intends to leverage technology to empower the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) to fulfill its mission. The plan is structured around four main objectives: delivering modern, human-centered digital experiences; ensuring IT drives agency success; improving efficiency, accountability, and service delivery; and maintaining a people-first culture. The plan aims to achieve these by aligning IT resources with business outcomes, fostering process improvement, risk mitigation, and enhancing service delivery, all while maintaining a strong focus on people and relationships.

The agenda for the meeting included multiple items for consideration and approval. Business transacted included the approval of the July agenda and the approval of the June minutes (which should be excluded from the summary per instructions). Key items approved included the sale of land to the Montana Historical Society, a timber sale concerning Beaver Creek, setting the minimum bid for Cabin and Homesite sales (Items 0725-3A & B), and approving easements. A significant portion of the meeting involved Item 0725-5, Approval to File Objections on Water Rights, which included an executive session to discuss litigation strategy, resulting in a motion to provide 90 days written mailed notice. Informational items covered a response to a public inquiry and a legislative update.

The meeting served as a roundtable for funding agencies and engineering firms to discuss assistance for communities, including program updates on SRF, Rural Development, ARPA, and Renewable Resource loan programs. A guest speaker presented updates on the 2025 ASCE National Infrastructure Report Card, noting an overall grade improvement to a 'C' nationally, and detailed Montana-specific trends, emphasizing the need to sustain investment, prioritize resilience, and advance policy. Program updates included discussion on House Bill 6 funding for Renewable Resource Grants and anticipated timelines for contract agreements. Updates were provided on USDA Rural Development staffing fluctuations and the need for a shared environmental assessment process. DEQ discussed staff relocation due to building remodeling and the need for project surveys for the upcoming Intended Use Plan for CAP 2025 grants. ARPA progress reports were noted as due on April 15, 2025, with a firm spending deadline of December 2025. Regional water updates covered progress on projects for Fort Peck/Dry Prairie, Rocky Boys/North Central Montana, North Central Montana RWA, and Central Montana RWA, as well as Dry Redwater RWA's waiting period for a revised System Feasibility Report. Western Montana Conservation Commission discussed rolling out EPA Competitive Grant funds for stormwater and wastewater projects and announced an upcoming on-site wastewater treatment committee meeting and tour. Discussions also covered updates to the Uniform Application, the ARPA funding booklet, and concerns regarding potential tariff impacts on project pricing.