Drought and Water Supply Advisory Committee
Drought management in Montana starts with individual water users and builds from there to the local, regional and state levels. At the state level, the Drought and Water Supply Advisory Committee serves as a clearinghouse for information on water supply conditions and drought mitigation actions.
The Drought Advisory Committee, known as DWSAC, is chaired by Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Director Amanda Kaster. DWSAC consists of representatives from the departments of Natural Resources and Conservation; Agriculture; Commerce; Fish, Wildlife, and Parks; Military Affairs; Environmental Quality; and Livestock. Its responsibilities include developing a state drought management plan, performing water supply assessments, reporting on local impacts, identifying mitigation strategies, and directing financial, technical and human resources to assist in regional and local drought management efforts. (MCA § 2-15-3308).
With increasing demands on already limited water resources, wise and efficient water use is critical. Through proactive, locally-initiated drought planning, federal and state resources can be harnessed to build long-term drought resilience as well as short-term emergency preparedness. DNRC coordinates DWSAC and statewide drought monitoring and assessment. For more information contact Michael Downey, Drought Program Coordinator.
The Drought Advisory Committee, known as DWSAC, is chaired by Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Director Amanda Kaster. DWSAC consists of representatives from the departments of Natural Resources and Conservation; Agriculture; Commerce; Fish, Wildlife, and Parks; Military Affairs; Environmental Quality; and Livestock. Its responsibilities include developing a state drought management plan, performing water supply assessments, reporting on local impacts, identifying mitigation strategies, and directing financial, technical and human resources to assist in regional and local drought management efforts. (MCA § 2-15-3308).
With increasing demands on already limited water resources, wise and efficient water use is critical. Through proactive, locally-initiated drought planning, federal and state resources can be harnessed to build long-term drought resilience as well as short-term emergency preparedness. DNRC coordinates DWSAC and statewide drought monitoring and assessment. For more information contact Michael Downey, Drought Program Coordinator.
DWSAC Meetings and Materials
- October 17 - DNRC HQ - Montana Room, 1539 11th Ave., Helena, 9:30 am - 11:30 am
| Agenda | Recording |- Current Conditions and Season Wrap-up (Troy Blandford - MT State Library)
- USGS Cooperative Streamgage Program (John Kilpatrick - USGS)
- USDA Disaster Declarations (Les Rispens - USDA - FSA)
- Cloud Seeding Feasibility Study in SW, MT (Michael Downey - DNRC)
- August 15 - DNRC HQ - Montana Room, 1539 11th Ave., Helena, 9:30 am - 11:30 am
| Agenda | Recording |
- June 27 - DNRC HQ - Montana Room, 1539 11th Ave., Helena, 9:30 am - 11:30 am
| Agenda | Recording- Current Conditions and County Drought Map (Troy Blandford - MT State Library)
- Streamflow Forecast (Aaron Fiaschetti - USGS)
- Milk River Project Disaster Update (Clayton Jordan - Bureau of Reclamation
- Wildfire Update and Forecast (Cory Calnan - DNRC)
- Water Delivery Innovations and Challenges at Greenfields Irrigation District (Erling Juel)
- March 7 - DNRC HQ - Montana Room, 1539 11th Ave., Helena, 9:30 am - 11:00 am
| Agenda | Recording- Current Conditions and County Drought Map (Troy Blandford)
- Mountain Snowpack Update (Eric Larson)
- Drought Response - Discussion/Next Steps (Michael Downey)
- Stream Gage Oversight and Expansion Report (Jake Mohrman)
- June 12 - DNRC HQ, MT Room, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Agenda | Handout | Recording - August 17 - DNRC HQ, MT Room, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Agenda | Presentations | Recording - October 19 - DNRC HQ, MT Room, 9:30 am - 11:00 pm
Agenda | NWS Great Fall slides on the Montana Long Term Forecast | Michael Downey slides on challenges in drought monitoring | Recording - November 30 - DNRC HQ, MT Room, 9:00 am - 10:30 am
Zoom Link | Agenda
- July 6 - DNRC HQ, MT Room, 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
Agenda | Presentations | Recording - August 3 - DNRC HQ, MT Room, 10 am - 12:30 pm
Agenda | Presentations | Recording - September 7 - DEQ Director's Conference Room (Room 111), 10 am - 12:30 pm
Agenda | Presentations | Recording - October 5 - DNRC HQ, MT Room, 10 am - 12:30 pm
Agenda | Presentations | Recording - December 20 - DNRC HQ, MT Room, 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Agenda | Presentations | Recording
Current Members
- Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (Chair) - Amanda Kaster
- Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (Representative) - Anna Pakenham-Stevenson
- Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks - Stephen Begley
- Department of Environmental Quality - Andy Ulven
- Department of Military Affairs - Emergency Services - Jake Ganieany
- Department of Livestock - Mike Honeycutt
- Department of Agriculture - Ian Foley
- Department of Commerce - Cody Ferguson
Read the 2024 Summer Water Supply Outlook Report
What’s inside:
- Spring precipitation summary
- Snowpack Summary
- Current drought conditions and forecast
- Streamflows
- Soil Moisture
- Long term weather forecast
- Wildfire outlook
- USDA county drought disaster declarations
Plus a summary of key take-aways from the report
To view the previous report, Spring 2024, Click Here
