1. Upper Gallatin Drought/Water Supply Focus Group
Meeting Topic: Drought Mitigation and Response
September 21, 2017
Big Sky Chapel Basement

2. Meeting Agenda
Objective: Participants will brainstorm long and short-term strategies our community can implement to build resilience, based on prioritizations outlined in May Focus Group meeting
Introductions
Name, affiliated water sector, initial long or short-term strategy
Presentation
Highlighted prioritized vulnerabilities
Spotlight: local economy and climate change
Economic, social, and environmental considerations
Spotlight: wildfires
Mitigation and response strategies
Small group exercise: brainstorming strategies
Closing
November plan: draft outline of Upper Gallatin Drought Management Plan

3. Back to the Basics
Why are we concerned about future droughts and water supplies in the Upper Gallatin watershed?

4. Constrained supplies may become more limited
In short..
Future droughts may be exacerbated and impacts may penetrate social/environmental/economic sectors +
Constrained supplies may become more limited

5. Focus Group Progress Check
Upper Gallatin Drought/Water Supply Focus Group
Vulnerability Assessment: April & May FG meetings
GRTF watershed monitoring, MBMG groundwater work, NRCs Snotel, GLWQD, MSU
Our Focus Group,
Big Sky Sustainable Water Solutions Forum
Big Sky Water Conservation voluntary incentive programs

6. Spotlight: Local economy and climate change
Context: Climate change projections shift water availability and timing, drivers of our winter and summer tourism & recreation-based economy
2017 Big Sky Chamber Community Profile
90 restaurants/shops/service related businesses in Big Sky support tourism and recreation
# of visitors increasing each year, last year record high summer of visitors to welcome center
Total MT visitors: 23.4 million
Headwaters Economics: Gallatin County Study
54,785 service related jobs,higher than govt or non service related
Contributed to $2,136.2 million over last 15 years
Lower quality winter season threatens businesses
Entire economic standing of community = all in some way connected to water (snowpack)

7. Highlighted Prioritized Vulnerabilities
Snowpack Levels
Context: Climate change projections: reduced snowpack levels, warmer temperatures, more precipitation as rain than snow, earlier runoff +
Snowpack-driven, tourism and recreation based economy
Priority Levels
High economic: shifted timing can shorten ski season, loss in tourist dollars, all service-oriented businesses may be impacted - largest employer is Big Sky Resort
High environmental: reduced levels and shifts in timing can impact animal habitat (ex. vegetative cover), increase sedimentation, cause flashier hydrology
High social: winter sports is central to the identity of our community and tourists alike

8. Highlighted Prioritized Vulnerabilities
Surface Flows
Context: Climate change projections: warmer instream temperatures, earlier runoff, lower late season flows +
River recreational opportunities is a major contributor to our economy - reliant also on snowpack
Priority Levels:
High environmental: degraded aquatic habitat impacts economic and social quality of living
High economic: river-based businesses
High social: river recreation, downstream users depending on instream flows

9. Highlighted Prioritized Vulnerabilities
Groundwater Storage
Context: Snowpack is a major source for groundwater recharge - Meadow Village aquifer +
Increasing growth and development put further stress on our groundwater supplies to service municipal and domestic needs
Priority Levels:
High environmental/social: reduced flows fed from recharge will impact capacity to service domestic and municipal needs
M. Richter
M. Richter

10. Highlighted Prioritized Vulnerabilities
Wildfires
Context: Climate change projections of more intense, longer duration fires that burn larger areas +
Rapid development, more homes being built within the Wildland-Urban Interface(WUI)
Priority Levels
High environmental: loss of vegetation from fires exacerbate snowmelt, more sediment and flashier hydrograph, potential invasive species spread
High social: more development in closer proximity to fires, public health
High economic: park closures/restrictions and loss of tourist dollars property damage

11. Spotlight: 2017 Wildfires
Montana 2017 fire season exacerbated by drought conditions
June-August hottest months on record for Montana
July 29: 11.87% land area listed in exceptional drought, largest % in the nation
Fire season began 1 month earlier than historical season
21 active fires burned over 438,000 acres since July
Rice Ridge Fire designated #1 national wildfire priority
Impacts:
Evacuations: Powell County, Missoula County, Lake McDonald to Logan Pass
Reduced air quality, air filters in classrooms
Lolo Peak fire destroys 2 homes in Florence area
Response:
Federal disaster assistance requested by Gov Bullock, FEMA allocated funds for 5 major fires
$280 million spent on firefighting by August
Strawberry Creek fire 9/11/17

12. Mitigation Strategies vs Response Actions
Long-term strategies
Proactive
Implemented before a drought occurs to reduce impacts
Examples: snowpack monitoring, water efficiency incentives to upgrade fixtures
Short-term strategies
Reactive
Implemented at the onset of drought, usually in response to different triggers
Examples: Hoot Owl restrictions after a instream temperature is reached

13. Augment supplies and control/restrict demand
Big Picture
Augment supplies and control/restrict demand
Instream flows
Monitoring indicators
Groundwater supply and protection
Education
Applications of treated wastewater
Water conservation

14. Mitigation/Response Strategy Examples
CO Municipal Drought Management Guide:
Additional Supply-Side Strategies
Water rights
Converting commercial to municipal right
Transfer from irrigation to mitigation
Rainwater harvesting rights for summer use
Convert to snowmaking
Mitigation banking/ credit system
Additional Demand-Side Strategies
Drought reports available to public
ID high water users
Restrict new taps
Modified rates and tiered rates
Literature to residential/commercial users
Graywater systems
Limit linen/towel washing in hotels

15. Small Group Exercise
Please work with the person next to you to brainstorm mitigation and response actions that can promote resilience against our community and watershed’s vulnerabilities to future droughts and water supply concerns.

16. Resources MT Climate Assessment and Bozeman Daily Chronicle Article
CO Municipal Drought Management Planning Guide
Upper Gallatin Drought/ Water Supply Focus Group
Big Sky Water Conservation
Big Sky Sustainable Solutions Forum