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Committee hears bipartisan support for protecting voluntary drought conservation (HB 580); technical questions on D1 triggers
Summary
House Bill 580 clarifies that voluntary reductions under an adopted drought plan should not by themselves be treated as abandonment of a water right. Proponents including irrigation and water groups supported the bill; DNRC and other witnesses described drought‑designation metrics and monitoring. Committee discussion focused on drought metrics, D1 thresholds, and implementation details.
Representative Josh Seckinger opened House Bill 580, which would protect water‑rights holders who voluntarily reduce diversions under an adopted drought plan from having that nonuse be treated, by itself, as evidence of abandonment. Seckinger said an amendment will require both a drought designation (D1 or worse) and an adopted drought plan metric to be in place before the protection applies.
Stakeholders from across the water management spectrum supported the bill. Clayton Elliott (Tread Unlimited) and Mike Murphy (Montana Water Resources…
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