Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Dnrc Briefing Enforcement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
DNRC briefs WPIC on Montana water basics and enforcement processes
Summary
DNRC officials gave a 'Montana Water Policy 101' briefing and an overview of enforcement procedures, describing statutory enforcement pathways and data limitations; public commenters raised operational and local concerns during Q&A.
At the Water Policy Interim Committee meeting on Oct. 21, DNRC officials provided two briefings intended to ground committee work in technical and legal realities. Dr. Anna Pakenham Stevenson, Water Resources Division Administrator, delivered a Montana water-law overview during a "Water Policy 101" presentation and answered members’ technical questions about allocation and administrative processes.
Later in the afternoon Alexis Sandru (LSD legal staff) presented a legal memo on enforcement, followed by Todd Netto (DNRC bureau chief) who described DNRC enforcement and adjudication processes, statutory pathways, and practical timelines (Exhibits 32 and 41–42). Committee members asked about which processes are agency-led versus court-driven and about available data to support enforcement actions.
Public commenters including Clayton Elliott (Montana Trout Unlimited) and Ronda Wiggers (Montana Water Well Drillers Association) raised operational concerns and local perspectives about enforcement and mitigation. DNRC staff clarified limits on available datasets and explained the agency’s role in remedial steps versus adjudicative or judicial actions.
