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September 27, 2007
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Welcome
to the newsletter about all things water in Montana!
MONTANA
WATER NEWS will come your way via email every month
with fresh news about meetings and water topics that we hope
is of interest to you. If you do not want to receive this
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| Montana Water Conference Update |
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The early registration deadline for the Montana Water Conference in Lewistown is October 1!
For conference information and registration go to http://awra.org/state/montana/events/conference.htm. If you pay for the conference electronically, please bring your printed receipt with you. Montana AWRA will offer a full refund – minus the AWRA membership fee – to anyone who has paid for the Montana Section AWRA Conference but cancels by October 3. After that date, no refunds will be given.
As of September 26 the Yogo Inn is all booked for the MT AWRA Conference. Please visit the conference website for other hotel options and suggestions.
The conference itself takes place October 11-12. At this time, registration for the pre-conference irrigation workshop on October 10 is full. We are compiling a waiting list, so if someone cancels we will let people know on a first come, first served basis. Consequently, if you registered for the workshop and cannot attend, please contact Nancy at nancy.hystad@montana.edu or 994-6690 so we can make room for someone else. Participants should dress for the field trip and bring appropriate field gear, such as rubber boots or waders, as there will be time in the water for stream measurements.
Remember to send in your best shots for the annual Montana AWRA photo contest! Among the acceptable water themes are scenic, hydrologic extremes, people working in water, and humorous. Photos will be displayed during the evening banquet. Email your photos to Mike Roberts at miroberts@mt.gov no later than October 3, 2007! |
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| Water Center Solicits Research Pre-Proposals and Student Fellowship Applications |
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The Montana Water Center announces its 2007 Request for Pre-Proposals (RFPP) for USGS seed grant funds for water-related research in the state of Montana. A full announcement of the RFPP can be found at http://watercenter.montana.edu/funding/usgs_grants.htm
During this cycle the program will place a premium on applied research that can inform water-management decisions in the near term. Special consideration will be given to proposals to investigate
- Surface water – ground water – storm water interactions
- Impacts of land development on water quality and quantity, especially studies that will help implement HB 831 (2007)
- Development and energy production impacts on aquatic habitats
- Tracking nitrogen, agricultural chemicals, pharmaceuticals and personal-care products in water.
The submission deadline for pre-proposals is October 17, 2007. The grants will cover research conducted between March 2008 and February 2010. Any faculty member at a Montana institution of higher learning is eligible for these grants.
The Water Center also announces its Student Fellowship Request for Applications. The fellowships extend from March 2008 to February 2009. Deadline for submittal is November 19, 2007. Further information on this program and the application process can be found at http://watercenter.montana.edu/funding/usgs_grants.htm. |
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| EPA Announces 2008 STAR Fellowships - Deadline Oct 23 |
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The EPA is again offering Science to Achieve Results (STAR) graduate fellowships for master's and doctoral level students in environmentally related fields of study. The EPA plans to award approximately sixty-five new fellowships. The application deadline is October 23, 2007.
Master's level students may receive support for up to two years. Doctoral students may be supported for a maximum of three years, with funding available, under certain circumstances, over a period of four years. The fellowship program provides up to $37,000 per year of support. For more information go to http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2008/2008_star_fellow.html. |
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| Watershed Planning Workshop |
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The Montana Watershed Coordination Council’s Education and Outreach Committee is excited to offer a two day watershed planning workshop in Bozeman October 29-30. Facilitated by EPA staff, the workshop will focus on EPA’s online Watershed Planning Tools and Watershed Plan Builder.
Space is limited so registration by October 15 is strongly encouraged. Contact Frances Graham at fgraham@outdoorscience.org to take advantage of this great opportunity for watershed planning! |
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| Next WPIC Meeting Set for Choteau |
The next Water Policy Interim Committee (WPIC) meeting will take place in Choteau October 24-25; the date is not final yet but the agenda is being developed and will be available at http://leg.mt.gov/css/lepo/2007_2008/water_policy/
meetings/meetings.asp#meeting4. In addition, notes from the September 12-13 meeting held in Thompson Falls will be available soon at this site. |
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| The Other Water Committee |
While the Water Policy Interim Committee created by the 2007 Legislature has created considerable stir, another legislative committee continues its work on Montana water issues, albeit much more quietly. The Environmental Quality Council is a standing committee composed of six senators, six representatives and four members of the public. It has a very broad charter regarding water that requires it, among other duties, to “…oversee policies and activities of executive branch agencies and other state institutions that affect Montana’s water resources.” The Council meets quarterly and hears reports and concerns from state agencies, university researchers, attorneys and members of the public. At its September 13-14 meeting in Helena, the Council heard and discussed:
- a vigorous panel conversation about the potential effects of climate change in Montana
- a summary of current water research within the state
- an update on a lawsuit regarding hydropower reservoirs in Montana
- a breakdown of claims examined to date, and the general progress of the water adjudication process.
Agendas and background documents can be downloaded from the EQC website at http://leg.mt.gov/css/lepo/2007_2008/default.asp. During meetings the site has a streaming audio feature that allows people to listen to testimony and Council discussion as it happens.
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| Closed Basin Meeting in Helena |
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On September 26 at 9:00 a.m., the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation will hold a public hearing in the Department of Public Health and Human Services Auditorium, 111 North Sanders, Helena, Montana, to consider the amendment of Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM) 36.12.101, 120. These generally relate to Basin Closure Area Exceptions, Compliance and Definitions that impact water rights, water allocation and development. As exceptions and compliance within closed basins are an important issue facing many Montanans, this hearing presents a good opportunity for people to express their concerns and learn more about proposed changes to these regulations. |
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| 2008 Montana Water Calendar |
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Here’s another opportunity to see your photos in print. The theme for the 2008 Montana Water calendar is water restoration projects. Although the calendar will feature Montana projects, photos from throughout the Pacific Northwest will be considered. The calendar calls for high-resolution photos in .jpg, .tif, or .psd formats. They should be a minimum of 7” x 5”, 2100 pixels wide by 1500 pixels high at 300 ppi. Please send photos along with captions to rholscher@montana.edu. Photo submission deadline is October 22! |
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| Upcoming EPA Watershed Academy Webcasts |
EPA's Watershed Academy will host three upcoming webcasts. On September 26, Assessing Wetlands Loss/Conditions and Restoration will be offered. This webcast will concentrate on coastal wetlands, but general wetlands information will also be presented.
On October 3, Water, Energy, and Climate Change will be presented. This webcast will explore the dimensions of this global problem and discuss what water quality managers at the federal, state, and local level, along with the watershed protection community, can do to rise to the climate challenge.
On October 17, Watershed Financing—Moving Beyond Grants will direct participants to create a watershed-financing plan that identifies and leverages sustainable funding sources. Essential elements of developing a watershed finance strategy and key steps in the financing planning process will be discussed. Concepts will be demonstrated through presentation of successful watershed finance case study examples.
Registration for this webcast will open October 5. To register for any of these webcasts, visit http://www.cluin.org/studio/seminar.cfm. |
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| New MIT Press Release |
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Rivertown, Rethinking Urban Rivers was just released this month by MIT Press and examines urban river restoration efforts across the United States. Case studies evaluate ecological issues and consider urban river restoration projects in relation to other urban economic and environmental initiatives in the region. Rivertown is a valuable resource for urban planners and citizen groups as well as for scholars.
For more information visit MIT Press at http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/item/
default.asp?ttype=2&tid=11244. Available at most major booksellers. |
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| Do
you have more news?
The Montana Water Center News welcomes your stories about water and water issues that face Montana. If you have a short story you would like to see published in this newsletter, please send your information to water@montana.edu. |
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Take
special note of upcoming national and local water meetings
on the Events
Calendar at MONTANA WATER. |
 Our River - Rights and Responsibilities, Dillon, October 3 - 4, 2007 [INFO] |
Wild Trout 9, West Yellowstone, October 9 - 12, 2007 [INFO] |
Western Governor's Association Water Policies and Planning,
Salt Lake City, UT, October 10 - 12, 2007 [INFO] |
Montana AWRA 24th Annual Conference, Lewistown, October 11 - 12, 2007 [INFO] |
80th Annual Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition & Conference,
San Diego, CA, October 13 - 17, 2007 [INFO] |
Large Lakes Conference: Keeping Our Lakes Clean,
Polson, October 17 - 18, 2007 [INFO] |
2007 Eastern SD Water and 52nd Annual Midwest Ground Water Joint Conference, Sioux Falls, SD, October 29 - 31, 2007 [INFO] |
Water in the Pacific Northwest: Moving Science into Policy and Action, Stevenson, WA, November 7 - 9, 2007 [INFO] |
AWRA 2007 Annual Conference, Albuquerque, NM, November 12 - 15, 2007 [INFO] |
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