Upper Gallatin Drought/Water Supply Focus Group Plan Review and Strategizing for Broader Engagement February 21, 2018 9-10:30 AM Big Sky Water and Sewer District Conference Room 561 Little Coyote Rd.

Agenda: Meeting Goals Participants will review Upper Gallatin Drought Management Plan outline Determine areas of emphasis, improvement, and adjustment Reference other drought management plans Participants will strategize broader community engagement needs to build support for plan implementation Introductions Name, Water Use Perspective, One strategy to build drought resilience that you want to see reflected in the plan Back to Basics: Planning for Drought Resilience Plan Review: Process, Vulnerability Assessment, Mitigation/Response Strategies Next Steps/Timeline

Montana State Water Plan, 2015 Back to the Basics: “Extended periods of drought have the potential to impact every sector of Montana’s economy.” Montana State Water Plan, 2015

Big Sky Area Sustainable Watershed Stewardship Plan, 2018 Back to the Basics: “Growth, climatic variability, drought, and cumulative impacts from land use and recreation also challenge the future ability to preserve high quality river, riparian, and wetland systems.” Big Sky Area Sustainable Watershed Stewardship Plan, 2018

Back to the Basics: “What are the most important issues regarding water supply in Big Sky?” Water Conservation Awareness Survey, 2016

Back to the Basics: Drought Awareness Survey, 2017

Who needs to be involved? Group Questions: What will “drought resilience” look like for our community and watershed? How do we get there? Who needs to be involved? Notes cards or share: 3 people

Progress Check: Engagement/ Outreach Community Engagement Date Reach Water Conservation Awareness Survey Spring 2016 120 Local Responses Drought Awareness Survey Spring 2017 75 Local Responses Classroom Lessons: Ophir Elementary Discovery School Camp Moonlight Spring 2016 & 2017 Summer 2016 & 2017 20 Students 10 Students ~75 Campers Upper Gallatin Drought Focus Group: Information Sharing Meeting Vulnerability Assessment Meetings (2) Strategies for Mitigation and Response Meeting Spring 2017, Spring 2017 Fall 2017 25 Attendees 12 Attendees 10 Attendees * EBS Ads, Facebook Promotions, Flyers Upper Gallatin Drought Management Plan Outline: Draft 1 Draft 2 Draft 3 Winter 2017/18 Winter 2018 Circulated to 120 Drought Planning contacts, about ½ to 1 dozen in depth responses for each draft

Progress Check: Plan Review Upper Gallatin Drought Management Plan Outline

Plan Review: Planning Process/ Task Force Roles

Plan Review: Drought History and Impacts Big Sky Area: Wildfire Fishing bans and restrictions Evacuation alerts Wells running dry Informal town meetings

Plan Review: Vulnerability Assessment “Drought can impact not only obvious recreational opportunities such as fishing, rafting, and golf, but also less obvious ones such as mountain biking, hiking, and horseback riding. It can be a huge impact on overall forest health. I am very concerned.” Drought Awareness Survey, 2017 Climate change trends and projections +Growth: Evaluated snowpack, surface flows, groundwater storage, wildfire, local economy based on economic, environmental, social high-med-low risk

Plan Review: Mitigation and Response Strategies* Monitoring and Early Warning System: Drought Outlook Drought Outlook:Decide on layout/components/timeline for drought outlook WC: voluntary incentive based rebate programs, partnership with WSD- ordinance

Next Steps: Implementation* Decide on structure/components

“In the end, we will conserve only what we love “In the end, we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught.” Baba Dioum