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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. Back to the Basics:
Drought Awareness Survey, 2017

7. 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

8. 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

9. Progress Check: Plan Review
Upper Gallatin Drought Management Plan Outline

10. Plan Review: Planning Process/ Task Force Roles

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

12. 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

13. 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

14. Next Steps: Implementation*
Decide on structure/components

15. “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