Fisheries Division drought contingency plan

30 Pages·1992·0.41 MB·English

by  Montana. Dept. of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks

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1992 Uivision drought
contingency plan
FISHERIES DIVISION
DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN
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Prepared by
Montana Department of
Fish, Wildlife and Parks
1420 E. 6th Avenue
Helena, MT 59620
Revised June 1992
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
INTRODUCTION
1
OBJECTIVE I. Protect our Existing Instream Rights 1
OBJECTIVE II. Supplement Streamflows through Purchase ofStored Water,
Leasing ofConsumptive Rights, and other Innovative Methods 5
OBJECTIVE III. Obtain Reservoir Operations v^hich Minimize Impacts to
Fish, Wildlife and Recreation 6
OBJECTIVE IV Monitor Streamflow, Fish Populations and Fishing Use and
.
Harvest to Ensure Carry-over ofWild Stream Fisheries while Maintain-
ing Reasonable Opportimity for Harvest in all Streams and Lakes.
Implement Emergency Regvdations on Streams and Lakes as needed 8
OBJECTIVE V Develop and Implement an Information and Education Program
.
which Informs the Public and Maintains Consistencyin the Department's
Programs 9
OBJECTIVE VI. Coordinate an Updated Department Drought Simimary for
Presentation to the Governor's Drought Advisory Committee and/or
DisasterAdvisory Council and the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission
as Required 9
OBJECTIVE VII. Develop and Implement Water Conservation Practices within the
Agency 10

.
FISHERIES DIVISION
DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN
INTRODUCTION
ThisdocumentpresentsthedroughtcontingencyplanoftheFisheriesDivisionofMontana
Department ofFish, Wildlife and Parks (DI^WP). The plan describes actions the Division
willtaketoprotectfisheryresources,includingprotectinginstreamflowwaterreservations
and rights, securingadditional waterforinstreamflowthrough purchase ofstoredwater,
waterleasing, cooperationwith reservoiroperators, and implementing emergencyfishing
regulations where appropriate. In addition, the Fisheries Division will monitor fish
populations and docviment drought impacts, develop and implement an information and
education program which informs the public ofdrought conditions and effects on fishery
resources and activelyparticipate on the Governor's Drought Advisory Committee.
Theeffectsofdroughtonfisheryresourcesisnotconfinedtothesingleyearofthedrought
conditions. Verylowflowscangreatlyreducerecruitmentofayearclassoffishbylimiting
spawningandrearinghabitat. Thistypeofimpactmaynotbefeltbyrecreationistsfortwo
to four years following the drought when the year class fails to appear in the fishery in
significant nimibers.
OBJECTIVE L Protect our Existing Instream Rights
A. Summary ofExisting Rights to be Protected
TheinstreamrightstobeprotectedincludeMurphyRightson12streams,reservations
on 66Yellowstone basin streams; AshleyCreek; YoungCreek andTobacco River. In
thefuture,theywillalsoincludeanyotherinstreamreservationsgrantedbytheBoard
ofNatural Resources and Conservation.
B. Protection Procedures
The schedule ofdecision points for protecting instream rights is shown in Figure 1
Procedures Narrative
Water Supplv Forecasts (SCS)'
Montana's yearly water supply outlook is developed by the SCS and its cooperators.
Current snowpack and forecasts of runoff are issued each month firom January through
^Items in parenthesis identify responsible parties
- 1 -

)
Figure 1
IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE
FOR PROTECTING INSTREAM RIGHTS
AND RESERVATIONS
SCS Water Supply Forecast (Jan-May)
I
DROUGHT PREDICTED
1
"^ Obtain current list of
junior water users (May 31
1
Send Initial notification letter
to junior water users (June 15)
I
Monitor streamflows/compare
with established Instream rights
I
DROUGHT OCCURS
(Flows fall below instream rights)
I
Send 2nd notification letter to
junior water users -- request compliance
I
Continue monitoring flows
and determine compliance
1
Enforcement Action
(See text, p. 3)
1(a)

May. From these forecasts, it is possible to estimate streamflow conditions during the
summer, enabling us to determine ifwe will need to notifyjvmiorwater users about our
instream rights and the possibility they mayhave to cease their diversions upon request.
List ofJuniorWater Users (Helena)
A current list ofalljimior water users is obtained from the Helena water rights office of
the Department ofNatviral Resources and Conservation (DNRC) by May 31.
Initial Notification Letter (Helena)
Ifthewatersupplyoutlookispoor, aninitialletterissenttoeachwateruserwhosewater
use priority date isjunior to the priority date established for each ofour instream water
rights.
The initial letter simply informs those junior users of DFWP's prior right(s) in their
source(s) of supply and indicates that we may, if unsuitable flow conditions actually
materialize, notifythemata latertime toceasetheirdiversion(s). This letteris signedby
the DepartmentDirectorandissentbyregularmail. ThelettershouldbesentbyJune 15
to allowjuniorusers to develop alternatives to the use oftheirjimiorwater.
Streamflow Monitoring (Helena/USGS)
Streamflows aremonitored atestablished USGSgagingstations. Flowlevels are obtained
from the USGS's Helena office on a regular schedule, usually twice a week. These flows
are compared to the respective instream water rights and the flow trend is monitored.
Monitoring of flows depends on having streamflow data available upon request at
appropriatestreamsites. Thesedata canbe obtainedfiromnon-recordinggagesreaddaily
by an observer or from continuous recording gages which automatically transfer data to
a receiving station. Currently, all streams where we have instream rights do not have
gagesinstalledonthem. Wheregagesare notavailableonaparticularstream,weusethe
closest downstream gage which will record that stream's flow.
Second Notification Letter (Helena)
When the actual flow at anygaging station drops to the level ofthe established instream
flow for that time of year, a second notification letter is sent to those junior users
monitored bythat gage. Theletterrequeststhe users to cease theirdiversion(s), presents
gaginginformationandlistsphonenumberstheycancalltokeeptrackoftheflowssothey
will know ifthey can again begin diverting water. This letter is ovir"call" for the water.
Thisletteris alsosigned bythe Department Directorandis currentiysentbyregularmail.
There is no established date onwhich to send this second letter; timing depends on flow
conditions in a given year.
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