Water Quality Planning Bureau

MISSION: to assure that water quality  is maintained and improved so that state waters can support all their beneficial uses.

GOAL: to work with the public, agencies, and other interests to evaluate, maintain, and improve the quality of state waters.

The Water Quality Planning Bureau plays a central role in protection, maintenance and restoration of Montana’s water quality. The bureau establishes and maintains water quality standards, monitors and reports on water quality, manages the data and develops watershed restoration plans.

The Data Management Section directs the following four programmatic areas: data and information management, water quality modeling, quality systems, and water quality reporting. The section uses various data management tools including EPA’s STORET and ADB databases to store and manage water quality related metric data collected by bureau staff or partners and water quality use support assessments performed by bureau staff. Section staff oversees the use and application of water quality and watershed models used for developing NPS management plans and TMDLs and also provides quality systems management to all bureau activities. Finally, staff in the section coordinates the development of the biennial Integrated Water Quality Reports submitted to the EPA as called for in §303 (d) and 305(b) of the federal Clean Water Act.

The Watershed Management Section directs the Department’s Nonpoint Source Program. The program is responsible for development of Water Quality Restoration Plans, including Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL), as required by the Clean Water Act. The Section also oversees the use of the State’s federal allocation of Nonpoint Source Funds (319 Funding). The Section works with numerous Conservation Districts, local and state watershed groups, and federal agencies to coordinate nonpoint sources activities and Water Quality Restoration Plans.

The Water Quality Standards Section is primarily responsible for updating, modifying, and developing state water quality standards and classifications through rulemaking. In addition to updating or adopting standards that are developed by EPA at the national level, the section is actively working on number of regional scientific studies to develop standards that naturally vary as a function of local conditions (e.g., nutrient standards). However, the section does not have the authority to give final approval to changes in water quality standards and classifications. This authority lies with the Board of Environmental Review (BER), which is the final state authorizing authority on rulemaking. Generally, a complete review of standards occurs every three years, but changes to the standards can occur at any time as needed. During legislative sessions, the section is frequently called upon to provide comment on proposed changes to the MT Water Quality Act.

The section is responsible for the state’s water quality certification (401 certification) of hydro facilities that require a license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). In addition to new FERC licenses, the sections monitors and reviews activities required of in-place licenses, such as long-term monitoring water quality below dam sites. The section also provided guidance and interpretation of narrative standards to the Department as well as the general public. At the present time, the section is actively developing a comprehensive guidance document to better clarify interpretation of the “free from” narrative standards.