Department of Natural Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Resources and Conservation,

Water Resources DivisionWater Resources Division

State Water Projects BureauState Water Projects BureauKevin B. Smith, P.E., ChiefKevin B. Smith, P.E., Chief

ksmith@mt.gov444-2932444-2932

DNRC - SWPDNRC - SWP

Administers the Operation and Maintenance of Administers the Operation and Maintenance of State-Owned Water Storage Projects.State-Owned Water Storage Projects.State Water Conservation Board – Created in State Water Conservation Board – Created in 1934 – Main goals to build water infrastructure 1934 – Main goals to build water infrastructure projects and reduce unemployment projects and reduce unemployment Majority of Projects built 1937 -1941Majority of Projects built 1937 -194121 Active Storage Projects remain. Consists of 21 Active Storage Projects remain. Consists of 24 Dams; 250 miles of Canals; one Hydro 24 Dams; 250 miles of Canals; one Hydro FacilityFacilityApproximately 300,000 Ac-Ft (Shares) MarketedApproximately 300,000 Ac-Ft (Shares) MarketedProvide technical assistance to MT DFWP and Provide technical assistance to MT DFWP and State Trust Lands. State Trust Lands.

85-1-501. Survey of Power Generation Capacity (excerpt). 1)Study economic and environmental feasibility of small-scale hydroelectric facility construction and operation with periodic updates.

Considerations:      (a) estimated cost of construction;      (b) estimated cost of maintaining, repairing, and operating;      (c) estimated cost of tying into an existing power distribution

channel;      (d) ability of public utilities or rural electric cooperatives to

lease and operate;      (e) debt burden to be serviced;      (f) expected revenue;      (g) reasonable rate of return on the investment; and      (h) potential impacts on water supply and stream flows.

2)Periodic updates to energy and telecommunication committees on past and current assessments

     History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 503, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 275, L. 2011.

   85-1-510. Sale of Power and Allocation of Revenue (excerpt)

(1) Public service commission requires utilities/cooperatives to purchase power under rates and terms established in 85-1-511 through 85-1-513 if no mutually agreeable contract or price with operator.

(2) Revenue deposited in the state water project special revenue account to cover repair, rehabilitation, and financing of state-owned water projects.

     

History: En. Sec. 10, Ch. 503, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 370, L. 1991.

Projects Recently StudiedProjects Recently Studied

Cooney ReservoirCooney Reservoir

Tongue River ReservoirTongue River Reservoir

Painted Rocks ReservoirPainted Rocks Reservoir

Ruby River ReservoirRuby River Reservoir

Cooney Reservoir

Cooney Reservoir

Tongue River Reservoir - 1978

Instream Storage Tongue RiverIrrigates ~30,000 acres

Tongue River

Painted RocksPainted Rocks

Painted RocksPainted Rocks

Ruby – Conceptual LLOW ModsRuby – Conceptual LLOW Mods

Reasons to Generate RevenueReasons to Generate Revenue

Flood DamageFlood Damage

Failed StructuresFailed Structures

Planned Rehabilitation EffortsPlanned Rehabilitation Efforts

Limited Established Funding SourcesLimited Established Funding Sources

EAST FORK ROCK CREEKEAST FORK ROCK CREEK

EAST FORK ROCK CREEKEAST FORK ROCK CREEK