FBC Recommendations to the Montana Legislature
PRIORITY 1:

Assure passage of SB 138 to remove the sunset clause currently attached to the FBC and retain administrative attachment to DNRC Water Resources (SB446, 2003). The bill also makes permanent the ex-officio DNRC Water Resource position, created by executive order of Governor Racicot, and reinstates the ex-officio membership of the Bonneville Power Administration.
PRIORITY 2:

Reinstate the 2002 biennial funding level for the FBC. Currently, the FBC is under-funded and has no operating budget. This proposed funding level would allow the FBC to maintain its current level of staffing (1 FTE) and provide basic operating funds. Amount requested: $128,000 for the biennium.
PRIORITY 3:

Provide funding to meet water quality monitoring needs in the Flathead Basin through support of FBC partner agency funding requests for such purposes.
FBC Recommendations to the Montana Congressional Delegation

The FBC requests that the Delegation continue its efforts to represent the interests of Montana at the federal level to protect water quality in the headwaters of the North Fork of the Flathead River. Specifically, the FBC requests that the Delegation urge the International Joint Commission to conduct a comprehensive assessment of environmental impacts that might result from large-scale industrial activity in the headwaters of the North Fork and to facilitate a process to implement the IJC’s third recommendation in its 1988 report to governments entitled Impacts of a Proposed Coal Mine in the Flathead River Basin. The third recommendation states “the governments consider, with the appropriate jurisdictions, opportunities for defining and implement compatible, equitable and sustainable development activities and management strategies in the upper Flathead River basin.” Additionally, the FBC requests the Delegation to secure funding for needed baseline water quality monitoring at the international border in the North Fork.

The FBC also requests that the Delegation recognize the economic and environmental importance of healthy watersheds and fully fund requests from federal agencies for programs that are designed to protect and preserve water quality through a variety of monitoring, educational and restoration initiatives.
FBC Recommendations to Federal, State, Tribal, and Local Agencies

The FBC requests that all federal, state, county and tribal agencies entrusted with enforcement of regulations designed to protect water quality – i.e., lakeshore and stream bank development, wetland protection, septic systems, road building and other construction activities adjacent to lakes or streams – vigorously and fully enforce such regulations.

All appropriate regulatory agencies should work proactively with landowners, developers, recreationalists and others, through education and other initiatives, to prevent water quality-threatening activities before they take place.

The FBC further requests that all relevant public and private sector organizations intensify efforts to develop, publicize and implement, through voluntary means, Best Management Practices (BMPs) for the widest possible range of land management activities. Through such efforts, water quality in the Flathead Basin can be better protected and, in some cases, enhanced.

The FBC also requests appropriate county and tribal agencies and planning boards to review current regulations designed to protect water quality and determine where improvements can be made.
Recommendations for Flathead Basin Commission Directed Action
TMDL & VNRS

The FBC will continue to work with the widest possible range of agency partners, nonprofit organizations, local citizens, and watershed groups to carry out a non-regulatory, voluntary effort to reduce nonpoint sources of pollution through an incentive-based program to accomplish the Flathead Lake Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). The FBC’s Voluntary Nutrient Reduction Strategy (VNRS) program will continue to be the centerpiece of our nutrient reduction program, emphasizing voluntary, non-regulatory means of reducing pollution, encouraging the involvement of local citizens as active participants in the basin-wide strategy.
Monitoring

Monitoring remains central to the FBC’s mission, and the FBC must undertake all possible means to achieve adequate funding of an integrated, collaborative approach to monitoring of Flathead Lake, its tributaries and other water bodies. Information will be further developed to allow the FBC to design a new basin-wide monitor master program to more effectively monitor water quality trends, particularly as they relate to the FBC’s VNRS projects and the Flathead Lake TMDL. Efforts to maintain and expand the FBC’s volunteer monitor programs will be undertaken.
Watershed Coordination & International Relations

Maintaining the FBC’s positive and productive relationship with British Columbia is vitally important to achieving an acceptable level of information exchange, coordination and consultation on water quality related issues in the North Fork of the Flathead River. The FBC will also, resources permitting, maintain contact with locally organized watershed groups. Further, the FBC will take additional steps, through use of the Internet and other communications resources, to strengthen its role as a clearinghouse of water quality-related information in the basin.
Strengthen Relations with Agencies and Develop New Partnerships

The FBC will strive to maintain more productive relationships with its extended family of agency and NGO partners and will endeavor to create new partnerships to strengthen the VNRS effort and other FBC initiatives.
Public Education

The FBC will maximize efforts to engage local residents in a variety of efforts to protect water quality. Traditional media, the FBC website, workshops and other means will be employed to inform residents of water quality issues and how they can become actively involved in protecting and enhancing water quality.