What is DEQ proposing? The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has released a Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (EA) for the construction and operation of subsurface wastewater treatment systems (SWTS), aka septic systems. The department is currently accepting public comment on…
The 2025 Legislative Session unfortunately led to the enactment of several “dirty water bills.” These new laws have undermined Montana’s science-based water quality standards and are now failing to adequately protect our waterways, fisheries, recreational opportunities, and valued public trust…
Details Findings, Elevated Nutrient Pollution, and Lack of Science-Based Numeric Protections for Rivers and Waterways Upper Missouri Waterkeeper’s Executive Director Guy Alsentzer testified this morning before the Environmental Quality Council (EQC) during the “State of Montana’s Rivers” panel, emphasizing the…
Major Water Infrastructure Project Demands Careful Vetting, Transparency, and Public Involvement Last week, the Gallatin County Commission sent a letter calling on the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to transparently evaluate the potentially significant economic, social, ecological, and cultural…
Prior to any data center development proposals approvals, baseline and commonsense water use and pollution protections should be established at the state and local level. Many states and counties across the country are establishing commonsense water protections. For an arid…
Data Centers Need to Disclose Water Impacts Before Any Land Use Approvals As new data center proposals pop up across Montana, Upper Missouri Waterkeeper is calling on state and local officials and agencies to establish a framework for considering such…
Federal Approval of Montana’s Numeric Nutrient Standards Repeal Threatens Clean Water Protections Nationwide Upper Missouri Waterkeeper is raising the alarm that the Trump Administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) could set a dangerous, polluter-friendly precedent by approving the State of Montana’s…
1. What happened to Montana’s numeric nutrient criteria?In Spring 2025, the Montana Legislature passed and Governor Gianforte signed HB 664, a piece of legislation that rolls back numeric nutrient water quality standards for all water pollution control and water restoration…
Taking EPA to Court to Defend Montana’s WatersThis week, Upper Missouri Waterkeeper and Flathead Lakers filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approving Montana’s repeal of science-based limits on nutrient pollution for our waterways. EPA’s…
Unscientific Gutting Of Clean Water Protections Contrary to Federal Law, Putting Montana Waterway Health At Risk On Monday, Upper Missouri Waterkeeper and Flathead Lakers filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approving the State of…
