Lieutenant Governor Mike Cooney announced a series of drought forums to be held in four communities across Montana. The forums will allow Montana citizens to weigh in on the 2016 update of the Montana Drought Response Plan.
Meetings are scheduled in Havre, Billings, Bozeman and Missoula at the following times and locations:
August 16, 1- 2:30pm Havre City Hall 520 4th St.
September 7, 3-4:30pm Billings Public Library 510 N. Broadway
September 8, 11am – 12:30pm Bozeman Public Library 626 E. Main St.
September 13, 2-3:30pm Missoula Public Library 301 E. Main St.
In light of current dry conditions, Lt. Governor Cooney, who chairs the Governor’s Drought and Water Supply Advisory Committee, wants input from local communities on steps the state can take to help them prepare for and respond to drought. Cooney and the Committee are in the process of updating the State’s current Drought Response Plan.
Water short times in Montana occur with some regularity and impacts can be reduced by proactive planning, early warning and coordinated response. Communities with clear, locally-driven response plans for times of low stream flow and soil moisture conditions have shown an ability to adapt to drought impacts and economic hardship.
For more information on the current Montana Drought Management Plan, visit drought.mt.gov.
