444 



CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 



444 



There are four agencies involved in this final report to the Legislature; 



• Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (DFWP), which prepares the final study report; 



• The Fish and Wildlife Connmission (Connmission), which adopts the final study report; 



• The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), which also adopts the final 

 report; and 



• the Environmental Quality Council (EQC) which raceh^es and completes the final report after the 

 above entities have fulfilled their roles. 



Although somewhat confusing, the process envisioned promotes coordination between agencies prior to 

 legislative involvement. The Water Policy Subcommittee requested that any recommendations that either 

 the DFWP, the Commission, or the DNRC wished to suggest be included in the report before it came to 

 the EQC. That way, the Subcommittee could consider whether they agreed with some, all, or none of the 

 agency/Commission recommendations to the full EQC. 



The recommendations of the Subcommittee differ somewhat fix)m those of the department and 

 Commission. The conclusions and recommendations firom the various entities are described below. 



Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks (DFWP) 



The department provided the following substantive conclusions in its final report (see p. 15 of Appendix A 

 for fiill conclusions): 



The Water Leasing Study was borne out of great controversy. The DFWP chose to take a very deliberate approach 

 to the study and was initially criticized for this approach. However, with the passing of time, an ensuing dialogue, 

 and on-the-ground experience, this criticism has waned. Water Leasing is also now more accepted, and even 

 supported, by many of its former foes. 



The DFWP has been very careful in obtaining the leases it cun-ently holds. Although many potential leases have 

 been investigated, only a small number have been pursued to completion. Interest in leasing is more prevalent now 

 than it was during the first few years of the study. Water leasing will not solve all of Montana's stream dewatering 

 problems, because of; (1) the complexity of obtaining leases, (2) the small quantities of water that are usually 

 involved, and (3) the potential effects on existing water users. IHowever, because leasing is one tool that can help 

 balance the competing uses of a finite water resource, leases should continue to be cautiously selected and 

 pursued where they will benefit the fisheries resource without adverse effects on existing water users. (Edited from 

 original by EQC staff.) 



EQC/DFWP 1998 Water Leasing Report 



H 



