permit stipulated that wastewater could not be discharged to 

 the Clark Fork during low-flow periods. 



The discharge permit for the Missoula WWTP expired on 

 September 30, 1987, but was administratively extended into 

 1988. The WQB prepared a preliminary environmental review 

 (PER) in January 1988 and issued a notice in February 1988 

 of its intent to issue and/or review the permit. The 

 tentative permit drafted by the WQB contained interim (one- 

 year) biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) and total suspended 

 solids (TSS) effluent limitations that were less strict than 

 National Secondary Standards. These interim limits were 

 intended to allow the city to remain in compliance while 

 making changes that should solve the problem of periodic 

 treatment plant upsets. The tentative permit also limited 

 the amount of phosphorus discharged to no more than 1982 

 levels and required the city to conduct bioassays on the 

 plant effluent. 



There was a considerable amount of public reaction to 

 the tentative state permit. Many people felt that the WQB 

 was holding the city to a different (more lenient) standard 

 for discharging than the one applied to Stone Container 

 Corporation when its permit was renewed. There was concern 

 over the interim BOD5 and TSS limits and over the possibility 

 of increased phosphorous loading to the river. Although the 

 plant will be held to 1982 phosphorus limits, those limits 

 are considerably higher (593 pounds/day) than the plants 

 actual phosphorus discharge in 1986 (275 pounds/day) . 



A final permit was issued by the WQB in July 1988 with 

 an effective date of August 1, 1988. The interim limits for 

 BODc and TSS were removed from the permit. Final effluent 

 limitations for BOD5 and TSS are equivalent to the National 

 Secondary Standards. A lower phosphorus limit has been 

 imposed as a goal, along with conditions requiring additional 

 studies to be done that will result in examination of various 

 phosphorus-reducing alternatives . 



WATER RESERVATIONS 



Introduction 



Montana's 1973 Water Use Act allows public entities, 

 such as conservation districts, municipalities, counties, and 

 state and federal agencies to reserve water for future uses. 

 These include diversionary and consumptive uses, as well as 

 instream flows for the protection of fish, wildlife, and 

 water quality. 



2-20 



