TABLE 4-3. TIME PERIODS WHEN FLOWS EXCEED 50,000 CFS, 



CLARK FORK BELOW NOXON RAPIDS 



1961-79 1961-86 



Average starting date May 22 May 25 



Average ending date June 17 June 17 



Maximum number consecutive days 65 65 



Minimum number consecutive days 



Average consecutive days 24 22 



Average total days 30 28 

 (consecutive plus intermittent) 



Source: Holnbeck 1988. 



The DNRC's policy is that before issuing any new 

 provisional permits, the applicant must show that water is 

 physically available in the specific source of supply 

 requested. The burden is also on the applicant to show that 

 the rights of prior appropriators will not be adversely 

 affected if the new provisional permit is granted. However, 

 absent any objections, DNRC does not require such proof. 



In the winter of 1987, the DNRC contacted WWP, MPC, BOR, 

 and Montana State University (MSU) and proposed a cooperative 

 study to assess the direction and magnitude of changes in 

 hydropower generation that have likely occurred or could 

 occur under different irrigation scenarios. The study began 

 in summer 1988 and will be completed by late 1988-early 1989. 

 The study should help ascertain whether the basin should be 

 closed and no new provisional permits granted, whether a 

 block of water can still be developed before basin closure is 

 initiated, or whether some other action, such as a negotiated 

 reallocation of WWP's rights, is more appropriate. 



There may be little or no water available for appropri- 

 ation from the Clark Fork drainage upstream of Noxon Rapids. 

 This includes the Flathead River drainage basin and the Clark 

 Fork mainstem and its tributaries (e.g., Bitterroot and 

 Blackfoot rivers, Rock Creek) . Even if water is available 

 for appropriation upstream of Noxon Rapids, it may not be 

 available in specific tributaries where it may be most 

 needed. The water supply, existing water rights, and public 

 interest values must be analyzed within each subbasin to 

 ascertain whether water may be appropriated for future 

 beneficial uses. 



4-16 



