Clark Fork and Kootenai River Basins Council
CHARTER
Adopted April 19, 2017
PURPOSE: The Purpose of the Clark Fork and Kootenai River Basins Council is to develop vision, coordinate common strategy, and support the network of water user interests at the basin scale. The Clark Fork and Kootenai River Basins Council will identify and address common basin-wide concerns, challenges, and solutions that are best addressed at the basin-level. The Council will focus on activities that provide added value to community based activities.
FUNCTION: Inform federal, state, local, and tribal government entities on basin wide water resource issues. Oversee, promote, and comply with the Montana State Water Plan and Clark Fork and Kootenai River Basins Water Plan 2014.
GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE: The scope of the Clark Fork and Kootenai River Basins Council is the Clark Fork and Kootenai River Basins.
INTERESTED STAKEHOLDERS: Participation may include, but is not limited to, interested representation from: businesses; non-profit organizations; conservation districts; irrigation districts; private land owners; state, federal, local, or tribal governments; water quality districts; and recreational interest groups, located within the Clark Fork and Kootenai basins. Interested Stakeholders will be determined by participation in Council activities, including the Annual Meeting.
WORK GROUPS: Work groups will be formed ad hoc based on specific areas of interest or activity within the basin and the identified opportunity for basin-wide coordination. Once a need, purpose, scope, and deliverable has been identified by the stakeholders at large, a work group may be created. Work groups may be recruited by the Executive Committee, which will also be responsible for seeking diverse membership.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: The Executive Committee will seek input from stakeholders and committee recommendations in reaching final decisions on all matters, including policy positions, work groups created, and activities carried out by the Council. Executive Committee members will serve as spokespersons for the Council.
The Executive Committee will meet a minimum of 4 times a year and be responsible for Council administration, including reporting, and oversight of coordination activities. The Executive Committee will consist of a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 stakeholders that are elected by the stakeholders at large. Executive Committee members will serve in staggered 2-year terms. Committee composition will be representative of stakeholder groups.
Decision making will follow a consensus model outlined in the by laws.
NOMINATION COMMITTEE: Upon creation, the Council will elect a Nomination Committee that will manage nominations to the Executive Committee. The Nomination Committee will consist of at least one member of the Executive Committee and have a minimum of three stakeholder participants. Nomination Committee members will serve in two year staggered terms. An individual member may fill no more than three consecutive terms on the Committee.
TECHNICAL ADVISERS: Individuals or organizations with technical expertise may be invited to participate in working groups and provide information to the Council.
REPORTING: The Clark Fork and Kootenai River Basins Council will develop an annual report and work plan that summarizes previous year activities and identifies one or more areas of common interest and member activities for the future. Report and work plan will be distributed to member groups as well as private and public partners which may include but not be limited to the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Department of Environmental Quality, Fish Wildlife and Parks, and the Water Policy Interim Committee.
ANNUAL MEETING: One Annual Meeting will be held wherein Interested Stakeholders & Technical Advisers may convene for committee reports and discussion regarding the annual work plan.
CREATION: The Council will be created upon participant endorsement from interested stakeholders.
AMENDMENTS: The Council Charter may be amended by full consensus of the Executive Committee after consultation with interested stakeholders at an Annual Meeting.