The Clark Fork Task Force
The Clark Fork Task Force was created in 2001 by the Montana legislature to create a water management plan for the entire Clark Fork Basin. A history of the Task Force and its charge appears here.
The Task Force compiled water management plans for the basin in 2004 and 2014, and these have helped to inform the State Water Plan. After the statewide plan was adopted, members of the Clark Fork Task Force, along with many additional stakeholders came together in 2016 to revision the Task Force as a Basin Council with expanded role and membership. A major focus of this basin council is promoting and monitoring the implementation of the basin plan.
Forming The Clark Fork Basin Council
Spring 2016-Stakeholders completed a survey regarding the value of a basin wide regional coordinating entity.
Survey Results: Brief Summary of All Responses (Multiple Pages)
Open ended responses to questions about Basin Group Strengths (Question 6), Weaknesses (Question 7), possible accomplishments (Question 8), challenges (Question 10), opportunities (Question 11), comments (Question 12).
April 15, 2016– Stakeholders met to discuss the intent to form a basin wide coordinating entity. April Meeting Notes
At this meeting, stakeholders also appointed a planning team including:
- Vicki Watson, University of Montana
- Michael Sweet, UM Climate Office
- Verdell Jackson, Landowner
- Jennifer Schoonen, Blackfoot Challenge
- Ada Montague, DNRC
The planning team was charged with drafting a charter for review by stakeholders in October 2016.
October 5, 2016. Stakeholders met to discuss the proposed charter, proposed title “Clark Fork Basin Council,” and legislative initiatives relating to the creation of basin councils that were being considered by the Montana Legislature Water Policy Interim Committee. Click to View the Meeting Agenda
The planning team was charged with organizing the next meeting which was held on April 20, 2017, and served as the FIRST annual meeting of this council. In addition, a draft charter was debated and adopted using a consensus approach to decision-making that is employed by the Council in all of its affairs. And the Council\’s first Executive Committee was nominated and elected at this first Annual Meeting.