Exempt wells undermining water rights and water resources

It is time to end Montana’s “don’t ask-don’t tell” groundwater development policy.

Broadwater County’s controversial Horse Creek Hills — HCH — major subdivision proposal is a prime example of a developer asserting their “right” to subdivide and develop with no regard to impacts on senior water rights or local water resources. The method employed at HCH (and many other projects) is well known: break the subdivision into phases and limit the size per lot to squeeze each “phase” underneath the 10 acre-foot exception. It’s time to address this regulatory loophole.

Th...