Montana homebuilders win battle in long-running well war
By PAUL QUINLAN of Greenwire
August 20, 2010 Montana regulators acknowledged this week that homebuilders are using permit-exempt wells to bypass laws intended to protect water supplies in arid areas, but they nonetheless rejected a bid to close what critics call a loophole to undermine ranchers’ water rights. While the state environmental agency pledged to revisit the law next year, petitioners whose challenge was rejected expressed doubt the process would quickly yield meaningful changes in the well-permitting law. “It’s a huge problem, and people need to wise up,” said petitioner Polly Rex, whose property neighbors a 67-home subdivision. The houses are set to be outfitted with individual, permit-exempt wells that she worries will dry up her springs and lower the Stillwater River, where Rex holds water rights that date to the late 1800s. “Several neighbors have had their springs dry up,” Rex said. “Once these springs go down, then I’m done. They’re not going to come back.” …
Mont. Homebuilders Win Battle in Long-Running Well War
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