HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-17-16 Correspondence - M. Cooney to Commission - Drought Management Plan Endorsement OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
STATE OF MONTANA
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STEVE BULLOCK MIKE COONEY
GOVERNOR h _- o LT. GOVERNOR
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November 17, 2016 tZA.C._
Mayor Carson Taylor
Deputy Mayor Cynthia Andrus
Commissioner Chris Mehl
Commissioner I-Ho Pomeroy
Commissioner Jeff Krauss
City Clerk's Office
Suite 201, City Hall
P.O. Box 1230
121 North Rouse Avenue
Bozeman, MT. 59771
Dear Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Commissioners of the City of Bozeman:
As the chair of the Governor's Drought and Water Supply Advisory Committee, I want to extend
my enthusiastic endorsement of the proposed Bozeman Drought Management Plan. I had the
pleasure of meeting Lain Lioniak this fall at a community drought forum we held in preparation
for the update of the State's drought management plan, currently underway. Lain and her
expertise immediately impressed me and when I took in her presentation on the City's approach
to drought, I immediately knew we needed to do something similar at the state level.
As such, the City of Bozeman has the opportunity to provide not only a guide to other
municipalities in Montana by adopting the Bozeman Drought Management Plan, but also to the
State. There is currently no other comprehensive municipal drought management planning in the
State. The City is poised to provide the first example of how to "do" drought management
planning in Montana, which is greatly needed. Bozeman's Drought Management Plan is the type
of orienting resource that will benefit communities and the State alike.
Without any other such comprehensive efforts to look to in Montana, the City of Bozeman's
Drought Management Plan will serve as an unprecedented resource for all Montanans.
The City of Bozeman's Drought Management Plan clarifies the utility of certain aspects of
drought management planning, such as vulnerability assessments, historical analyses of drought,
and site-specific mitigation strategies. Providing these elements in the Bozeman context makes
it easier for other communities, as well as the State, to conceptualize the importance of this
information. It also helps us get our heads around how to make decisions based on the types of
information gathered in a drought management planning exercise.
STATE CAPITOL • P.O. Box 200801 • HELENA, MoNTANA 59620-0801
TELEPHONE: 406-444-3111 • FAx: 406-444-5529 0 WE13SITE: www.MT.G0V
Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and Commissioners
November 17,2016
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Using drought as a framework to improve water management is a great asset to any community
as well as the State. Learning from Bozeman and seeing how drought management will occur in
your community not only improves your local resiliency in the face of water short times, but it
paves the way for others and the entire State.
For the reasons stated,please accept my wholehearted endorsement of the City of Bozeman's
Drought Management Plan.
Sin erely,
MIKE COONEY
Lieutenant Governor