HomeMy WebLinkAboutIWRP Process Update - 120925Integrated Water
Resources Plan
Update
Process Status Briefing
Matt Wittern, Raftelis | December 9, 2025
25+ years serving clients and customers in
the public sector. Operates specifically at
the nexus of western United States water
issues and stakeholder engagement that
informs sound public policy.
Matt Wittern, APR, PMP
Manager
2
Specialties
•Communications Strategy
•Stakeholder Engagement
•Coalition Building
•Primary and Secondary Research
•Expert Positioning
•Media Relations & Social Media
Agenda
3
1.Current IWRP and need for update
2.Multi-pronged engagement strategy
3.Timeline – Where we’ve been and
where we’re going
Bozeman’s
Integrated Water
Resources Plan
Informs Bozeman’s water policy and practices
Supports short- and long-term planning
Has significantly shaped Bozeman’s relationship with water since 2013
Needs to be updated to continue supporting water resiliency
Multi-Pronged Engagement Approach
5
Technical Advisory
Committee
•Association of Gallatin Agricultural
Irrigators
•Gallatin Watershed Council
•Member of the Public
•Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology
•Montana Dept. of Natural Resources &
Conservation
•Montana Trout Unlimited
Public Advisory Committee
•Bozeman Health
•Developer / Builder
•Inter-Neighborhood Council
•Member of the Public
•Montana State University
•Sustainability Board
Community Engagement
•In-Person Engagement
•Engage Bozeman
•1-1 Interviews
•Community Survey
What the
Process Needs
Basis of
Planning
Assumptions
Universe of
Alternatives
Screening
Criteria and
Weighting
Professional
Alternatives
Scoring
Recommendation
Stress Test
6
Understanding
of the 2013
IWRP
Consensus
Recommendation
to Commission
Finalize and
Achieve
Consensus
IWRP Update: Where We’ve Been
Feb. – May 2025
•Developed engagement plan and
materials
•Initiated establishment of Water
Advisory Committee (WAC)
Jun. – Nov. 2025
•Technical Advisory Committee
›2013 IWRP
›Basis of Planning
›Screening Criteria
›Universe of Alternatives
•Public Advisory Committee
›2013 IWRP
›Basis of Planning
›Screening Criteria
›Universe of Alternatives
•Community Input
›Engage Bozeman
›Farmers’ Markets
7
IWRP Update: Where We’re Going
Jan. – Fall 2026
•Water Advisory Committee
(Merge TAC and PAC)
›Review preliminary alternative scores
›Discuss community input
›Arrive at consensus for recommended
alternatives
›Review and comment on draft report
›Consensus approval of IWRP update
recommendation
•Community Input
›Engage Bozeman
›Community Survey
›Open Houses
›1-1 Interviews
Late 2026
•Present Recommendations to
Commission
8
Contact: Matt Wittern
303 305 1147 / mwittern@raftelis.com
9
Thank you!