Well Loophole/ American Pika

Missoulian: Montana Supreme Court rules against water well 'loophole'
Clark Fork Coalition v. Montana Well Drillers

“The Act permits certain groundwater appropriations to be exempt from the permitting process. Relevant here, § 85-2-306(3)(a)(iii), MCA, provides an exemption when a groundwater appropriation does not exceed 35 gallons per minute and 10 acre-feet per year. However, the subsection also provides an “except[ion]” to the exemption when a “combined appropriation” from the same source by two or more wells or developed springs exceeds 10 acre-feet per year, regardless of flow rate.”

Missoulian: Protections rejected for American pika, other species
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 90-Day Findings on 10 Petitions