About Us

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Our Mission

Protect and enhance water resources through conservation in order to meet the Integrated Water Resources Plan’s 50-year demand reduction target by:

Establishing & strengthening the community’s water conservation ethic

raise awareness as to the value of our water supply
educate the community on conservation efforts and encourage participation through incentives
provide equitable distribution of resources and incentives for all customer classes

Ensuring adequate water supplies are available; to meet current & future demands, in times of drought, & for long term drought mitigation

implementing data driven decision making
developing and implementing methods to track current demand patterns, forecast future demands, and evaluate and modify program elements as needed.

City Water Planning

The 2013 Integrated Water Resources Plan

The 2013 Integrated Water Resources Plan (IWRP) (PDF) is meant to guide the City's water supply and use policies and practices through 2062. It outlines anticipated future water demand, examines different ways to meet future demand - through new supply or conservation practices - and recommends the most promising measures for further study and possible use.

Through the IWRP planning and adoption processes, the City recognized that water conservation should be the bedrock of the City's water-resource management practices. Water conservation is the most expedient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly way to ensure a reliable water supply for Bozeman's future.

The 2022 Drought Management Plan

The Drought Management Plan (PDF) was first adopted in 2017 and updated in 2022 to maximize water availability and provide guidance for reducing and managing water use when the City of Bozeman is in a drought. The plan outlines the criteria for monitoring drought and declaring various stages of drought. Drought stage guidelines within the drought management plan are intended to provide a framework for a timely drought response while maintaining flexibility in the drought variation that could occur. See our Drought Management page for more information!

The Water Conservation and Efficiency Plan

The Water Conservation and Efficiency Plan (PDF), adopted in 2023, helps pave the way for Bozeman's sustainable future. The Plan will guide Water Conservation Division efforts through 2040, and serves as a roadmap for carrying out new initiatives and tracking projected water savings across the City. Program measures include educational initiatives, incentive programs, code revisions, utility infrastructure management, and policies related to water efficient growth – all aimed at reducing water demand within the City to inform future water supply and demand management.

Program Report

Model Homeowner Association/ Property Owner Association Covenants

In 2023, the City engaged with residents on the Model HOA/POA Covenants project, a project that worked to establish draft covenants that HOAs could adopt that line up with city priorities like water conservation, composting, and childcare.

Check out the Final Covenants document and Covenant Word Template below to learn more about how your HOA or POA can encourage water conservation among residents by promoting the installation of sustainable landscape features. Please feel free to use these templates as you update or create your HOA/POA bylaws.

Final Covenants (English) (PDF)

Final Covenants (Spanish) (PDF)

Covenants Word Template (English) (PDF)

Covenants Word Template (Spanish) (PDF)

Better Together: Collaboration with Local Partners

Bozeman is just one part of our vibrant and unique Gallatin Watershed. And by collaborating with our neighbors, we can work together to ensure our community’s sustainable water future. By participating in working groups, partnering on water efficient educational initiatives, and engaging with various stakeholders on water efficient policies, we can work to make the Gallatin Watershed healthy, clean, and accessible for generations to come.

Here are just a few examples of the many ways the City is working with our neighbors to ensure a sustainable water future in Bozeman:

Engaged with the Gallatin Watershed Collaborative to develop and prioritized goals and actions that will result in long-term water security for our Gallatin Watershed. Learn more about the Gallatin Watershed Collaborative.
Partnered with the Gallatin Watershed Council to engage local businesses in environmental stewardship and water efficient workplace practices. Learn about the Gallatin Watershed Business Stewards Program.
Partnered with Mountain Time Arts on the Revitaliseʌᴉʇɐlǝɹ art installation on Bozeman Creek to inspire vibrant connection to our water supply. Learn more about this project.
Worked with the State of Montana to develop a Montana Drought Management Plan that makes sense for Bozeman residents and benefits the long term health of the Gallatin Watershed. Read the Montana Drought Management Plan.
Collaborating with Gallatin County and other stakeholders on the development of a Drought and Deluge Adaptive Management Plan.
Working with students at Montana State University to develop model water efficient landscape design templates for local Bozeman homes, which will be featured in our 2025 edition of the Water Smart Plant Guide.
Will lead a team to remove dog waste from the Sourdough Creek Trailhead, in partnership with the Gallatin Watershed Council’s annual Dog Poop Cleanup. Get involved with future watershed cleanups.