Case Study:
Water and Wastewater Utilities
Planning for Climate Change
CITY OF BOZEMAN, MONTANA
Background
The city of Bozeman, Montana provides drinking water services to approximately 38,000 people. Snowpack melt
captured in the Sourdough and Hyalite watersheds reaches the 22 million gallons per day (MGD) Sourdough Water
Treatment Plant via local creeks and serves as the city's primary water source. In addition, an infiltration gallery and a
3.5 MGD water treatment plant delivers groundwater from the Lyman Creek Spring.
Climate Threats
Drought and wildfire are the two primary climate threats to the city of Bozeman, both of which have the potential to
increase with a changing climate. The city of Bozeman is concerned that future droughts will impact management and
allocation of their local water resources. Droughts also have the potential to impact water quality because of their
tendency to increase the occurrence of blue-green algae. Wildfires in the Sourdough and Hyalite watersheds have the
potential to negatively impact water quality due to erosion that can increase turbidity, sedimentation and metal
concentrations. Direct damage to equipment, specifically the Hyalite Reservoir and its intake, is also a concern related
to wildfire.
Planning Process
To better understand the vulnerabilities of its drinking water infrastructure and operations, the city of Bozeman assessed
potential climate change impacts using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Climate Resilience
Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT). The CREAT assessment brought together individuals from EPA and various
departments within the city of Bozeman to think critically about potential climate impacts, prioritize assets and consider
possible adaptation options.
Adaptation Measures
The city of Bozeman considered the potential consequences of drought, water quality changes and wildfires on their
drinking water assets and operations. To assess each of these potential threats, the city considered how potential
adaptive measures would help lower consequences. The table below summarizes how adaptation options were grouped
into two packages: those that provided the highest potential return on investment, and those that are included in their
Integrated Water Resource Plan (IWRP).
City of Bozeman, Montana Case Study — Page 1
SEPA

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Case Study: Water and Wastewater Utilities Planning for Climate Change
ADAPTATION
PACKAGE	POTENTIAL ADAPTIVE MEASURES
Highest Return on
Investment
WRP
Community outreach related to Sourdough Creek to improve surface water quality
Fire management activities surrounding Hyalite Creek to reduce the frequency and severity of
wildfires
Lake water management of Lyman Creek Spring to improve groundwater recharge
Demand management of Hyalite Creek to increase water availability
Rationing of Hyalite Creek to increase water availability
Groundwater models including use of a monthly water balance model
Demand management of water resources to increase water availability
Hyalite Lake water resource acquisition to increase water production
Lyman land acquisition for expansion or relocation of treatment plant
Utilize alternate water supplies to improve groundwater recharge
Contact Information
For more information regarding the city of Bozeman's climate adaptation planning, contact Jill Miller at
imiller@bozeman.net or Lain Leoniak at lleoniak@bozeman.net.
City of Bozeman, Montana Case Study — Page 2
&EPA
Office of Water (4608T)
EPA 800-Q-15-012
December 2015

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