Statewide TMDL Advisory Group (STAG)
An important component of implementing TMDLs is assigning priority for TMDL development to Montana's water bodies on the 303(d) list. To aid in this process, HB 546 formed an advisory group to help DEQ develop a method of ranking water bodies in order to prioritize them as high, moderate or low for TMDL development. The 1999 legislature broadened the scope of the group to general review and oversight of DEQ's TMDL program. The advisory group is one example of how DEQ will solicit input from outside of the agency to implement TMDLs.
The fourteen member group represents a broad base of water related interest groups in Montana. The groups represented are agriculture (livestock and farming), conservation or environmental interest, water-based recreationists, the forestry industry, municipalities, point source dischargers, mining, federal land management agencies, state trust land management agencies, supervisors of soil and water conservation districts for counties both west and east of the continental divide, the hydroelectric industry, and fishing related businesses.
The advisory group was selected by soliciting nominations from members of each interest group. When there was more than one nominee, each interest group was asked to confer and agree on a representative.
