Abstract

Telling the Story of Montana Water Right Compacts with a Story Map
Track: Water Resources
Authors: Joel Harris

The State of Montana has 18 compacts settling reserved water rights within the state. I needed to find a way to tell the story of what reserved water rights are and where they exist in a way that was both accessible and compelling to the public. ArcGIS Story Maps turned out to be the answer. My story map gets to the heart of how Tribal Governments, Federal Agencies, and local people all came to the table to find creative solutions to water management questions—without going to court.