The Missouri River Association of States and Tribes (MoRAST) recently met and toured several sites in Montana, including the Fort Peck Dam and Hatchery, the Intake Diversion on the Yellowstone River, and an irrigation pumpsite near Culbertson. The Council, together with the Lower Missouri CRM Group, provided a demonstration of the Double R Dredge at the irrigation pumpsite. The dredge has been instrumental in keeping several pumpsites below the Fort Peck Dam operational in spite of fluctuating dam releases.

MoRAST is a regional interstate organization formed by joint resolution of the Governors of Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, and Kansas and the Mni Sose Intertribal Water Rights Coalition. Montana’s MoRAST members are Jeff Hagener, Director of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and Mary Sexton, Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, who also serves as MoRAST Vice Chairperson.

MACD President and MRCDC Member Buzz Mattelin and MRCDC Coordinator Vicki Marquis attended the MoRAST business meeting and spoke about Conservation District-lead efforts along the Missouri River in Montana.