Air and Water Quality in the Gallatin Valley in Question?

By Lucia Stewart, 5-21-08

Being able to see the stars overhead, keeping clarity of our neighborhood rivers and having enough water for the Gallatin Valley to drink is a question of many residents. These subjects and more will be discussed at a free Gallatin Valley Speaker Series presentation at the Museum of the Rockies, May 28 at 7 p.m.

The challenge of managing population growth in the Valley while maintaining air and water quality will be addressed by featured speakers: Rep. JP Pomnichowski of Bozeman (D-Dist. 63) and Dr. Joseph Shaw, Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Montana State University.

The current air and water quality status and projected conditions in the Gallatin Valley will be presented, as well as what residents may do to maintain and improve them.

Pomnichowski carried legislation in the 2007 session on water quality and quantity, marking the first time that both must be considered in new water rights applications. She will be discussing surface and ground water quality and quantity, which she has been studying for the past 10 years.

Shaw has studied temperature inversions and air quality over the Gallatin Valley for many years, although his main research focuses on developing novel optical sensor systems and using them in studies of weather and climate. His discussion will include the impact on air quality from atmospheric conditions and pollution from sources around the Gallatin Valley.

For more information, visit gallatingrassrootsforum.googlepages.com or contact Rep. JP Pomnichowski at or 406-587-7846, or Dr. Joseph Shaw at or 406-994-7261.

This event is presented by the Gallatin Grassroots Forum as part of the Gallatin Valley Speaker Series in order to generate ideas, facilitate informed conversation and provide information to the community to help it successfully manage change and growth. It is also brought to you by NewWest.Net.