Montana

Montana cannot ‘meet the demand’ to supply more water to new developments • Daily Montanan

Published

2 months ago

October 24, 2025

Montana cannot ‘meet the demand’ to supply more water to new developments • Daily Montanan

This week’s news brings us another story that’s starting to get very old — especially for Montana’s existing residents. Namely, the City of East Helena finds itself unable to “meet the demand” for water for the 6,250 new homes plus new businesses that theoretically will be built on former ASARCO lands the city annexed when the company went bankrupt.

But here’s the rub: The land the city annexed did not come with water rights. In Montana, no water means no new developments because we can barely provide water to existing residents. The rapidly changing climate’s longer, hotter, and drier summers combined with lower winter snowpacks and earlier, diminished runoff is simply a reality that municipalities and developers don’t want to acknowledge. But just because you don’t want to admit reality doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

As reported, Montana’s Lt. Governor Kristen Juras sent a letter to the city telling them the Natural Resources Damage settlement with ASARCO for the lead smelter’s Superfund site pollution requires “natural resource restoration and long-term stewardship.” Part of that restoration process, which was public, determined that certain water rights should go to restore instream flows on Prickly Pear Creek, which flows right past the giant slag piles remaining at the smelter site.

Ironically, the state and EPA offered the city 40% of the water rights, but the offer was refused. Now, the state and the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks are moving forward to change those consumptive water rights to instream flows and restore the battered creek.

That the city and developers are demanding the water for future development makes little sense since the mayor was quoted saying East Helena has an “already strained municipal water system.” Since the theoretical developments would require four times the water the city currently supplies to existing residents and businesses it may also require a new and very expensive water treatment facility for which existing residents will pay.

If this sounds familiar, one need only look to Bozeman, where residents will soon vote on the Water Adequacy for Residential Development initiative that will require new developments to either provide lower income units or bring new water rights to the city to “meet the demand” of the new developments.

Like Bozeman, East Helena is in a “closed basin” — meaning no new water rights can be issued without harming existing water rights holders and users. You can’t give away more water than you have — and Montana has less every year, as the record low flows and closures of our major rivers proves.

None of this is a mystery. In 1878 John Wesley Powell, who had explored the West’s great rivers and made the first descent of the Colorado River, published his “Report on the Lands of the Arid Regions of the United States” in which he estimated only 2% of the land in the arid West could support agriculture or development due to the lack of water. There’s simply no excuse for Montana’s development-crazed municipalities to ignore the facts of our increasingly limited water supply.

Finally, one might wonder why the burdens of “meeting the demand” of developers – including data centers – falls on existing residents. Or why the Superfund impacts from past extractive industries shouldn’t be remediated. Or why existing residents and their kids in East Helena shouldn’t have a clean stream they can walk to and enjoy a genuine “Montana” experience?

There are very real limits to growth. In the West, that’s a dwindling water supply – and it’s obviously time for Montanans to realize that fact and live with it.

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Nestled Next To Glacier National Park Is Montana’s Charming Town With Casinos And Ethereal Mountain Views – Islands

Published

12 hours ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

Nestled Next To Glacier National Park Is Montana’s Charming Town With Casinos And Ethereal Mountain Views – Islands

Roel Portraits/Shutterstock

Montana’s Glacier National Park is full of beautiful destinations, from stunning waterfalls to a hidden mountain passage with breathtaking alpine views. But when you visit this legendary national park, don’t miss the hidden gems right outside the park’s limits — like the charming small town of Browning, located on the Blackfoot Reservation, which boasts magnificent mountain views as well as a casino to try your luck at. This delightful town also has a wealth of outdoor activities and cultural sites on offer — and that’s not to mention its prime location just 15 minutes away from the eastern edge of Glacier National Park.

To get to Browning, you’ll likely want to fly to Glacier Park International Airport in Kalispell, about 91 miles away, then rent a car and enjoy a beautiful drive the rest of the journey. Alternatively, you can grab a taxi from the airport to the nearby Whitefish Amtrak Station, before embarking on a 2.5-hour Amtrak train ride that will take you to Browning. Either way, one thing is for certain: you’ll be treated to unbeatable scenery out the window along the way.

Visiting the Glacier Peaks Casino in Browning, Montana

Simonkr/Getty Images

Who needs the overpriced games and bad vibes at Las Vegas’ Bighorn Casino when you’ve got Browning’s Glacier Peaks Casino as an option? If you’re over 18 and in the mood to take a gamble, you won’t want to miss out on visiting this entertainment hotspot. Open all hours of the day and night, this casino wonderland contains over 500 slot machines as well as table games, a bar, and a restaurant. Keep an eye on their website to see what special events are in the pipeline, from poker tournaments to the weekly “Jersey Monday” deal, where visitors wearing football jerseys get $10 of free play.

Adjacent to the casino is the Glacier Peaks Hotel, which boasts a business center, gym, indoor heated swimming pool, and other amenities, making it a modern and comfortable accommodation whether you’re in town for fun or for work. If you’re staying in the hotel — or if you simply want a break from the casino floor — the aptly-named Jackpot Restaurant onsite serves up classic American cuisine all day. Fuel yourself for more fun and games with everything from delectable biscuits and eggs to nachos to smash burgers and pizza.

Outdoor activities in Browning, Montana

Wild Goose Island at sunrise in Glacier National Park

Weidman Photography/Shutterstock

A trip to this scenic locale wouldn’t be complete without making the most of the incredible natural views on offer. One particularly worthwhile lookout point from which to enjoy panoramic views of the area is Wild Goose Island Lookout. Park at the pullout and walk to the nearby overlook to get a view of Wild Goose Island. This tiny isle rises just 14 feet above St Mary Lake in a perfect postcard-worthy image, and is dwarfed by towering mountains.

Visitors eager to earn a mountain view with some movement can opt for one of the many trails in and around Browning. For a short (and handicap-accessible) walk, try Running Eagle Falls. While this out-and-back route clocks in at just 0.7 miles in total, it punches above its weight when it comes to payoff with a stunning waterfall. Experienced hikers in search of a challenge can consider tackling Triple Divide Pass, a difficult 14-mile hike that will take you through the less-heavily-trafficked Cutbank portion of Glacier National Park. After steep mountain uphills, you’ll find yourself overlooking Medicine Grizzly Lake. Note that if you choose to embark on this route, you’ll want to download offline maps, as cell signal in the park is extremely limited.

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Montana Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life results for Dec. 10, 2025

Published

1 day ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 10, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Dec. 10 drawing

10-16-29-33-69, Powerball: 22, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 10 drawing

05-07-14-16-45, Lucky Ball: 11

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from Dec. 10 drawing

03-13-37-42-44, Star Ball: 01, ASB: 03

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from Dec. 10 drawing

02-16-18-31, Bonus: 06

Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Montana Cash numbers from Dec. 10 drawing

02-12-27-29-34

Check Montana Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.

Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Montana energy task force tackles future power demands amid AI data center proposals

Published

2 days ago

December 10, 2025

Press Room

Montana energy task force tackles future power demands amid AI data center proposals

Gov. Greg Gianforte’s Energy Task Force is looking to address growing energy needs and the potential for hyperscale artificial intelligence data centers.

Sonja Nowakowski, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality director, serves as the task force’s chair, and says the group is still in the early phases.

“Right now we’re kind of looking at problem statements and defining what barriers are out there to energy development in Montana, and then the next steps will be moving towards solutions,” said Nowakowski.

Montana is no stranger to data centers. With Atlas Power in Butte drawing 75 megawatts of computing power, Beowulf Energy in Harden drawing 100 megawatts in crypto-mining load and smaller state and private centers that draw less than five megawatts.

But Nowakowski says the state’s power infrastructure isn’t ready for larger proposals — pointing to Sabey Data Centers proposed 250 megawatt datacenter in Butte, Beowulf Energy’s proposed 300 megawatts of data center load, and Quantica Infrastructure as high as 1,000 megawatts in Yellowstone County.

“We know that NorthWestern’s balancing authority isn’t really set up to deal with that. We have to make some moves and some changes if projects like that are going to move forward and be viable and so that’s why we’re having these hard conversations,” said Nowakowski.

Nowakowski says the state is discussing innovative uses of geothermal and nuclear power to increase supply, but says everything is on the table including wind, solar, coal, natural gas and enhanced hydro, which are already in use.

“It wholeheartedly has to be some of the all of the above, with a recognition though, that you’re going to have some of that baseload thermal power potentially, unless we’re going to make this big transition into nuclear,” said Nowakowski.

Nowakowski says the state and region have been slow to move toward new generation, due to efficiency gains and lack of economic demand growth. But the task force hopes to pivot toward rapidly increasing generation.

“We haven’t done that in 30 years at least or 40 years even, where we’ve been on that incline where we are building generation and we’re recognizing all that comes with that,” said Nowakowski.

Nowakowski says mitigating generation and transmission are critical to the task force’s discussion, but solutions aren’t short-term projects.

“How we make sure we protect Montana’s ratepayers Have those hard conversations and then have the larger broader conversation about how do we quicken some of these timelines? What steps can we as government take to facilitate Private market discussions that move these projects along a little bit more quickly,” said Nowakowski.

The task force will provide detailed reports to Gianforte in September 2026 and January 2027.

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