Yellowstone Times

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Montana State University is organizing a virtual Friday Forum dedicated to the topic of Bozeman's long-term water supply planning. The event will take place on May 9 from noon to 1:30 p.m. via Zoom. The session is open to the public at no charge.

Shawn Kohtz, the utilities director for the city of Bozeman, will lead the event. Kohtz is tasked with overseeing the city's water supply management, including its distribution and conservation efforts. His presentation will cover the sources of Bozeman's current water supply, the city's water usage, and future needs. Additionally, Kohtz will address existing and proposed management strategies, as well as the city's wastewater treatment processes.

In 2013, the Bozeman City Commission adopted an Integrated Water Resources Plan, aiming to ensure the city’s water supply meets future demands. Efforts have been underway to implement the recommendations from this plan, and there is currently action being taken to update it.

"It is important to continue to have a clear plan for development of future city water supplies and celebrate the demand reduction achieved through effective water conservation programming," said Kohtz.

The OLLI at MSU holds its Friday Forums on the second Friday of each month, from September through May. Those interested in attending the session can register by visiting montana.edu/olli or via Zoom by 11 a.m. on May 9. After registering, participants will receive an email with the necessary details to join the forum.

OLLI at MSU is part of MSU Academic Technology and Outreach. More details are available on their website at montana.edu/olli.