Montana Department of Environmental Quality

Montana Department of Environmental Quality At DEQ, our mission is to champion a healthy environment for a thriving Montana.

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**Communications made through social media sites will in no way constitute a legal or official notice or comment to any DEQ open public comment periods.

Labor Day weekend is coming up, and you know what that means. If you plan to recreate in or around water, check for harm...
09/04/2026

Labor Day weekend is coming up, and you know what that means. If you plan to recreate in or around water, check for harmful algal blooms (HABs)! HABs can take on the appearance of spilled paint, grass clippings, and pea soup. HABs is actually a misnomer; they are not algae at all, but native organisms called cyanobacteria that can release toxins and can be dangerous for humans and animals (think cyan = blue, although they can come in a range of colors such as green and gold). Closure remains in effect at Hebgen Lake at Yellowstone Holiday.

New reports in the last week:
Noxon Reservoir, Sanders County (confirmed 9/1/2026) - not pictured
Ennis Lake, Madison County (confirmed 8/29/2026)
Cooney Reservoir at Willow Creek, Carbon County (confirmed 8/29/2026)
Canyon Ferry Lake at Confederate Gulch, Broadwater County (confirmed 8/28/2026)

Last month, staff from federal, state, and local agencies came together for an emergency response training. Staff from U...
09/04/2026

Last month, staff from federal, state, and local agencies came together for an emergency response training. Staff from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, DEQ, Montana Disaster and Emergency Services, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Montana Natural Resource Damage Program, Jefferson County Emergency Management, Lewis and Clark County Emergency Management, BNSF Railway, Par Montana, and Olympus Technical Services, Inc. walked through a scenario and the steps, communications, and agencies required to have a successful emergency response in a timely and efficient manner. An effective response means when disaster strikes, collaborative agencies at all levels can work together to protect human health and the environment.

Want to expand your water quality vocabulary? Water quality standards are a great place to start! These “rules” describe...
09/02/2026

Want to expand your water quality vocabulary? Water quality standards are a great place to start! These “rules” describe the desired condition, or water quality goals, of a waterbody. In order to determine what a standard should be set at, scientists analyze the uses of a waterbody. Each use, such as recreation, aquatic life, drinking water, and agriculture, has specific criteria to protect those uses. Montana’s water quality standards are adopted by the state and submitted to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for approval prior to implementation. This official approval process ensures the standards set by the state meet requirements of the federal Clean Water Act. What happens after water quality standards are approved? Tune in next week to learn about assessment methods.

Wednesday morning’s satellite image shows a trough moving into the Northern Rockies and limited wildfire smoke.Source: N...
09/02/2026

Wednesday morning’s satellite image shows a trough moving into the Northern Rockies and limited wildfire smoke.

Source: NOAA

Scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible over northwest Montana and along the Montana/Idaho border on Wednesday. Elevated fire weather conditions are likely through the end of the week thanks to gusty afternoon winds and low humidity.

Conditions can change quickly as weather could stimulate active fires and the likelihood of new starts increases. Please keep track of concentrations at todaysair.mtdeq.us or the Fire and Smoke Map.

Let's play a game 🎯! Do YOU know what's good and bad for your private drinking water well? Many Montanans depend on well...
09/02/2026

Let's play a game 🎯! Do YOU know what's good and bad for your private drinking water well? Many Montanans depend on wells and septic systems for their water and wastewater needs, but what many don't know are the dos and don'ts of maintaining and protecting these systems!

Here's how to play: ask yourself, "is this good for my well or bad for my well?" See if you got it right in the comments!

1. Chemical storage and spills
2. A sanitary seal well cap
3. Animal waste and traffic near your well
4. Fenced off or protected wellhead
5. System failure or damaged parts

By Wednesday afternoon, the Rapid Refresh Forecast System (RRFS) smoke model shows light surface smoke covering the west...
09/01/2026

By Wednesday afternoon, the Rapid Refresh Forecast System (RRFS) smoke model shows light surface smoke covering the western third of the state from regional wildfires.

Source: HRRR-smoke

Warm, dry, and windy conditions should bring another day of active fire weather on Tuesday. A trough swings inland on Wednesday, providing cooler temperatures and chances for precipitation through the end of the week.

Conditions can change quickly as weather could stimulate active fires and the likelihood of new starts increases. Please keep track of concentrations at todaysair.mtdeq.us or the Fire and Smoke Map.

In collaboration with Pondera County Recycling Coalition and Northern Montana Joint Refuse and Disposal District, DEQ co...
08/31/2026

In collaboration with Pondera County Recycling Coalition and Northern Montana Joint Refuse and Disposal District, DEQ co-hosted an electronics recycling event earlier this month! Staff collected all kinds of electronics such as laptops, desktop computers, printers, cell phones, and other lithium-ion batteries. It was a big success and prevented potentially hazardous materials from being improperly disposed of in our landfills!

Monday morning’s satellite image shows some smoke over southwest Montana and central Idaho from regional wildfires.Sourc...
08/31/2026

Monday morning’s satellite image shows some smoke over southwest Montana and central Idaho from regional wildfires.

Source: NOAA

High pressure should bring moderating temperatures, gusty winds, and more active fire behavior Monday and Tuesday. A trough of low pressure will bring widespread precipitation and cooler air to the state between Wednesday and the weekend.

Conditions can change quickly as weather could stimulate active fires and the likelihood of new starts increases. Please keep track of concentrations at todaysair.mtdeq.us or the Fire and Smoke Map.

By Saturday afternoon, the Rapid Refresh Forecast System (RRFS) smoke model shows reduced surface smoke around the state...
08/28/2026

By Saturday afternoon, the Rapid Refresh Forecast System (RRFS) smoke model shows reduced surface smoke around the state thanks to clouds, cooler air, and precipitation.

Source: HRRR-smoke

Warm air, low humidity, and gusty afternoon winds will bring one last day of active fire weather to the state on Friday. Cooler air, clouds, and widespread precipitation should help moderate fire behavior and limit smoke production Saturday and Sunday.

Conditions can change quickly as weather could stimulate active fires and the likelihood of new starts increases. Please keep track of concentrations at todaysair.mtdeq.us or the Fire and Smoke Map.

Lake Elmo north of Billings is seeing a large cyanobacteria bloom across the waterbody. Cyanobacteria, more commonly cal...
08/28/2026

Lake Elmo north of Billings is seeing a large cyanobacteria bloom across the waterbody. Cyanobacteria, more commonly called a harmful algal bloom (HAB), can be toxic. If you suspect a HAB, avoid the water and prevent children and pets from playing in or drinking the water. Rinse off people and pets you suspect have been exposed to a HAB to prevent skin irritation or illness. Water that is slow moving and foul smelling should be avoided. There is no way to confirm a bloom is toxic without obtaining the results of water quality testing, by which point a HAB may no longer be active. A good trick to tell whether something may be a HAB is oftentimes HABs do not hold their shape when picked up with a stick. To report or view suspected HABs and learn what to look for, visit hab.mt.gov.

Reports in the last week:
Nevada Lake, Powell County (confirmed 8/23/2026)
Lake Elmo, Yellowstone County (confirmed 8/22/2026)
Bailey Reservoir, Hill County (confirmed 8/22/2026)
Wadsworth Pond, Cascade County (confirmed 8/20/2026)
Hebgen Lake, Gallatin County (closures remain in effect at Rainbow Point and Corey Springs) - not pictured

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2401 Colonial Drive
Helena, MT
59601

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