Deputy City Manager Shares the Surprising Threat to the Growth of Great Falls

Deputy City Manager Jeremy Jones stopped by the Frontline Ag studios on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. During his visit, we covered a variety of topics including the growth of Great Falls.

And I learned something during that conversation about stormwater and well, how it can essentially hurt the growth of Great Falls.

Stormwater: The Hidden Hurdle of Great Falls

I know, it sounded bizarre at first to me too. But thank goodness Deputy City Manager Jones was able to break down exactly how stormwater can become a barrier to growth in the city.

Deputy City Manager Jeremy Jones: "So usually in Great Falls, we have 30 to 40 water taps. So, a water tap is going to feed a new house.

And we're not talking an apartment complex now that that's one big water tap, but for single family homes, 30 to 40.

Our building official Bruce Hammond just released some information that where we're at for the end up to this year, I think we're at 289 or 239.

ALSO READ: Support Local First Responders with New Training Coming Up

There's a lot of information that I review. But regardless, that's a huge jump over the 30 to 40 that we average, right? So that the houses are starting to catch a little bit.
We got a long ways to go.

We just opened a huge 1200-acre basin north of town. And when I say we opened that, what we did is our engineers, city employees worked with the neighboring landowners because the biggest hindrance to growth is stormwater.

As silly as that sounds, stormwater is one of the biggest hindrances because you have to control it. You have to control so you don't have the flash floods. You have to detain it because it can't just run right back down the streets and back into the river.

It has to go under retention ponds. And I know, yeah, I mean, you know, not being a part of development before this new position, it was one of the last things I would have thought of being one of the biggest criteria you have to overcome."

Be honest, that's not exactly a challenge that's been at the top of your mind, has it?

Overlooked Challenges to the Growth of Great Falls

I'll be honest, things like that have me wondering what other challenges we might be facing that we, the common people, haven't even thought about yet.

Get our free mobile app

That said, I think we have the right people thinking about these potential challenges and can figure out a plan to overcome it.

What do you think? Are there other challenges to our growth that you think some might be overlooking?

Let me know your thoughts HERE.