Ms. Knuteson has worked in a variety of land use and conservation-oriented positions in the Rocky Mountain west for more than 23 years, including a collaborative National Park Service/US Forest Service archaeological internship where she served as a surveyor/topographical and vegetative mapper, followed by years-long internships with a Bozeman-based consulting engineering and land development firm and a Bozeman-based law firm where she researched and performed extensive document review on toxic tort claims related to tetrachloroethylene pollution in the Yellowstone River. Ms. Knuteson earned her JD degree from University of Montana School of Law in 2012. During law school Ms. Knuteson worked on Missoula County’s comprehensive zoning update and various land trust and conservation matters through the Land Use Clinic and performed in-depth water rights and water quality permitting research through summer internships. Ms. Knuteson also began her 6-year tenure with a Missoula-based environmental law firm, first as a law clerk, then as co-counsel, where she gained valuable experience representing local, state and national environmental law groups and individuals challenging agency actions related to projects with potential significant impacts to water quality and water rights, including water-related nuisance and trespass claims. Ms. Knuteson’s current practice focuses on assisting Montana businesses and property owners with land use and permitting issues through comprehensive due diligence research services, regulatory compliance guidance and also general day-to-day business, contract and transactional matters. Ms. Knuteson serves as chair of the Montana Water Pollution Control Advisory Council (WPCAC), a statutorily-authorized group representing a diverse array of interests across Montana that serves in an advisory capacity to MDEQ.