House Bill No. 507

Introduced By story, grosfield



A Bill for an Act entitled: An Act to extend water reservations in the Yellowstone Basin until they are perfected; amending section 85-2-605, MCA; and providing an immediate effective date.



Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Montana:



Section 1.  Section 85-2-605, MCA, is amended to read:

"85-2-605.   Reservations. (1) The department may apply for reservations and shall, as rapidly as possible, assist other appropriate state agencies and political subdivisions in applying for reservations within the basin. The United States or any agency thereof of the United States may apply for reservation of water in the basin under 85-2-316 for beneficial use of that water in the state of Montana. Particular emphasis shall must be given to applications to reserve water for agricultural, municipal, and minimum flow purposes for the protection of existing rights and aquatic life.

(2) Notwithstanding other provisions of this title, the department shall extend the duration of the 14 conservation district reservations and 8 municipal reservations approved by administrative order dated December 15, 1978, in the basin until those reservations are perfected, or until those reservations are revoked pursuant to 85-2-316."



Section 2.  Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.

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