Montana Code Annotated 2021

TITLE 85. WATER USE

CHAPTER 2. SURFACE WATER AND GROUND WATER

Part 2. Adjudication of Water Rights

Federal Reserved Water Rights With Priority Date Of July 1, 1973, Or Later -- Process And Adjudication -- Purpose

85-2-228. Federal reserved water rights with priority date of July 1, 1973, or later -- process and adjudication -- purpose. (1) The purpose of this section is to ensure that a federal reserved water right with a priority date of July 1, 1973, or later is subject to the same process and adjudication as a federal reserved water right with a priority date before July 1, 1973.

(2) Under authority granted to the states by 43 U.S.C. 666, a federal reserved water right that has a priority date of July 1, 1973, or later and that is asserted by a federal agency is subject to the claim filing requirements and all other applicable requirements of the state water adjudication system provided for in Title 85, chapter 2, parts 2 and 7.

(3) At the request of a federal agency, the reserved water rights compact commission may negotiate to conclude a compact under Title 85, chapter 2, part 7, for a federal reserved water right with a priority date of July 1, 1973, or later.

(4) Whenever necessary, a water judge may reopen any decree issued pursuant to Title 85, chapter 2, to process the asserted or negotiated federal reserved water right.

History: (1)En. Sec. 1, Ch. 343, L. 1991; (2) through (4)En. Sec. 2, Ch. 343, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 497, L. 1997.