The Water Adjudication Bureau assists the Montana Water Court in the adjudication of all claims to pre July 1, 1973 water rights. The Bureau examines all claims pursuant to Supreme Court rules and provides a summary report to the Water Court on each of the basins (85) in the state. Pursuant to legislation passed in 2005, the Bureau completed the examination of the remaining 57,000 claims (as of 2005) by June 30, 2015 and must provide summary reports to the Water Court for the remaining 30 basins by June 30, 2020. As of July 1, 2015, the Bureau is responsible for the reexamination of 90,000 claims in 44 basins. These were previously decreed under the verification process and not the claim examination rules. In accordance with SB57, which sets certain benchmarks for the Bureau, all reexamination of these basins are to be completed by June, 30, 2023.  The Bureau is required to report progress quarterly to the Water Policy Interim Committee (WPIC). The Bureau also provides post decree assistance to the Water Court as requested and to District Courts as Water Court decrees are placed under enforcement (upon petition to the District Court).

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Adjudication Status: Sorted by Drainage Basin Number

Basin #	Decree Type	Date Issued	Basin Name
	PRELIMINARY	090306	BLM MONTANA COMPACT
	PRELIMINARY	140402	BOWDOIN WILDLIFE REFUGE COMPACT
	PRELIMINARY	150730	CHARLES  M. RUSSELL NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE MONTANA COMPACT
	PRELIMINARY	121221	CROW COMPACT
	PRELIMINARY	080519	FOREST SERVICE MONTANA COMPACT
	PRELIMINARY	140821	FORT KEOGH LRRL MONTANA COMPACT
	PRELIMINARY	111030	FWS NATIONAL BISON RANGE COMPACT
	PRELIMINARY	150924	UPPER MISSOURI RIVER BREAKS NATIONAL MONUMENT COMPACT
	PRELIMINARY	140821	US SHEEP EXPERIMENT STATION COMPACT
	PRELIMINARY	161028	TURTLE MOUNTAIN BAND OF CHIPPEWA
38H	FINAL	840327	BELLE FOURCHE RIVER, ABOVE CHEYENNE RIVER
39E	TEMPORARY	850201	BOX ELDER CREEK
39F	TEMPORARY	850201	LITTLE MISSOURI RIVER, ABOVE LITTLE BEAVER CREEK
39FJ	PRELIMINARY	181101	LITTLE BEAVER CREEK
39FJ	TEMPORARY	850131	LITTLE BEAVER CREEK
39G	PRELIMINARY	850118	BEAVER CREEK, TRIBUTARY OF LITTLE MISSOURI RIVER
39H	FINAL	840327	LITTLE MISSOURI, BELOW LITTLE BEAVER CREEK
40A	PRELIMINARY	170607	MUSSELSHELL RIVER, ABOVE ROUNDUP
40A	TEMPORARY	850507	MUSSELSHELL RIVER, ABOVE ROUNDUP
40B	PRELIMINARY	110505	FLATWILLOW CREEK, INCLUDING BOX ELDER CREEK
40C	PRELIMINARY	170607	MUSSELSHELL RIVER, BELOW ROUNDUP
40C	TEMPORARY	900206	MUSSELSHELL RIVER, BELOW ROUNDUP
40D	PRELIMINARY	840928	DRY CREEK
40E	TEMPORARY	850307	MISSOURI RIVER, BETWEEN MUSSELSHELL RIVER AND FORT PECK DAM
40EJ	PRELIMINARY	140425	MISSOURI RIVER, BETWEEN BULLWHACKER CREEK AND MUSSELSHELL RIVERS
40F	PRELIMINARY	131212	MILK RIVER, ABOVE FRESNO RESERVOIR
40G	PRELIMINARY	831220	SAGE CREEK
40H	PRELIMINARY	030122	BIG SANDY CREEK
40I	PRELIMINARY	130620	PEOPLES CREEK
40J	PRELIMINARY	100624	MILK RIVER, BETWEEN FRESNO RESERVOIR AND WHITEWATER CREEK
40K	TEMPORARY	891121	WHITEWATER CREEK
40L	PRELIMINARY	171026	FRENCHMAN CREEK
40L	TEMPORARY	850116	FRENCHMAN CREEK
40M	PRELIMINARY	090320	BEAVER CREEK, TRIBUTARY OF MILK RIVER
40N	PRELIMINARY	850813	ROCK CREEK, TRIBUTARY OF MILK RIVER
40O	PRELIMINARY	950524	MILK RIVER, BELOW WHITEWATER INCLUDING PORCUPINE CREEK
40P	FINAL	850522	REDWATER RIVER
40Q	PRELIMINARY	991229	POPLAR RIVER
40R	PRELIMINARY	100128	BIG MUDDY CREEK
40S	PRELIMINARY	991229	MISSOURI RIVER, BELOW FORT PECK DAM
40T	PRELIMINARY	140625	ST. MARY RIVER
41A	PRELIMINARY	130509	RED ROCK RIVER
41B	PRELIMINARY	130509	BEAVERHEAD RIVER
41C	TEMPORARY	901114	RUBY RIVER
41D	TEMPORARY	070406	BIG HOLE RIVER
41E	TEMPORARY	850620	BOULDER RIVER, TRIBUTARY OF JEFFERSON RIVER
41F	TEMPORARY	840725	MADISON RIVER
41G	PRELIMINARY	180215	JEFFERSON RIVER
41G	TEMPORARY	891017	JEFFERSON RIVER
41H	PRELIMINARY	181011	GALLATIN RIVER
41H	TEMPORARY	850926	GALLATIN RIVER
41I	TEMPORARY	950308	MISSOURI RIVER, ABOVE HOLTER DAM
41J	PRELIMINARY	101216	SMITH RIVER
41K	TEMPORARY	850514	SUN RIVER
41L	PRELIMINARY	151008	CUT BANK CREEK
41M	PRELIMINARY	150320	TWO MEDICINE RIVER
41N	PRELIMINARY #1	840706	WILLOW CREEK
41N	PRELIMINARY #2	180329	WILLOW CREEK
41O	TEMPORARY	051229	TETON RIVER
41P	PRELIMINARY	150423	MARIAS RIVER
41Q	PRELIMINARY	100527	MISSOURI RIVER, FROM SUN TO MARIAS RIVERS
41QJ	TEMPORARY	080206	MISSOURI RIVER, FROM HOLTER DAM TO SUN RIVER
41R	PRELIMINARY	110623	ARROW CREEK
41S	TEMPORARY	840517	JUDITH RIVER
41T	PRELIMINARY	120419	MISSOURI RIVER, FROM MARIAS RIVER TO AND INCLUDING BULLWHACKER CREEK
41U	TEMPORARY	840510	DEARBORN RIVER
42A	PRELIMINARY	052313	ROSEBUD CREEK
42B	PRELIMINARY	080228	TONGUE RIVER, ABOVE AND INCLUDING HANGING WOMAN CREEK
42C	PRELIMINARY	080228	TONGUE RIVER, BELOW HANGING WOMAN CREEK
42I 42J	FINAL	830531	LITTLE POWDER RIVER POWDER RIVER, BELOW CLEAR CREEK
42K	PRELIMINARY	850919	YELLOWSTONE RIVER, BETWEEN TONGUE AND POWDER RIVERS
42KJ	TEMPORARY	031114	YELLOWSTONE RIVER, BETWEEN BIGHORN AND TONGUE RIVERS
42L	FINAL	850417	O'FALLON CREEK
42M	PRELIMINARY	140124	YELLOWSTONE RIVER, BELOW POWDER RIVER
43A	TEMPORARY	880803	SHIELDS RIVER
43B	TEMPORARY	850116	YELLOWSTONE RIVER, ABOVE AND INCLUDING BRIDGER CREEK
43BJ	TEMPORARY	850403	BOULDER RIVER, TRIBUTARY OF YELLOWSTONE RIVER
43BV	TEMPORARY	841219	SWEET GRASS CREEK
43C	TEMPORARY	851107	STILLWATER RIVER
43D	PRELIMINARY	170307	CLARKS FORK YELLOWSTONE RIVER
43D	TEMPORARY	930609	CLARKS FORK YELLOWSTONE RIVER
43E	PRELIMINARY	100225	PRYOR CREEK
43N	PRELIMINARY	130613	SHOSHONE RIVER
43O	PRELIMINARY	100325	LITTLE BIGHORN RIVER
43P	PRELIMINARY	160125	BIGHORN RIVER, BELOW GREYBULL RIVER
43Q	TEMPORARY	981229	YELLOWSTONE RIVER, BETWEEN CLARKS FORK YELLOWSTONE AND BIGHORN RIVER
43QJ	PRELIMINARY	850723	YELLOWSTONE RIVER, FROM BRIDGER CREEK TO CLARKS FORK YELLOWSTONE
76B	TEMPORARY	840322	YAAK RIVER
76C	TEMPORARY	840228	FISHER RIVER
76D	TEMPORARY	840322	KOOTENAI RIVER
76E	PRELIMINARY	180510	ROCK CREEK, TRIBUTARY OF CLARK FORK RIVER
76E	TEMPORARY	840329	ROCK CREEK, TRIBUTARY OF CLARK FORK RIVER
76F	PRELIMINARY	110210	BLACKFOOT RIVER
76FA	TEMPORARY	060310	UNION CREEK
76G	TEMPORARY	850517	CLARK FORK, ABOVE BLACKFOOT RIVER
76GJ	PRELIMINARY	160519	FLINT CREEK
76GJ	TEMPORARY	840329	FLINT CREEK
76H	sub-basins:	------	BITTERROOT RIVER
76HA	PRELIMINARY	151204	BITTERROOT RIVER, MAIN STEM
76HB	TEMPORARY	920916	BITTERROOT RIVER, NORTH END
76HE	TEMPORARY	940525	BITTERROOT RIVER, SOUTH END
76HF	PRELIMINARY	980114	BITTERROOT RIVER, WEST SIDE
76I	TEMPORARY	840809	FLATHEAD RIVER, MIDDLE FORK
76J	TEMPORARY	840809	FLATHEAD RIVER, SOUTH FORK
76K	TEMPORARY	840809	SWAN RIVER
76L	------	------	FLATHEAD RIVER, BELOW FLATHEAD LAKE
76LJ	------	------	FLATHEAD RIVER, TO AND INCLUDING FLATHEAD LAKE
76M	TEMPORARY	841129	CLARK FORK, BETWEEN BLACKFOOT AND FLATHEAD RIVERS
76N	TEMPORARY	840228	CLARK FORK, BELOW FLATHEAD RIVER

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Basin Location and Adjudication Status
November 9, 2018

76B
L I N C O L N
76D

Eureka
!

76LJ

40T

G L A C I E R

41L

40F

T O O L E

40G

40F

40K

40L

40N

D A N I E L S
Scobey
!

40Q

S H E R I D A N
Plentywood
!

40R

!
Libby

F L A T H E A D

Whitefish

B L A C K F E E T
Browning
!

Cut Bank
!

Shelby
!

41N

L I B E R T Y

H I L L

Havre
^!

Chinook
!

40J

!
!                                                                            Columbia  Falls
!

76I

41M

ROCKY BOY'S

B L A I N E         !

Malta
!

V A L L E Y

40O

F O R T  P E C K

R O O S E V E L T

76C

S A N D E R S

Kalispell
^!
!

!

!

P O N D E R A

T E T O N

Choteau

Conrad
!

41O

41P

40H

41T

F O R T
B E L K N A P
40I

P H I L L I P S

40M

Glasgow
!

40S

Wolf Point
!

40S

R I C H L A N D

Sidney

76N

F L A T H E A D

76J                                      !

!  Fort Benton

M c C O N E                                                                               !

Thompson Falls
!

Plains

!
Polson

Pablo
!

Ronan
!

76K

41Q

C H O U T E A U

40EJ

40E

40P

M I N E R A L

76M

76L

L A K E

!

M I S S O U L A
Mis^soula

76F

41K

41U
L E W I S
&
C L A R K
!

41QJ

!  Gre!at Falls

C A S C A D E

41R

J U D I T H B A S I N

41S

F E R G U S

Lewistown
!

40B

P E T R O L E U M

G A R F I E L D
40D

D A W S O N

42M

Glendive
!

39G

!

76HB Lolo !

!    !     !

Bonner

P O W E L L

41J

40C

P R A I R I E

W I B A U X

76HF

Stevensville
!

G R A N I T E
76GJ

Deer Lodge

Helena
^!
!

East Helena
!

41I

M E A G H E R

W H E A T L A N D

Harlowton

G O L D E N V A L L E Y

M U S S E L S H E L L

R O S E B U D

42K

M
!

42L

39H
Baker
!

76HA
Hamilton

R A V A L L I

76E

D E E R

76G   !

Anaconda

41E! Boulder
J E F F E R S O N

B R O A D W AT E R
Townsend
!

G A L L A T I N

!

40A

!
Roundup

T R E A S U R E

42KJ

! Forsyth

C U S T E R

F A L L O N

39FJ

76HE

L O D G E

Butte
!

S I L V E R B O W

Whitehall
!

!
Three Forks

Manhattan
!

Belgrade
!

43A

P A R K

Big Timber
!

43BV

Y E L L O W S T O N E
43Q

Billings
!

Colstrip
!

42C

42J

39E

41D

41G

Bozeman
!  ñ!

Livingston
!

S W E E T G R A S S

43QJ
Columbus

Laurel
!

Hardin
!

Crow Agency

42A
Lame Deer
!

N O R T H E R N

C A R T E R

B E A V E R H E A D

!  Dillon

M A D I S O N
41F

41H

43B

43BJ

!
S T I L L W A T E R

43C

43D
C A R B O N

43E

43P
C  R  O  W

B I G H O R N

43O

C H E Y E N N E

P O W D E R R I V E R

42I

39F

ñ  Water Court
^ Regional Offices

41B

41C

!
Red Lodge

43N

42B

38H

COUNTIES RESERVATIONS

41A

!

Temporary

Basin Boundary & Decree Status
Summary

Reexamination

Water Resources Division Nov 2018
NAD 1983 StatePlane Montana FIPS 2500

Preliminary Decree Preliminary Decree
Final Decree

Report Issued

Summary Report
Reexamination Preliminary Decree