The December 14, 2012 state-wide order issued by the Montana Water Court entitled Order Addressing ReExamination set up what became SB57 and the new direction for the Adjudication Bueau. SB57 provides for funding for the reexamination of 90,000 previously decreed claims in 44 basins. It sets new benchmarks for the Bueau to meet and must be completed by June 30, 2023. A committee made up of Water Court and DNRC staff met in September of 2012 to address the reexamination issue. It was also decided not to limit the reexam to only claims examined using the verification process, but to include all claims in decrees issued prior to March 28, 1997 that are not a final decree. It was also decided a complete reexamintion of the claims was not necessary, but only those elements causing potential problems for water distribution needed to be reviewed. Review of water right elements that may cause water distribution problems is the focus along with applying  standards to make claims consistant across the state.

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** Currently being reexamined