The Division carries out its duties for the purpose of promoting the general welfare and prosperity of the people of Montana. Sound coordination of the development and utilization of the state’s waters allows the Division to protect existing uses and to promote adequate future supplies for domestic, industrial, agricultural, recreation, the conservation of water for wildlife, aquatic life and other beneficial uses.
Current Topics
The Montana Drought Plan Webinar which introduced the process for the new Drought Management Plan, and provided background on drought in Montana occurred on Thursday October 14, 2021. Click here for the recording. The Meeting Agenda is also available. Additional information on drought can be found in the Drought Primer.
Are you interested in being involved in the Drought Plan Update? Please complete the short Stakeholder Interest Form.
As of July 2018, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT or Tribes) and United States Department of Justice (USDOJ) have filed 10,109 claims in place of the Compact. These claims, filed as placeholders to the Compact, are currently stayed before the Montana Water Court. If the Compact is approved by the U.S. Congress, the Tribes, and the Water Court, both sets of claims will be dismissed. If the Compact is not approved, both sets of claims will be adjudicated through the Montana Water Court.
Please visit the HB-110 page for information on the notice you received for HB-110. Hotline – 406-444-0560 (please be patient as we are experiencing a high volume of calls).
By filing your exempt water right, a water right in existence before 1973 and exempted from the two previous mandatory claim filing periods, you are able to enforce the right against all other timely filed water rights in the state and are entitled to receive notice of water right proceedings in your basin.
Notification letters sent recently to Flathead-area water right owners from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation's (DNRC) Water Adjudication Bureau are part of the agency's ongoing claims examination process – Oct 11, 2016.
State permitted activities in designated sage grouse habitat are subject to Executive Orders 12-2015 and 21-2015. Consult with the Sage Grouse Habitat Conservation Program prior to submitting a permit application. See the Program webpage athttps://sagegrouse.mt.govfor a map of designated habitats and more information.
The plan is a synthesis of the vision and efforts of DNRC and regional Basin Advisory Councils established in Montana's four main river basins and addresses key water management related issues facing Montana.
Information for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes-Montana Compact negotiations and implementation will be posted on this site as it becomes available.
Water use options for oil well development; water rights, conservation districts, water reservations and the oil boom; and guidance for municipalities.
Historical Benefical Use Explained (Video)
Who should I contact?
The Water Resources Regional Offices are here to help! Please contact your local office for assistance or, you may contact the Water Resources Division Main Line at 406-444-6601.
