Compacts
Rocky Boys Indian Reservation 85-20-601 MCA
A compact between the State and the Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation was reached in early 1997. The compact has been ratified by the 1997 Montana State Legislature and was signed by Governor Marc Racicot on April 14, 1997. The compact has been ratified by the U.S. Congress.
U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 85-20-501 MCA
The reserved water rights compact with the Bureau of Land Management for both the Upper Missouri Wild and Scenic River and Bear Trap Canyon Public Recreation Site on the Madison River was finalized in 1997. It does not require ratification by Congress. The compact is in the Montana Water Court process. This completes negotiations between the BLM and the Compact Commission.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) 85-20-701 MCA
In 1996, a compact between the State and the USFWS was reached for both the Benton Lake and Black Coulee National Wildlife Refuges (NWR). The Compact was ratified by the 1997 Montana State Legistature and was signed by Governor Marc Racicot on March 25, 1997. A compact for Red Rocks Lakes NWR was ratified by the legislature and signed by the Governor. The compacts have gone through the final federal approval process and will go on to the Montana Water Court. They do not require ratification by Congress.
Negotiations concerning the three remaining USFWS units are in progress:
Charles M. Russell/UL Bend NWR
National Bison Range
Red Rocks Lakes NWR 85-20-801 MCA
A compact for Red Rocks Lakes NWR was ratified by the legislature and signed by the Governor. The compacts have gone through the final federal approval process and will go on to the Montana Water Court. They do not require ratification by Congress.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service compact for Red Rock Lakes required some amendments, which were passed by the 1999 legislature. The amendments correct errors found in a consumptive use chart within the compact. They do not change the meaning of the original compact agreed to by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Compact Commission.
Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation 85-20-301 MCA
Negotiations between the Commission and the Northern Cheyenne Tribe were successfully concluded in 1991. The Northern Cheyenne Compact was ratified by Congress and signed into law in September 1992.
National Park Service 85-20-401 MCA
A reserved water rights compact with the National Park Service for Yellowstone and Glacier Parks, and the Big Hole Battlefield was finalized in 1993. The 1995 Legislature ratified a compact for the remaining two Park Service units: Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument and Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, completing Park Service negotiations in Montana. The compact does not require congressional approval.
Fort Peck Indian Reservation 85-20-201 MCA
Negotiations between the Commission and the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Ft. Peck Indian Reservation were successfully concluded in 1985. The Fort Peck compact is still awaiting Congressional approval.
Crow Indian Reservation 85-20-901 MCA
A compact settlement between the Crow Tribe, the United States and the Commission passed the Legislature in 1999. Negotiations on a Streamflow Management Plan for the Bighorn River and section 2 of the Crow Allotment Act must be completed before the Compact is submitted to Congress.
Fort Belknap Indian Reservation 85-20-1001 MCA
A compact between the State and the Gros Ventre and Assiniboine tribes of the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation was ratified by the 2001 Montana State Legislature and signed by Governor Judy Martz. Negotiations continue on a federal bill which must go to Congress.
USDA Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Station 85-20-1101 MCA
The compact settles the administrative, irrigation, stock and emergency fire suppression water rights for Fort Keogh near Miles City. It includes reserved rights to Fort Keogh's current irrigation use from the Yellowstone River and some future irrigation use, and it includes a small amount of current use from a tributary of the Tongue River.
USDA Sheep Experiment Station 85-20-1201 MCA
The Compact settles the stock water, domestic, irrigation, storage, dust abatement, reclamation, research, emergency fire suppression and other water rights of the small portion of the Sheep Experiment Station located in Montana.
Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge 85-20-1301 MCA
The compact settles the reserved water rights for uses including administrative, wildlife habitat maintenance and enhancement, stockwatering and other. The FWS watr rights are contingent on an MOU which must be attached to the compact as Appendix 3. The MOU will have provisions relating to the solution of the severe salinity problems on the Refuge. Commission staff is working with FWS on this MOU.
USDA Forest Service 85-20-1401 MCA
The water compact between the State of Montana and the U.S. Forest Service which took more than 15 years to negotiate has been signed by the governor and the appropriate federal officials. In general, the compact recognizes reserved water rights for the Forest Service for administrative and emergency fire fighting, and for instream flows for the South Fork Flathead Wild and Scenic River. The compact uses state law to create state-based water rights for instream flow on the National Forest System lands.
