DECREE INDEX INSTRUCTIONS The attached index is designed to help a person research and find water rights included in the decree. The decree consists of a computer-printed abstract for each individual water right decreed in the basin. Depending on the number of water rights within a basin, the decree may be in one or more volumes. Each volume is organized numerically by a water right identification (ID) number. Whenever a water right is referred to or discussed, use the entire water right ID number. This is the best way to be sure that everyone is communicating about the same water right. Example of ID number: 41H-W-119240-00 41H Code for drainage basin. W-119240-00 Specific identification number assigned to each water right by Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) There are six sections to the index. Each section is organized in a different manner, as outlined below. 1. SOURCE NAME INDEX This index lists all water rights alphabetically by the source name (source at point of diversion). If the point of diversion of a water right is not on the "main stem" of the source listed, a two letter tributary code will be shown immediately to the left of the source name. For example, UT West Gallatin River means the water right is diverted from an Unnamed Tributary to the West Gallatin River. Additional tributary codes are: SP (spring), WS (waste and seepage), SI (subirrigation), NP (natural pit), MP (manmade pit). Some sources have more than one commonly used name but only one has been selected as the standardized name. Standardization was based on names designated by the United States Geological Survey, Water Resources Survey, or that in most common local usage. It is recommended that all known names be checked. Also keep in mind that some source names (Spring Creek, Deer Creek, etc..) might identify more than one stream in a basin. Water rights with the same source name are listed chronologically by priority date. This secondary sort is useful in identifying the seniority of water rights on a specific source. 'B' designated late claims are sorted last within a source listing. 2. OWNER NAME INDEX: This index organizes all water rights alphabetically by all owner names. If you want to locate John Q. Public's water rights, look under "P" for Public. If a partnership or corporation is involved, such as Big Sky Angus Ranch, look under "B" for Big. Be sure to look for all likely owner names (ranch name, estate name, etc.) when you use this index as some owners filed rights both under a corporate name and individually. Page 2 Index Instructions 3. POINT OF DIVERSION INDEX: In this index, every point of diversion for each water right in the basin is listed by legal land description. The land descriptions are listed from lowest numbered township and range to highest numbered township and range. Within each township and range the sections are listed numerically. Water rights with the same point of diversion are listed chronologically by priority date. This secondary sort is useful in identifying the seniority of water rights diverted at a particular location. 4. PRIORITY DATE INDEX: All water rights within the drainage are listed from earliest to latest priority date according to month/day/year. Where no priority date has been decreed, the index shows 00/00/0000. Check the individual decree abstract for an explanation. 'B' designated late claims are sorted last within the priority date listing. Water rights with the same priority date are organized alphabetically by source name. For example, all June 15, 1865, water rights from the West Gallatin River would be together. 5. WATER RIGHT ID INDEX: Every water right has been assigned an identification number, for example, 41H-W-119240-00. This index organizes all water right ID numbers in numerical order from lowest to highest. 6. ISSUE REMARKS INDEX: This index is a list of the remarks used by the Water Court to identify certain problems or issues in the decree. The Water Court used these remarks when there was insufficient information to resolve a problem or potential problem. This index is arranged numerically by water right ID number. For each right listed the use, flow rate, priority date, source name, and owners are given along with the text of the issue remarks. SUMMARY: If you have questions about how to look up water right information in these indexes or how to read the decree abstracts, please contact the DNRC Water Resources Regional Office listed in the Notice of Entry for the decree of this basin. If you have questions about the correctness of any information in a particular water right, contact the Water Court and perhaps file an objection. How to file an objection is outlined in the Notice of Entry for the decree in each basin. Page 3 - Index Instructions FLOW PRIORITY POINT OF DIVERSION WATER RIGHT ID USE RATE DATE QTR SEC SEC TWP RGE CN TRIB SOURCE NAME OWNER NAME 41H-W-119240-00 IR 9.33C 06/15/1904 NENWNE 3 02S 04E GA WEST GALLATIN RIVER VALLEY DITCH CO 41H-W-114869-00 IR 1.23C 06/20/1905 NENWSW 27 01S 04E GA WEST GALLATIN RIVER EMMELKAMP VIVIAN R EMMELKAMP TRUMAN L 41H-W-055122-00 ST 03/07/1906 S2 28 07S 04E GA UT WEST GALLATIN RIVER US DEPT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST S 41H-W-022541-00 IR .75C 03/07/1906 SESWSE 19 01N 04E GA WEST GALLATIN RIVER KEYES E JANE SMITH C SPENCER 41H-W-055131-00 ST 06/01/1906 E2 32 07S 04E GA UT WEST GALLATIN RIVER US DEPT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST S 41H-W-055132-00 ST 06/01/1906 32 07S 04E GA UT WEST GALLATIN RIVER US DEPT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST S 41H-W-055133-00 ST 06/01/1906 S2 28 07S 04E GA UT WEST GALLATIN RIVER US DEPT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST S 41H-W-138863-00 ST 01/07/1910 NENWSW 23 02S 04E GA WEST GALLATIN RIVER ECTON RAY D ELLIOT ADA E 41H-W-140994-00 IR 2.00C 05/21/1911 NESWNE 16 01S 04E GA WEST GALLATIN RIVER HEINTZ THOMAS M 41H-W-210619-00 ST 05/23/1911 SESESW 9 01S 04E GA WEST GALLATIN RIVER BEAN BRADLEY J BEAN JACQUELINE M 41H-W-030586-00 IR 2.50C 06/01/1912 SESESE 15 03S 04E GA UT WEST GALLATIN RIVER A H BLACK CO NOTE: This is a sample of the Source Name Index. The other indexes have the same seven (7) columns except for the Issue Remarks Index. Column 1: This is the water right identification number. This number is necessary to look up a water right abstract in the decree. The best way to request information from either the Water Court or the DNRC for a particular water right is to use this entire number. Column 2: This two-letter code designates what the water is used for in this water right. The most common codes are ST for stockwater, DM for domestic, and IR for irrigation. A list of all use codes is on page 4 of these instructions. Column 3: This number designates the flow rate for this water right. The letter "C" after the number means the flow rate is measured in cubic feet per second. A letter "G" means gallons per minute. A blank means the Water Court did not quantify a flow rate for this right. Reasons for this can be found in the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law for the decree. Column 4: This is the priority date for this water right written month/day/year. A 00/00/0000 priority date is explained on the abstract for that right. Column 5: This column gives the point of diversion for this water right. All indexes except the Point of Diversion Index list only one point of diversion for each right regardless of the number of diversions claimed. The legal land description is in the format: Quarter Section-Section-Township-Range-County. Counties are listed as two-letter codes. A list of county codes is on page 4 of these instructions. Column 6: This is the name of the source of water for the right. A blank space usually indicates a problem with identifying the claimed source. Some names have a two letter code to the left of the source name. This indicates the diversion is on a tributary of the named source listed. These tributary codes are: (UT) Unnamed Tributary, (SP) Spring, (WS) Waste and Seepage, (SI) Subirrigation, (MP) Manmade Pit, and (NP) Natural Pit. Column 7: This is the owner or owners of this water right. All owners of each right are listed. Page 4 Index Instructions USE CODES AS agricultural spraying MC municipal CM commercial MD multiple domestic DM domestic MN mining DW dewatering NV navigation EC erosion control OF oil well flooding FC flood control OT observation & testing FP fire protection of groundwater aquifer FR fish raceways PA pollution abatement FW fish and wildlife PG power generation GE geothermal heating RC recreation IN industrial SC sediment control IR irrigation SG storage IS institutional ST stockwater LG lawn and garden WF waterfowl WI wildlife COUNTY CODES BE Beaverhead MC McCone BH Big Horn ME Meagher BL Blaine MI Mineral BR Broadwater MS Missoula CA Carbon MU Musselshell CH Chouteau PA Park CR Carter PE Petroleum CS Cascade PH Phillips CU Custer PI Prairie DA Daniels PO Pondera DL Deer Lodge PR Powder River DW Dawson PW Powell FA Fallon RA Ravalli FE Fergus RI Richland FL Flathead RO Roosevelt GA Gallatin RS Rosebud GF Garfield SA Sanders GL Glacier SB Silver Bow GR Granite SG Sweet Grass GV Golden Valley SH Sheridan HI Hill ST Stillwater JB Judith Basin TE Teton JE Jefferson TO Toole LA Lake TR Treasure LC Lewis and Clark VA Valley LI Liberty WH Wheatland LN Lincoln WI Wibaux MA Madison YE Yellowstone YP Yellowstone Park