Text Size 
Water Resources
Survey Books
and Field Notes
The Montana Water Resources Survey is a comprehensive county by county assessment of Montana’s historical water use. This data was collected and published from 1943 thru 1965 by the State Engineers Office and from 1966 thru 1971 by the Water Conservation Board. Most published surveys consist primarily of two parts: Part I; a known historical account of water use in the county, and Part II; survey maps of current water use at the time of publishing.
The survey data was derived from courthouse records in conjunction with individual contacts with landowners, field investigations and aerial photography. Data collected from various other agencies and resources were also used.
The Montana Water Resources Survey is an excellent resource for various state and federal agencies, water users and the public. As the very nature of the prior appropriation doctrine is based on historical use, these surveys become an invaluable tool used in today’s efforts to adjudicate Montana’s water rights.
The Montana Water Resources Survey field notes are a comprehensive county by county record of Montana’s historical water use. This data was collected from 1943 thru 1965 by the State Engineers Office and from 1966 thru 1971 by the Water Conservation Board.
The survey data was derived from courthouse records in conjunction with individual contacts with landowners, field investigations and aerial photography. Data collected from various other agencies and resources were also used.
The Montana Water Resources Survey field notes are an excellent resource for various state and federal agencies, water users and the public. As the very nature of the prior appropriation doctrine is based on historical use, these surveys become an invaluable tool used in today’s efforts to adjudicate Montana’s water rights.
Water Rights Bureau
Water Adjudication Bureau (PDF file links viewable with Acrobat Reader.)
Water Resources Survey Publication Availability and Statistics
By County| BEAVERHEAD: WRS No data available Field Notes BIG HORN: WRS Published 1947 Part I Field Notes BIG HORN: WRS Published 1947 Part II BLAINE: WRS Published 1967 Field Notes BROADWATER: WRS Published 1956 Field Notes CARBON: WRS Published 1946 Part I Field Notes CARBON: WRS Published 1946 Part II CARBON: WRS Published 1966 CARBON: County Ground Water Inventory Published 1969 CARTER: WRS Published 1960 Field Notes CASCADE: WRS Published 1961 Field Notes CHOUTEAU: WRS Published 1964 Field Notes CUSTER: WRS Published 1948 Part Field Notes CUSTER: WRS Published 1948 Part II DANIELS: WRS No data available Field Notes DAWSON: WRS Published 1970 Field Notes DEER LODGE: WRS Published 1955 Field Notes FALLON: WRS Published 1960 Field Notes FERGUS: WRS No data available Field Notes Fergus County Irrigated Area Maps part 1, part 2, part 3, and part 4 Unpublished FLATHEAD: WRS Published 1965 Field Notes GALLATIN: WRS Published 1961 Field Notes GARFIELD: WRS No data available Field Notes GLACIER: WRS Published 1969 Field Notes GOLDEN VALLEY: WRS Published 1949 Part I Field Notes GOLDEN VALLEY: WRS Published 1949 Part II GRANITE: WRS Published 1959 Field Notes HILL: WRS Published 1967 Field Notes JEFFERSON: WRS Published 1956 Field Notes JUDITH BASIN: WRS Published 1963 Field Notes LAKE: WRS Published 1963 Field Notes LEWIS and CLARK: WRS Published 1965 Field Notes LIBERTY: WRS Published 1969 Field Notes LINCOLN: WRS Published 1965 Field Notes MADISON: WRS Published 1965 Field Notes MCCONE: WRS Published 1971 Field Notes MEAGHER: WRS Published 1950 Part I Field Notes MEAGHER: WRS Published 1950 Part II |
MINERAL: WRS Published 1969 Field Notes MISSOULA: WRS Published 1960 Field Notes MUSSELSHELL: WRS Published 1949 Part I Field Notes MUSSELSHELL: WRS Published 1949 Part II PARK: WRS Published 1951 Part I Field Notes PARK: WRS Published 1951 Part II PETROLEUM: WRS No data available Field Notes PHILLIPS: WRS Published 1968 Field Notes PONDERA: WRS Published 1964 Field Notes POWDER RIVER: WRS Published 1961 Field Notes POWELL: WRS Published 1959 Field Notes PRAIRIE: WRS Published 1970 Field Notes RAVALLI: WRS Published 1965 Field Notes RICHLAND: WRS Published 1971 Field Notes ROOSEVELT: WRS No data available Field Notes ROSEBUD: WRS Published 1948 Part I Field Notes ROSEBUD: WRS Published 1948 Part II ROSEBUD ARMELLS CREEK Field Notes ROSEBUD CREEK 42A Field Notes SANDERS: WRS Published 1969 Field Notes SHERIDAN: WRS No data available Field Notes SILVER BOW: WRS Published 1955 Field Notes STILLWATER: WRS Published 1946 Part I Field Notes STILLWATER: WRS Published 1946 Part II SWEET GRASS: WRS Published 1950 Part I Field Notes SWEET GRASS: WRS Published 1950 Part II TETON: WRS Published 1962 part 1, part 2 Field Notes TONGUE RIVER BASIN Field Notes TOOLE: WRS Published 1969 TREASURE: WRS Published 1951 VALLEY: WRS Published 1968 WHEATLAND: WRS Published 1949 Part I Field Notes WHEATLAND: WRS Published 1949 Part II WIBAUX: WRS Published 1960 Field Notes YELLOWSTONE: County Irrigated Area Maps Published 1943 Field Notes YELLOWSTONE: County Irrigation District Published 1943 |
Download GIS shapefile data for the entire state - zip file 35MB (ESRI shapefile format)
GIS data includes digitized areas of irrigation and ditches from WRS survey maps.
