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Water Resources
Survey Books and Field NotesWater Resources Survey Books

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.

Montana DNRC

Contact

  • Dept. of Natural Resources & Conservation
  • 1625 Eleventh Ave.
  • Helena, MT 59601
  • Phone: (406) 444-2074
  • Fax: (406) 444-2684
  • dnrc.mt.gov