The Water Adjudication Program assists the Montana Water Court in the adjudication of all claims to pre July 1, 1973 water rights. The Program examines all claims pursuant to Supreme Court rules and provides a summary report to the Water Court on each of the basins (85) in the state. Pursuant to legislation passed in 2005, the Program completed the examination of the remaining 57,000 claims (as of 2005) by June 30, 2015 and must provide summary reports to the Water Court for the remaining 30 basins by June 30, 2020. As of July 1, 2015, the Program is responsible for the reexamination of 90,000 claims in 44 basins. These were previously decreed under the verification process and not the claim examination rules. In accordance with SB57, which sets certain benchmarks for the Program, all reexamination of these basins are to be completed by June 30, 2023. The Program is required to report progress quarterly to the Water Policy Interim Committee. The Program also provides post decree assistance to the Water Court as requested and to District Courts as Water Court decrees are placed under enforcement (upon petition to the District Court).

1962-1973 GROUND WATER RECORD K
GROUND WATER CERTIFICATE C
INTER-STATE CLAIM X
POWDER RIVER DECLARATION D
PROVISIONAL PERMIT P
STOCKWATER PERMIT P
TEMPORARY PERMIT Q
RESERVED CLAIM U
STATEMENT OF CLAIM W
WATER RESERVATION M
CONSERVATION DISTRICT RECORD R

If you have received a claimant contact letter associated with the examination process, the response time was increased from 30 to 60 days on 2/14/2024. All letters dated after 2/14/2024 will be given the full 60 days to respond and work with the Department. 

 

Adjudication Status: Sorted by Drainage Basin Number

Basin # Final Decrees Decree Type Date Issued Basin Name
PRELIMINARY 04-04-2019 BLACKFEET TRIBE - STATE OF MONTANA - UNITED STATES COMPACT
PRELIMINARY 04-04-2019 BLACKFEET TRIBE'S OFF RESERVATION INSTREAM RESERVED WATER RIGHTS
PRELIMINARY 03-06-2009 BLM MONTANA COMPACT
PRELIMINARY 04-02-2014 BOWDOIN WILDLIFE REFUGE COMPACT
PRELIMINARY 07-30-2015 CHARLES  M. RUSSELL NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE MONTANA COMPACT
PRELIMINARY 06-09-2022 CONFEDERATED SALISH AND KOOTENAI TRIBES COMPACT
PRELIMINARY 12-21-2012 CROW COMPACT
PRELIMINARY 05-19-2008 FOREST SERVICE MONTANA COMPACT
PRELIMINARY 08-21-2014 FORT KEOGH LRRL MONTANA COMPACT
PRELIMINARY 10-30-2011 FWS NATIONAL BISON RANGE COMPACT
PRELIMINARY 09-24-2015 UPPER MISSOURI RIVER BREAKS NATIONAL MONUMENT COMPACT
PRELIMINARY 08-21-2014 US SHEEP EXPERIMENT STATION COMPACT
FINAL 07-12-2021 TURTLE MOUNTAIN BAND OFCHIPPEWA INDIANS
PRELIMINARY 10-28-2016 TURTLE MOUNTAIN BAND OFCHIPPEWA INDIANS
38H FINAL 03-27-1984 BELLE FOURCHE RIVER,ABOVE CHEYENNE RIVER
39E PRELIMINARY 02-05-2020 BOX ELDER CREEK
39E TEMPORARY 02-01-1985 BOX ELDER CREEK
39F INTERLOCUTORY 07-27-2023 LITTLE MISSOURI RIVER, ABOVE LITTLE BEAVER CREEK
39F PRELIMINARY 05-23-2019 LITTLE MISSOURI RIVER, ABOVE LITTLE BEAVER CREEK
39F TEMPORARY 02-01-1985 LITTLE MISSOURI RIVER, ABOVE LITTLE BEAVER CREEK
39FJ FINAL 05-23-2024 LITTLE BEAVER CREEK
39FJ INTERLOCUTORY 09-22-2022 LITTLE BEAVER CREEK
39FJ PRELIMINARY 11-01-2018 LITTLE BEAVER CREEK
39FJ TEMPORARY 01-31-1985 LITTLE BEAVER CREEK
39G INTERLOCUTORY 11-02-2022 BEAVER CREEK, TRIBUTARY OFLITTLE MISSOURI RIVER
39G PRELIMINARY #2
12-19-2018 BEAVER CREEK, TRIBUTARY OFLITTLE MISSOURI RIVER
39G PRELIMINARY #1 01-18-1985 BEAVER CREEK, TRIBUTARY OFLITTLE MISSOURI RIVER
39H FINAL 03-27-1984 LITTLE MISSOURI, BELOWLITTLE BEAVER CREEK
40A PRELIMINARY 06-07-2017 MUSSELSHELL RIVER, ABOVE ROUNDUP
40A TEMPORARY 05-07-1985 MUSSELSHELL RIVER, ABOVE ROUNDUP
40B PRELIMINARY 05-05-2011 FLATWILLOW CREEK, INCLUDINGBOX ELDER CREEK
40C PRELIMINARY 06-07-2017 MUSSELSHELL RIVER, BELOW ROUNDUP
40C TEMPORARY 02-06-1990 MUSSELSHELL RIVER, BELOW ROUNDUP
40D PRELIMINARY #2 08-19-2020 BIG DRY CREEK
40D PRELIMINARY #1 09-28-1984 BIG DRY CREEK
40E PRELIMINARY 10-07-2020 MISSOURI RIVER, BETWEEN MUSSELSHELL RIVER AND FORT PECK DAM
40E TEMPORARY 03-07-1985 MISSOURI RIVER, BETWEEN MUSSELSHELL RIVER AND FORT PECK DAM
40EJ PRELIMINARY 04-25-2014 MISSOURI RIVER, BETWEEN BULLWHACKER CREEK AND MUSSELSHELL RIVERS
40F INTERLOCUTORY 07-13-2022 MILK RIVER, ABOVE FRESNO RESERVOIR
40F PRELIMINARY 12-12-2013 MILK RIVER, ABOVE FRESNO RESERVOIR
40G FINAL 11-8-2024 SAGE CREEK
40G INTERLOCUTORY 03-23-2022 SAGE CREEK
40G PRELIMINARY #2 04-11-2019 SAGE CREEK
40G PRELIMINARY #1 12-20-1983 SAGE CREEK
40H FINAL 10-28-2021 BIG SANDY CREEK
40H INTERLOCUTORY 06-17-2020 BIG SANDY CREEK
40H PRELIMINARY 01-22-2003 BIG SANDY CREEK
40I PRELIMINARY 06-20-2013 PEOPLES CREEK
40J PRELIMINARY 06-24-2010 MILK RIVER, BETWEEN FRESNO RESERVOIR AND WHITEWATER CREEK
40K INTERLOCUTORY 08-02-2023 WHITEWATER CREEK
40K PRELIMINARY 03-07-2019 WHITEWATER CREEK
40K TEMPORARY 11-21-1989 WHITEWATER CREEK
40L PRELIMINARY 10-26-2017 FRENCHMAN CREEK
40L TEMPORARY 01-16-1985 FRENCHMAN CREEK
40M PRELIMINARY 03-20-2009 BEAVER CREEK, TRIBUTARY OFMILK RIVER
40N PRELIMINARY #2 06-17-2020 ROCK CREEK, TRIBUTARY OF MILK RIVER
40N PRELIMINARY #1 08-13-1985 ROCK CREEK, TRIBUTARY OF MILK RIVER
40O INTERLOCUTORY 01-11-2024 MILK RIVER, BELOW WHITEWATER INCLUDING PORCUPINE CREEK
40O PRELIMINARY 05-24-1995 MILK RIVER, BELOW WHITEWATER INCLUDING PORCUPINE CREEK
40P FINAL 05-22-1985 REDWATER RIVER
40Q SUPPLEMENTAL INTERLOCUTORY DECREE 06-15-2023 POPLAR RIVER
40Q FINAL 12/22/2022 POPLAR RIVER
40Q INTERLOCUTORY 01-14-2021 POPLAR RIVER
40Q PRELIMINARY 12-29-1999 POPLAR RIVER
40R FINAL 12-22-2022 BIG MUDDY CREEK
40R INTERLOCUTORY 12-30-2020 BIG MUDDY CREEK
40R PRELIMINARY 01-28-2010 BIG MUDDY CREEK
40S INTERLOCUTORY 07-20-2023 MISSOURI RIVER, BELOW FORT PECK DAM
40S PRELIMINARY 12-29-1999 MISSOURI RIVER, BELOW FORT PECK DAM
40T INTERLOCUTORY 03-17-2022 ST. MARY RIVER
40T PRELIMINARY 06-25-2014 ST. MARY RIVER
41A PRELIMINARY 05-09-2013 RED ROCK RIVER
41B PRELIMINARY 05-09-2013 BEAVERHEAD RIVER
41C TEMPORARY 11-14-1990 RUBY RIVER
41D TEMPORARY 04-06-2007 BIG HOLE RIVER
41E PRELIMINARY 10-19-2022 BOULDER RIVER, TRIBUTARY OF JEFFERSON RIVER
41E TEMPORARY 06-20-1985 BOULDER RIVER, TRIBUTARY OF JEFFERSON RIVER
41F PRELIMINARY 07-26-2023 MADISON RIVER
41F TEMPORARY 07-25-1984 MADISON RIVER
41G PRELIMINARY 02-15-2018 JEFFERSON RIVER
41G TEMPORARY 10-17-1989 JEFFERSON RIVER
41H PRELIMINARY 10-11-2018 GALLATIN RIVER
41H TEMPORARY 09-26-1985 GALLATIN RIVER
41I PRELIMINARY 06-24-2022 MISSOURI RIVER, ABOVE HOLTER DAM
41I TEMPORARY 03-08-1995 MISSOURI RIVER, ABOVE HOLTER DAM
41J INTERLOCUTORY 09-11-2024 SMITH RIVER
41J PRELIMINARY 12-16-2010 SMITH RIVER
41K PRELIMINARY 01-28-2021 SUN RIVER
41K TEMPORARY 05-14-1985 SUN RIVER
41L INTERLOCUTORY 09-02-2021 CUT BANK CREEK
41L PRELIMINARY 10-08-2015 CUT BANK CREEK
41M INTERLOCUTORY 07-28-2023 TWO MEDICINE RIVER
41M PRELIMINARY 03-20-2015 TWO MEDICINE RIVER
41N INTERLOCUTORY 11-10-2022 WILLOW CREEK
41N PRELIMINARY #2 03-29-2018 WILLOW CREEK
41N PRELIMINARY #1 07-06-1984 WILLOW CREEK
41O TEMPORARY 12-29-2005 TETON RIVER
41P PRELIMINARY 04-23-2015 MARIAS RIVER
41Q INTERLOCUTORY 09-30-2021 MISSOURI RIVER, FROM SUN TOMARIAS RIVER
41Q PRELIMINARY 05-27-2010 MISSOURI RIVER, FROM SUN TOMARIAS RIVER
41QJ TEMPORARY 02-06-2008 MISSOURI RIVER, FROM HOLTER DAM TO SUN RIVER
41R PRELIMINARY 06-23-2011 ARROW CREEK
41S PRELIMINARY 08-18-2022 JUDITH RIVER
41S TEMPORARY 05-17-1984 JUDITH RIVER
41T PRELIMINARY 04-19-2012 MISSOURI RIVER, FROM MARIAS RIVER TO AND INCLUDING BULLWHACKER CREEK
41U PRELIMINARY 12-16-2021 DEARBORN RIVER
41U TEMPORARY 05-10-1984 DEARBORN RIVER
42A INTERLOCUTORY 02-24-2022 ROSEBUD CREEK
42A PRELIMINARY 05-23-2013 ROSEBUD CREEK
42B INTERLOCUTORY 01-12-2022 TONGUE RIVER, ABOVE AND INCLUDING HANGING WOMAN CREEK
42B PRELIMINARY 02-28-2008 TONGUE RIVER, ABOVE AND INCLUDING HANGING WOMAN CREEK
42C INTERLOCUTORY 10-11-2023 TONGUE RIVER, BELOW HANGING WOMAN CREEK
42C PRELIMINARY 02-28-2008 TONGUE RIVER, BELOW HANGING WOMAN CREEK
42I 42J FINAL 05-31-1983 LITTLE POWDER RIVER POWDER RIVER, BELOW CLEAR CREEK
42K PRELIMINARY 09-19-1985 YELLOWSTONE RIVER, BETWEENTONGUE AND POWDER RIVERS
42KJ TEMPORARY 11-14-2003 YELLOWSTONE RIVER, BETWEEN BIGHORN AND TONGUE RIVERS
42L FINAL 04-17-1985 O'FALLON CREEK
42M INTERLOCUTORY 08-17-2022 YELLOWSTONE RIVER, BELOWPOWDER RIVER
42M PRELIMINARY 01-24-2014 YELLOWSTONE RIVER, BELOWPOWDER RIVER
43A PRELIMINARY 02-14-2019 SHIELDS RIVER
43A TEMPORARY 08-03-1988 SHIELDS RIVER
43B PRELIMINARY 05-09-2019 YELLOWSTONE RIVER, ABOVE AND INCLUDING BRIDGER CREEK
43B TEMPORARY 01-16-1985 YELLOWSTONE RIVER, ABOVE AND INCLUDING BRIDGER CREEK
43BJ TEMPORARY 04-03-1985 BOULDER RIVER, TRIBUTARY OF YELLOWSTONE RIVER
43BV PRELIMINARY 05-27-2021 SWEET GRASS CREEK
43BV TEMPORARY 12-19-1984 SWEET GRASS CREEK
43C TEMPORARY 11-07-1985 STILLWATER RIVER
43D PRELIMINARY 03-07-2017 CLARKS FORK YELLOWSTONE RIVER
43D TEMPORARY 06-09-1993 CLARKS FORK YELLOWSTONE RIVER
43E INTERLOCUTORY 02-23-2022 PRYOR CREEK
43E PRELIMINARY 02-25-2010 PRYOR CREEK
43N INTERLOCUTORY 09-12-2024 SHOSHONE RIVER
43N PRELIMINARY 06-13-2013 SHOSHONE RIVER
43O INTERLOCUTORY 07-21-2023 LITTLE BIGHORN RIVER
43O PRELIMINARY 03-25-2010 LITTLE BIGHORN RIVER
43P INTERLOCUTORY 07-21-2023 BIGHORN RIVER, BELOW GREYBULL RIVER
43P PRELIMINARY 01-25-2016 BIGHORN RIVER, BELOW GREYBULL RIVER
43Q TEMPORARY 12-29-1998 YELLOWSTONE RIVER, BETWEENCLARKS FORK YELLOWSTONE AND BIGHORN RIVER
43QJ PRELIMINARY 09-25-2024 YELLOWSTONE RIVER, FROM BRIDGER CREEK TO CLARKS FORK YELLOWSTONE
43QJ PRELIMINARY 07-23-1985 YELLOWSTONE RIVER, FROM BRIDGER CREEK TO CLARKS FORK YELLOWSTONE
76B TEMPORARY 03-22-1984 YAAK RIVER
76C TEMPORARY 02-28-1984 FISHER RIVER
76D PRELIMINARY 05-06-2021 KOOTENAI RIVER
76D TEMPORARY 03-22-1984 KOOTENAI RIVER
76E PRELIMINARY 05-10-2018 ROCK CREEK, TRIBUTARY OF CLARK FORK RIVER
76E TEMPORARY 03-29-1984 ROCK CREEK, TRIBUTARY OF CLARK FORK RIVER
76F PRELIMINARY 02-10-2011 BLACKFOOT RIVER
76FA TEMPORARY 03-10-2006 UNION CREEK
76G PRELIMINARY 11-14-2024 CLARK FORK, ABOVE BLACKFOOT RIVER
76G TEMPORARY 05-17-1985 CLARK FORK, ABOVE BLACKFOOT RIVER
76GJ PRELIMINARY 05-19-2016 FLINT CREEK
76GJ TEMPORARY 03-29-1984 FLINT CREEK
76H sub-basins: ------ BITTERROOT RIVER
76HA PRELIMINARY 12-04-2015 BITTERROOT RIVER, MAIN STEM
76HB TEMPORARY 09-16-1992 BITTERROOT RIVER, NORTH END
76HE TEMPORARY 05-25-1994 BITTERROOT RIVER, SOUTH END
76HF PRELIMINARY 01-14-1998 BITTERROOT RIVER, WEST SIDE
76I TEMPORARY 08-09-1984 FLATHEAD RIVER, MIDDLE FORK
76J PRELIMINARY 11-29-2018 FLATHEAD RIVER, SOUTH FORK
76J TEMPORARY 08-09-1984 FLATHEAD RIVER, SOUTH FORK
76K TEMPORARY 08-09-1984 SWAN RIVER
76L ------ ------ FLATHEAD RIVER, BELOW FLATHEAD LAKE
76LJ ------ ------ FLATHEAD RIVER, TO AND INCLUDING FLATHEAD LAKE
76M PRELIMINARY 10-09-2024 CLARK FORK, BETWEEN BLACKFOOT AND FLATHEAD RIVERS
76M TEMPORARY 11-29-1984 CLARK FORK, BETWEEN BLACKFOOT AND FLATHEAD RIVERS
76N PRELIMINARY 09-21-2023 CLARK FORK, BELOW FLATHEAD RIVER
76N TEMPORARY 02-28-1984 CLARK FORK, BELOW FLATHEAD RIVER