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    • Important Notes:

    Updated Department combined appropriation guidance is now available. The document is listed alongside the 602 form in the Water Right Forms accordion, below.  It is also listed as a resource under Water Right Application Resources accordion, below. For more information regarding exempt well updates, please refer to the following webpage.

    The process and forms for permit and change applications (600 and 606 Forms) changed on January 1, 2024. Learn more about the changes here, or browse the Resources tab below for manuals and other guidance. Please note that fees for all types of water right forms also increased on January 1, 2024. 

    Welcome to the Water Rights Forms and Resources page. Please find two expandable sections below – one for Forms and one for Resources. Forms are listed in numerical order. The Resources section contains guidance manuals, reference documents, and other helpful tools to assist you in various water rights processes.

    For optimization of water right forms that are currently available as fillable documents and that you would like to complete electronically, it is recommended that you download the form and open in a program such as Adobe Acrobat (rather than in a browser window) prior to filling it out.

    Once you have completed a form, you may print it out and mail it or email it to the appropriate regional office. If you have questions about the forms and resources available on this page, or to find contact information for your regional office, please visit the Water Resources Regional Offices page.

    Beneficial Water Use Permit Forms

    Request For Preapplication Meeting (Updated 02/2025)
    Used to make a written request for a preapplication meeting.

    600P-A: Permit Preapplication Meeting Form: Part A (Updated 03/2025)
    600P-B: Permit Preapplication Meeting Form: Part B (Updated 02/2025)
    Used during the preapplication meeting process to collect information required for technical analyses. Part A is used during the preapplication meeting. Part B is submitted within 180 days of the preapplication meeting. Additional sheets referenced in Part A are located at the bottom of this list of forms.


    600: Application for Beneficial Water Use Permit (Updated 02/2025)
    For appropriations of surface water and appropriations of groundwater of more than 35 gallons per minute or 10 acre-feet per year.

    Submission of an Application for Beneficial Water Use Permit must include applicable addenda. Form 600 includes directions for when each addendum is required.

    Controlled Groundwater Area Forms

    South Pine Controlled Groundwater Area

    Applicants wishing to appropriate water in the South Pine CGWA should use the Form 600.

    Yellowstone Controlled Groundwater Area 

    Applicants wishing to appropriate water in the YCGA must apply for a Permit for Beneficial Water Use from the Montana DNRC and install a meter to measure the total volume of water used. Meters are provided free of charge by DNRC, made possible with NPS funding.

    View a map of the Yellowstone Controlled Groundwater Area.

    For groundwater uses within the Yellowstone Controlled Groundwater Area up to 35 gallons per minute and 10 acre-feet per year:

    For uses over 35 gallons per minute or 10 acre-feet per year, use Form 600 and the following addendum:

    East Valley Controlled Groundwater Area 

    Applicants wishing to appropriate water in the East Valley CGWA should use the following forms. 

    For uses under 35 gallons per minute and 10 acre-feet per year:

    For uses over 35 gallons per minute or 10 acre-feet per year, use Form 600 and the following addendum:

     

    Groundwater Development Forms

    602 Notice of Completion of Groundwater Development (Updated 07/2024)
    For groundwater developments with a maximum use of 35 gallons per minute or less not to exceed 10 acre-feet per year.

    Guidance on Combined Appropriations (Updated 06/2024)

    Additional Information Addendum to Form 602 (Updated 03/2023)

    Horse Creek Controlled Groundwater Area (for use ONLY in the Controlled Area in Stillwater County)

    602-R Request to Reduce a Groundwater Certificate (Updated 08/2024)
    Use this form to reduce the flow rate, volume place of use, period of use, and/or purposes of use on an existing groundwater certificate.

    603 Well Log Report Used Only by Drillers to Record Wells Drilled

    Water Right Change Forms

    Request For Preapplication Meeting (Updated 02/2025)
    Used to make a written request for a preapplication meeting.

    606P-A: Change Preapplication Meeting Form: Part A (Updated 02/2025)
    606P-B: Change Preapplication Meeting Form: Part B (Updated 02/2025)
    Used during the preapplication meeting process to collect information required for technical analyses. Part A is used during the preapplication meeting. Part B is submitted within 180 days of the preapplication meeting. Additional sheets referenced in Part A are located at the bottom of this list of forms.

    606: Application to Change a Water Right (Updated 02/2025)
    For any change in point of diversion, place of use, purpose of use, or place of storage of any water right.

    Submission of an Application to Change a Water Right must include applicable addenda. Form 606 includes directions for when each addendum is required:

    606-CD: Conservation District Water Reservation Based Change (Updated 01/2024)
    Complete this form to add a point of diversion, place of use, or place of storage to a Conservation District Water Reservation. Complete this form if the point of diversion, or if any portion of the proposed place of use, or a place of storage was not included in the original public notice.

    606-ST: Stock Tank (Updated 01/2024)
    Complete this form to add stock tanks to a water right, move existing stock tanks, or change to stock tanks from an instream direct water right.

    Water Right Ownership Update Forms

    608 Water Right Ownership Update (Updated 01/2024)
    Use for all changes in ownership of entire water right.  Do not use this form if you are a user of a municipal or irrigation district water system.

    Use to divide (split), partially sever, or fully sever a water right:

    Form 641 - Use this form for a water right that has been divided.
    Form 642 - Use this form for a split and severed water right.
    Form 643 - Use this form for a water right that has been fully severed.

    Other Water Right Forms

    605 Application for Provisional Permit for Completed Stockwater Pit or Reservoir (Updated 01/2024)
    May only be used to apply for a water use permit for a completed stock watering pit or reservoir when the following criteria are met: (1) capacity is less than 15 acre-feet with an annual appropriation of less than 30 acre-feet; (2) located on a non-perennial flowing stream; and (3) constructed on and accessible to a parcel of land 40 acres or larger and owned or under the control of the applicant. 

    607 Application for Extension of Time (Updated 01/2024)
    Request for additional time to complete a Provisional Permit or Authorization Change.

    609 Water Use Complaint

    609INS — Water Right Dispute Options

    611 Objection to Application (Updated 01/2024)
    Used to object to any Form 600, 606, 626, or 638 application.

    613 Fee Schedule for Water Use in Montana  (Updated 01/2024)
    Used to determine filing fee for appropriations of water in Montana.

    617 Notice of Completion of Permitted Water Development (Updated 03/2019)
    Filed after completion and beneficial use of a Provisional Permit.

    618 Notice of Completion of Change of Appropriation Water Right (Updated 03/2019)
    Filed after completion of an Authorization to Change.

    625 Correction of Water Right Record (Revised 12/2018)

    626 Notice of Renewal (Updated 01/2024)
    Use this form to renew a Temporary Water Right Change.

    630 Controlled Groundwater Area Petition (Updated 01/2024)
    For groundwater users to petition the Board of Natural Resources and Conservation for creation of a controlled groundwater area.

    631 Petition for Closure of a Highly Appropriated Basin (Updated 01/2024)
    For existing water right holders to petition the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation to limit or reject new water uses within a highly appropriated water basin or subbasin.

    633 Aquifer Test Data Form (Updated 05/2024; Microsoft Excel document)
    Comprehensive data collection form for reporting aquifer test information.

    634 Replacement Well Notice (Updated 09/2024)
    For municipal wells that do not exceed 450 gpm or for all wells that do not exceed 35 gpm and 10 acre-feet per year.

    606/634-NFWPA Non-Filed Water Project Addendum
    Use this form to file a replacement well on a non-filed water project.

    635 Redundant Well Construction Notice (Updated 01/2024)
    For redundant wells in a public water supply system as defined by 75-6-102, MCA.

    637 Reinstatement Request (Updated 01/2024)
    To request reinstatement of a terminated Provisional Permit or Change Authorization.

    639 Waiver of Statutory Timelines
    To allow additional time regarding a water right application. Applicable only to permit or change applications received by DNRC prior to 1/1/2024.

    641 DNRC Ownership Update, Divided Interest (Updated 01/2024)
    Use this form for a water right that has been divided.

    642 DNRC Ownership Update, Split, and Sever of a Water Right (Updated 01/2024)
    Use this form for a split and severed water right.

    643 DNRC Ownership Update, Severed Water Right (Effective 01/2024)
    Use this form for a water right that has been fully severed.

    644 Notice of Replacement Point of Diversion (Updated 01/2024)
    For a replacement point of diversion on a surface water source.
    Waiver, for water right holders with intervening points of diversion.

    645 Permit Registration for Groundwater Use within the National Park Service Compact Area (Updated 01/2024)
    Use this form for groundwater developments located in the Glacier National Park or Big Hole National Battlefield Compact Area for appropriations not to exceed 35 gallons per minute and 10 acre-feet per year.

    646 Geothermal Heating/Cooling Notice of Completion (Updated 01/2024)
    For completed ground water developments not to exceed 350 gallons per minute for non-consumptive geothermal heating and cooling purposes.

    647 Notice of Completion of Emergency Fire Protection Development
    For completed groundwater developments made by a local governmental fire agency to be used only for emergency fire protection.

    651 Petition to Modify a Permit or Change Application (Updated 01/2024)
    Use this form to request a modification of your permit or change authorization. The Petition can be used to modify or remove a condition or reduce the flow rate or volume authorized.

    652 Petition to Create Stream Depletion Zone (Updated 01/2024)
    For existing water right holders to petition the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation to limit flow rate and volume of new wells that are exempt from the permitting process.

    653 Variance Request (Updated 11/2024)
    654 Public Comment on Application (Effective 01/2024)
    655 Application Amendment Form (Effective 01/2024)

    Request to Withdraw a Water Right/Exempt Notice (Updated 09/2024)
    For Provisional Permits, Ground Water Certificates, or Exempt Notices.

    Additional Sheets for Permit and Change Forms

    Use the following additional sheets for questions in the permit or change Preapplication Meeting Forms or permit or change Technical Analyses Addenda that require multiple responses. 

    Form 600P

    Form 600-TAA

    Form 606P

    Form 606-TAA

    Water Measurement Report Forms

    WM-02 Flow Meter Report Form
    WM-03 Hour Meter Report Form
    WM-05 Watt Hour Meter Report Form
    WM-06 Staff Gage Report Form
    WM-07 Open Channel Report Form
    WM-08 Static Level Report Form
    WM-09 Mitigation and Marketing for Mitigation Reporting Form or Excel document

    Guidance on Combined Appropriations (Updated 06/2024)

    Permit Application Manual (Updated 02/2025)

    Change Application Manual (Updated 02/2025)

    The Permit and Change Application Manuals are regularly updated documents that provide a detailed summary of the different aspects of Department application review and processing. Note that printing out the Manuals is not recommended due to its regular updates and large file size!

    Technical Analysis Guide (Updated 02/2025)

    Permit & Change Process Overview Document (Updated 10/2024)

    613: Fee Schedule for Water Use in Montana (Effective 01/01/2024)

    DNRC Water Calculation Guide

    Flow Measurement Calculator (Microsoft Excel File) (Updated 08/2024)

    On January 4, 2024, staff from the New Appropriations Program, Water Sciences Bureau, and Regional Offices hosted a webinar about updates to the permit and change application process from the passage of HB 114. Many attendees requested the webinar recording and presentation:

    HB 114 Webinar Recording
    HB 114 Webinar PowerPoint Presentation

    Since the HB 114 effective date on January 1, DNRC has constantly evaluated what is going well and what areas need improvement internally. Representatives from DNRC's Regional Water Offices, New Appropriations Program and Water Sciences Bureau hosted a Zoom feedback session on July 11, 2024 to share data and gather feedback about the preapplication process so far. 

    HB 114 Feedback Call