HB 114 overhauled the permit and change process and will go into effect on January 1, 2024. The documents in this section will be used for preapplication meetings and permit and change applications beginning on January 1, 2024. We have made them available in advance so you can get a preview of the process changes to come. Please note that if you want to submit a permit or change application prior to January 1, 2024, you should use the forms available in the Beneficial Water Use Permit Forms and Water Right Change Forms sections, below.

600P: Permit Preapplication Meeting Form (Effective 01-2024)
600: Application for Beneficial Water Use Permit (Effective 01-2024)
600-TAA: Application for Beneficial Water Use Permit Technical Analysis Addendum (Effective 01-2024)
Permit Manual

606P: Change Preapplication Meeting Form (Effective 01-2024)
606: Application to Change a Water Right (Effective 01-2024)
606-TAA: Application to Change a Water Right Technical Analysis Addendum (Effective 01-2024)
Change Manual
 
613: Fee Schedule for Water Use in Montana (Effective 01-2024)

Technical Analysis Guide
Permit & Change Process Overview Document

 Pre-Application Meeting Form (Revised 08-2018)

• 600 GW: Groundwater Application for Beneficial Water Use Permit (Revised 07-2020)
  For appropriations of groundwater of more than 35 gallons per minute or 10 acre-feet per year. Submission of this application must include applicable addendums below.
• 600 SW: Surface Water Application for Beneficial Water use Permit (Revised 11-2020)
  For surface water appropriations. Submission of this application must include applicable addendums below.
• 600-606 WMA Water Marketing Addendum (Updated 06-19-2015)
• 600 ATA Aquifer Testing Addendum (Updated 03-2016)
• 600 BCA Basin Closure Addendum (New 10-12-2012)
• 600 HRA Hydrogeologic Report Addendum (New 10-12-2012)
• 600 SA Storage Addendum (New 10-12-2012)
• 600B Criteria Addendum for appropriations greater than 5.5 cubic feet per second and 4,000 acre-feet (Revised 02/2016)

Permit Application Manual

While not a one-stop-shop, the Permit Application Manual is a regularly updated document that provides a detailed summary of the different aspects of Department application review and processing. (Note that printing out the Water Right Permit Manual is not recommended due to its regular updates and large file size!)

East Valley Controlled Groundwater Area 

• 600-EVCGWA East Valley Controlled Groundwater Area Permit Application (New 02/2016)
• EVCGWA East Valley Controlled Groundwater Area Addendum (New 02/2016)

South Pine Controlled Groundwater Area

• 600-South Pine Controlled Ground Water Area Criteria Addendum (Updated 02/2016)

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.

• Yellowstone Controlled Groundwater Area Water Right Permit Process (Updated 03/2023)
• 600-YCGA: Yellowstone Controlled Groundwater Area Permit Application (Updated 03/2019)

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

• 600-YCGA: Yellowstone Controlled Groundwater Area Addendum Under 35 gallons per minute (Updated 03/2019)

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

• 600-Yellowstone Controlled Ground Water Area Addendum Over 35 gallons per minute (Updated 03/2019)

 

602 Notice of Completion of Ground Water Development (Revised 08/2023)
For groundwater developments with a maximum use of 35 gallons per minute or less not to exceed 10 acre-feet per year.

Additional Information Addendum to Form 602 (03/2023)

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

• 602-HCCGWA Notice of Completion of Ground Water Development – Horse Creek Controlled Groundwater Area
  For a completed groundwater well or developed spring in the HCCGWA where the water has been put to domestic, lawn & garden, and/or stock use with a maximum use of 35 gallons per minute not to exceed 1 acre-feet per year.  (If use exceeds 35 gallons per minute or 1 acre-foot per year or is for another purpose, file a Form 600, Application for Beneficial Water Use Permit.)

Request to Reduce a Groundwater Certificate (New 03-2015)
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

Pre-Application Meeting Form (Revised 08-2018)

• 606 Irrigation: Irrigation Application for Change of Appropriation Water Right (Revised 07-2020)
  For any change in point of diversion, place of use, purpose of use, or place of storage of any irrigation water right. Submission of this application must include applicable addendums below.
• 606 Non-Irrigation: Non-Irrigation Application for Change of Appropriation Water Right (Revised 07-2020)
  For any change in point of diversion, place of use, purpose of use, or place of storage of any non-irrigation water right. Submission of this application must include applicable addenda below.
• 606 Stock Tank (Revised 05-2023)
  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.
• 600-606 WMA Water Marketing Addendum (Updated 06-19-2015)
• 606 HUA Historical Use Addendum (Revised 12-29-2015)
• 606 IFA Instream Flow Addendum (Revised 01-2021)
• 606 PA Purpose Addendum (Updated 5-19-2014)
• 606 PSA Place of Storage Addendum (New 10-12-2012)
• 606 SWA Salvage Water Addendum (Revised 07-2020)
• 606 TCA Temporary Change Addendum (Updated 12-2019)

606 Non-Filed Water Project Addendum

606-CD Conservation District Water Reservation Based Change

606B Supplement to Application for Change of Appropriation Water Right
For any change in purpose of use or place of use of 5.5 or more cubic feet per second and 4,000 or more acre-feet.

608 DNRC Water Right Ownership Update
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.
**Be sure the form says it was revised on 10/2021 in the upper left corner.  If it does not, you will need to clear your browsing history.

Use to divide, exempt, or sever a water right:
Form 641 - Use this form for a water right that has been divided.
Form 642 - Use this form for a water right that has been exempted (reserved) from a land sale where the seller chose to retain ownership of the water right or for a water right that has been severed from the land without a land sale. Ownership of the water right must be expressly addressed in a deed or other recorded document of conveyance.

605 Application for Provisional Permit for Completed Stockwater Pit or Reservoir (Updated 11-2020)
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 03-2019)
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 08/2019)
Used to object to any Form 600, 606, 626, or 638 application.

613 Fee Schedule for the Appropriation of Water in MontanaUsed to determine filing fee for appropriations of water in Montana.

615 Water Conversion Table
Guide for standard water conversions and general water requirements.

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
Use this form to renew a Temporary Water Right Change.

630 Controlled Groundwater Area Petition (Revised 01-2017)
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
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 (Microsoft Excel document)
Comprehensive data collection form for reporting aquifer test information.

634 Replacement Well Notice
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

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

637 Reinstatement Request
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.

641 DNRC Ownership Update Divided Interest (Updated 03-2015)
For a water right that will be divided. Your water right will be divided into separate water rights based on the information provided.

642 DNRC Ownership Update Exempt (Reserved) / Severed Water Right (Updated 01-2013)
Use this form for a water right that has been exempted (reserved) from a land sale where the seller chose to retain ownership of the water right or for a water right that has been severed from the land without a land sale. Ownership of the water right must be expressly addressed in a deed or other recorded document.

644 Notice of Replacement Point of Diversion (Revised 12-2016)
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
Use this form for groundwater developments located in the Glacier National Park or Bighole 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
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 DevelopmentFor completed groundwater developments made by a local governmental fire agency to be used only for emergency fire protection.

649 Discharge (Q) (Revised 03-2022)

651 Petition to Modify a Permit or Change Application (R 12-2016)
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 (New 10-3-2013)
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.

Request to Withdraw a Water Right/Exempt Notice (Updated 06-2017)
For Provisional Permits, Ground Water Certificates, or Exempt Notices.

Subdivision Review Predetermination Form and Guidance

DNRC Predetermination Submittal Form (Fillable) - (Updated 03-14-2023)
Use this required form when requesting a water rights predetermination from DNRC for a proposed project which will be subject to DEQ or county sanitation or subdivision review.

Subdivision Review Predeterminations Guidance - (Updated 03-14-2023)
This guidance was written to assist DNRC staff processing predetermination requests, but may also help the public understand processing considerations.

Combined Appropriations Guidance - (Updated 03-23-2022)

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