Montana Water Rights Protection Act

10/28/2022, 1:45 AM

Montana Water Rights Protection Act

This bill authorizes, ratifies, and confirms a specified water rights settlement entered into by the United States, Montana, and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation of Montana. Specified claims of the tribes against the United States are waived and released.

The bill directs the Department of the Interior to allocate specified amounts of storage water in Hungry Horse Reservoir for use by the tribes.

It also permits the tribes to carry out specified activities related to the Flathead Indian Irrigation Project, such as rehabilitating structures, upgrading irrigation facilities, and restoring streams that are affected by such project.

In addition, the bill (1) establishes, for purposes of carrying out the bill, the Séliš-Qlispé Ksanka Settlement Trust Fund; (2) requires Interior to offer to negotiate with Montana for the transfer of specified parcels of state land; (3) requires the National Bison Range to be held in trust for the benefit of the tribes; and (4) requires Interior to make certain payments to Lake and Sanders Counties in Montana for the restoration of the National Bison Range.

Congress
116

Number
S - 3019

Introduced on
2019-12-11

# Amendments
0

Sponsors
+5

Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

12/11/2019

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

Montana Water Rights Protection Act

This bill authorizes, ratifies, and confirms a specified water rights settlement entered into by the United States, Montana, and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation of Montana. Specified claims of the tribes against the United States are waived and released.

The bill directs the Department of the Interior to allocate specified amounts of storage water in Hungry Horse Reservoir for use by the tribes.

It also permits the tribes to carry out specified activities related to the Flathead Indian Irrigation Project, such as rehabilitating structures, upgrading irrigation facilities, and restoring streams that are affected by such project.

In addition, the bill (1) establishes, for purposes of carrying out the bill, the Séliš-Qlispé Ksanka Settlement Trust Fund; (2) requires Interior to offer to negotiate with Montana for the transfer of specified parcels of state land; (3) requires the National Bison Range to be held in trust for the benefit of the tribes; and (4) requires Interior to make certain payments to Lake and Sanders Counties in Montana for the restoration of the National Bison Range.

Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedA bill to protect access to water for all Montanans, and for other purposes.

Policy Areas
Native Americans

Potential Impact
Federal-Indian relations
Government trust funds
Indian claims
Indian lands and resources rights
Land transfers
Land use and conservation
Montana
Water storage
Water use and supply
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Comments

Recent Activity

Latest Summary2/2/2021

Montana Water Rights Protection Act

This bill authorizes, ratifies, and confirms a specified water rights settlement entered into by the United States, Montana, and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes o...


Latest Action7/29/2020
Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.