Bills Ensure Montana Tribes’ Water Rights
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that two of his bills to support Montana’s tribal communities have passed the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and are now one step closer to becoming law. The “Northern Montana Water Security Act” will complete the Fort Belknap Indian Community (FBIC) Water Settlement, the final Indian water rights settlement in Montana, and the “Crow Tribe Water Settlement Amendment Act” will provide additional support for infrastructure updates.
“These bills are critical in ensuring Montana’s tribes are supported with the resources they need, and I’m glad to see them pass out of committee. I’ll keep fighting with my colleagues every step of the way to get them across the finish line,” said Daines.
Northern Montana Water Security Act:
The “Northern Montana Water Security Act” would complete the final Indian Rights Water Settlement, the Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement in Montana after years of negotiations. It would provide $1.3 billion to improve infrastructure and economic development for tribal water users, authorize $300 million in funding to complete the restoration of the Milk River Project and Dodson South Canal and prevent costly litigation by affirming the Fort Belknap Indian Community’s senior water rights. It would also authorize $250 million towards the construction of an upstream wastewater treatment on the Blackfeet Reservation to replace aging infrastructure and deliver clean, safe water to the community.
Click HERE for bill text and HERE for a one pager on the bill.
Crow Tribe Water Settlement Amendment Act:
The “Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act” of 2009 settled the Crow Tribe’s water rights and authorized $460 million to construct a water system for the tribe. The “Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlements Amendments Act” would update the previous settlement to be fund-based rather than project-based, and also extends the authorization for the Tribe to develop hydropower on the Yellowtail Afterbay Dam until 2030, providing clean energy and an economic boost to the community.
Click HERE for bill text and HERE for a one pager on the bill.
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Contact: Matt Lloyd, Rachel Dumke