S. 241 would approve and carry out a water-rights settlement between the Fort Belknap Indian Community and Montana. The settlement would recognize the Community’s water rights, including 20,000 acre-feet of Lake Elwell water each year. It also sets rules for water use and leasing, provides for transfers of certain public and state lands into trust, and funds water, irrigation, sewer, and related projects. Some settlement terms would take effect only after tribal approval, court approval, required funding, and other steps. The bill also authorizes funding for water distribution and wastewater facilities for the Blackfeet Tribe. The bill is in progress and was ordered reported favorably by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.
The Community would manage its water rights under a tribal water code, with protections and allocation processes for individual allottees. The bill would support water and irrigation work, domestic water and sewer systems, and related projects. It would also transfer specified lands to trust for the Community, subject to the bill’s conditions. No settlement funds may be distributed to Community members as per-person payments.
The bill authorizes up to $89.6 million for tribal irrigation and water-resource projects, $331.9 million for domestic water, sewer, and Lake Elwell projects, up to $187.1 million for the irrigation system, and up to $300 million for Milk River Project work. It also directs Treasury deposits totaling about $435.8 million across four accounts and requires a $5 million state contribution plus interest. Separately, it authorizes $250 million for Blackfeet Tribe water and wastewater facilities. Some authorized amounts require appropriations; the bill also allows adjustments for construction cost changes.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.