Water Rights Program
The Water Rights Program Mission is to “protect the tribes’ inherent water rights and ensures that these rights are recognized, quantified, and preserved for future and current generations”.
Our Work
The Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes—Montana Water Rights Compact is an agreement between CSKT, the State of Montana, and the United States. This agreement was made to fulfill the quantification of the Séliš, Ql̓ispé, and Ksanka water rights as guaranteed through the 1855 Hellgate Treaty.
On April 15, 2015, the Montana Legislature ratified the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes—Montana Water Rights Compact establishing the tribes inherent on-reservation and off-reservation water rights.
Upon the Water Compact effective date (9/17/2021) notable changes in how water rights within the Flathead Reservation are governed took effect including the establishment of the Flathead Reservation Water Management Board under the Unitary Administration & Management Ordinance. The Board is an independent from the tribes’ and state, and is the exclusive regulatory body for water rights administration on the Flathead Indian Reservation.
For Tribal Members or allottees who wish to register an existing use as part of the Tribal Water Right, CSKT please contact the Tribal Water Rights Registration Office. Deadline for existing use registrations is September 17, 2026.
For more information about on-reservation water rights administration, please visit: Flathead Reservation Water Management Board
Public Meetings
CSKT & FWP will host meetings in May to discuss the framework and answer questions. The meeting schedule is:
Deer Lodge: May 19th at 6:30pm Powell County Community Center
Ovando: May 20th at 6:30pm Ovando Fire Hall
Drummond: May 22nd at 6:30pm Community Hall