CSKT-Montana Water Compact
The Compact
The CSKT-Montana Water Compact is a Tribal-State Federal agreement that quantifies and protects the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ federally reserved water rights under the 1855 Hellgate Treaty. The Compact was approved by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, the Montana Legislature, and the United States Congress, and became effective on September 17, 2021, following approval by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior.
1855 to 2026
Dates
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1855
The Hellgate Treaty, under which the Compact quantifies and protects the Tribes' federally reserved water rights.
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Ratification by Montana Legislature and signed by Governor Steve Bullock
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Ratified by the United States Congress and signed by President Donald Trump
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Approved by the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes by signed Council Resolution
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Compact approval and release of waivers signed by Department of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland
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The Montana Water Court approved the CSKT-Montana Water Compact, marking the completion of decades of negotiation and legal proceedings.
Answered by DEWR
Questions About the Compact
What is the CSKT-Montana Water Compact?
The CSKT-Montana Water Compact is a Tribal-State Federal agreement that quantifies and protects the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ federally reserved water rights under the 1855 Hellgate Treaty. The Compact was approved by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, the Montana Legislature, and the United States Congress, and became effective on September 17, 2021, following approval by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior.
Has the Montana Water Court approved the Compact?
On May 12, 2026, the Montana Water Court approved the CSKT-Montana Water Compact, marking the completion of decades of negotiation and legal proceedings. The final decree confirms the Tribes’ water rights and establishes the legal framework for administering the water rights recognized under the Compact.
Who administers water rights on the Reservation?
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.
I received an objection from CSKT on my water right. Who do I call?
Information line for those who have received objections from CSKT for state-based water rights in Basin 76LJ and 76L: (406) 675-2700 ext. 1616.
How do I register an existing water use?
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.
What is the Milltown Water Right?
On April 24, 2015, the Montana Legislature ratified the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes Montana Water Rights Compact. This established the Milltown Water Right as an off-Reservation instream flow (non-consumptive) water right co-owned between CSKT and the State of Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks.
The purpose of the Milltown Water Right is to maintain and enhance fish habitat in the Upper Clark Fork and Blackfoot Rivers.
What does DEWR do?
DEWR works to implement the CSKT-Montana Water Compact through engineering, science, planning, construction, operations, resource management, and public engagement. Our work includes irrigation modernization, fish passage and habitat restoration, dam safety, road improvements, water rights implementation, hydrologic monitoring, and community outreach.
Where can I read the Compact and its appendices?
View the CSKT-Montana Water Compact, the Unitary Administration and Management Ordinance (UAMO), and related appendices on the Compact documents page.
“Water acts as the master regulator and lifeblood of all other natural resources. It sustains biodiversity, drives plant growth via soil, regulates regional climates, and provides the lifeblood for our subsistence fisheries and cultural resources. Without it, forests, wildlife, fisheries, and agricultural systems would collapse.”