New Law Protects Ranchers' Water Rights
Author: Brett French, Billings Gazette Reporter
New Law Protects Ranchers' Water Rights
Brett French
Billings Gazette Reporter
A new law designed to make it easier for landowners to temporarily lease their water, without the risk of losing their water rights, took effect on Oct. 1.
Senate Bill 178 was passed in this year’s Legislature at the urging of the Galt family and Absaroka Energy. Absaroka Energy has proposed building its $1.5 billion Gordon Butte Pumped Storage Hydro Project on the Galt’s 71 Ranch LP near Martinsdale.
The bill was initially opposed by the Montana Stockgrowers Association and the Senior Water Rights Coalition, along with other ag and water rights groups, due to the amount of water that was proposed for leasing — up to 2,000-acre-feet.
After being amended, the bill easily passed the House and Senate.
Requests for comments from opponents on the new law were not immediately returned. Conservation groups, such as Montana Trout Unlimited, see the measure as a way to pay landowners to keep water in streams as hotter, drier summers persist.
This article was originally published in the Billings Gazette.
