Montana Code Annotated
Part 3. Appropriations, Permits, and Certificates of Water Rights
85-2-320. Change in appropriation right authorization for instream flow -- United States department of agriculture, forest service

85-2-320. Change in appropriation right authorization for instream flow -- United States department of agriculture, forest service. (1) (a) The department shall accept and process an application by the United States department of agriculture, forest service for a change in appropriation right under the provisions of 85-2-402 and this section to protect, maintain, or enhance streamflows to benefit the fishery or other resources on national forest system lands.
(b) To change an appropriation right, the United States department of agriculture, forest service must own the appropriation right that it seeks to change to an instream flow right, the diversion or withdrawal that is to be changed to instream flow must be located within or immediately adjacent to the exterior boundaries of national forest system lands on the date provided in 85-20-1401, Article IV.B.2., and the stream reach in which the streamflow is to be protected, maintained, or enhanced must be located within or immediately adjacent to the exterior boundaries of national forest system lands as of the date provided in 85-20-1401, Article IV.B.2. The application for a change in appropriation right must:
(i) include specific information on the length and location of the stream reach in which the streamflow is to be protected, maintained, or enhanced; and
(ii) provide a detailed streamflow measuring plan that describes the point where and the manner in which the streamflow must be measured.
(2) In addition to the requirements of 85-2-402, when applying for a change in appropriation right pursuant to this section, the United States department of agriculture, forest service, shall prove by a preponderance of the evidence that:
(a) the change in appropriation right authorization to protect, maintain, or enhance streamflows to benefit the fishery or other resources, as measured at a specific point, will not adversely affect the water rights of other persons[, except for a water right identified in a written consent to approval filed pursuant to 85-2-402 in connection with the change in appropriation right]; and
(b) the amount of water for the proposed instream flow use is needed to protect, maintain, or enhance streamflows to benefit the fishery or other resources.
(3) The proposed method of measurement of the water to protect, maintain, or enhance streamflows to benefit the fishery or other resources must be approved by the department before a change in appropriation right may be approved.
(4) The department is not responsible for costs associated with installing devices or providing personnel to measure streamflows according to the measurement plan submitted under this section.
(5) If an appropriation right is changed pursuant to this section, the priority of the appropriation right remains the same as the appropriation right that was changed.
(6) A change in appropriation right authorization under this section does not create a right of access across private property or allow any infringement of private property rights.
(7) The maximum quantity of water that may be subject to a change in appropriation right authorization to protect, maintain, or enhance streamflows to benefit the fishery or other resources is the amount historically diverted. However, only the amount historically consumed or a smaller amount if specified by the department in the change in appropriation right authorization may be used to protect, maintain, or enhance streamflows to benefit the fishery or other resources below the existing point of diversion.
(8) The department may modify or revoke the change in appropriation right up to 10 years after it is approved if an appropriator with a priority of appropriation that is earlier than the change in appropriation right that was granted submits new evidence that was not available at the time the change in appropriation right was approved that proves by a preponderance of evidence that the appropriator's water right is adversely affected[, unless the prior appropriator has filed a written consent to approval pursuant to 85-2-402 in connection with the change]. (Bracketed language in subsections (2)(a) and (8) terminates September 30, 2023--sec. 8, Ch. 243, L. 2017.)
History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 213, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 335, L. 2013; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 243, L. 2017.

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