Water Rights

Protects the Tribes' inherent water rights and makes sure they are recognized, quantified and preserved for current and future generations.

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.

The Water Rights Program is housed within the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes Natural Resources Department, under the Division of Engineering and Water Resources. The program’s objectives include managing and tracking the Tribes various water rights, registering existing and new uses, advocating for off-reservation water rights, and implementing other instream flows.

Information line for those who have received objections from CSKT for state-based water rights in Basin 76LJ and 76L

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

Interactive map

Interactive ArcGIS content from DEWR's GIS team. Loads from arcgis.com.

Open full screen

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.

For more information on the Milltown Water Right, click the link below to view the Milltown Water Right: Naạycčstm StoryMap!

If you would like technical assistance creating a drought plan or would like to provide input on water management within the Blackfoot or Upper Clark Fork River Basins, please click the link below!

Flathead Reservation Water Management Board

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Compact

Tribal Water Rights Registration Office

Unitary Administration and Management Ordinance

State Ratified Compact

Water Rights Query System