Water rights deal good for Montana

Congress is finally poised to decide a century-old dispute over Western water rights thanks to bipartisan leadership from Montana’s two senators.

Republican Sen. Steve Daines is the lead sponsor of new legislation that emerged last week that will settle, once and for all, the dispute between Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, and federal and state governments.

Daines’ Montana Water Rights Protection Act builds upon the framework of the CSKT Water Compact, first introduced by Democrat Sen. Jon Tester in 2016. While the compact languished without bipartisan support, Daines’ proposal appears to adequately bridge the divide with opponents who crafted the so-called “People’s Compact” in response to Tester’s legislation.

The Trump Administration has given its stamp of approval to Daines’ plan, and Tester has signed on as the lead co-sponsor.

As with any good compromise, concessions were made by folks on both sides of the aisle.

The Tribes agreed to relinquish 97% of their water claim rights, including all rights on the Flathead Reservation, while Congress would provide the Tribes with $1.9 billion for rehabilitation of the Flathead Indian irrigation project — $400 million less than what the original deal proposed. In exchange, the deal transfers control of the National Bison Range to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

The settlement also avoids lengthy and costly litigation.

With bipartisan support, and Daines and Tester’s leadership in the Senate, is likely this long-overdue settlement will finally be signed into law. And that’s good news for Montana taxpayers, working ranches and farms, wildlife conservation and the tribes.

It’s high time we put this dispute to bed.