Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025

This bill would modify the existing 2010 water rights settlement agreement between the Crow Tribe of Montana and the state of Montana. The settlement originally authorized the federal Bureau of Reclamation to rehabilitate the Crow Irrigation Project and develop a municipal, rural, and industrial water system on the Crow Reservation.

The proposed amendments would establish two dedicated funding accounts to support these water infrastructure efforts. A new Crow CIP Implementation Account would provide ongoing funding for rehabilitating the irrigation project, while a separate MR&I Projects Account would fund activities related to water production, treatment, and delivery infrastructure. Additionally, the bill would extend by five years, until 2030, the period during which the Crow Tribe has exclusive rights to construct hydropower facilities at the Yellowtail Afterbay Dam.

If enacted, these changes would provide clearer financial mechanisms and extended timelines for completing water infrastructure improvements that serve the Crow Reservation. The bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process and has been referred to committee for consideration.