Northern Montana Water Security Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Rep. Zinke, Ryan K. [R-MT-1]
Introduced
Summary
Fort Belknap water settlement and land trust transfers would ratify a negotiated water-compact, convert specific federal parcels into trust for the Fort Belknap Indian Community, and fund major irrigation, mitigation, and domestic water projects across the region.
Show full summary
- Fort Belknap households and tribal government would gain a 20,000 acre-foot per year Lake Elwell storage allocation and new Trust Fund accounts to finance irrigation, water administration, and community water and sewer projects.
- Farmers, allottees, and irrigation users would see rehabilitation and expansion of the Fort Belknap Irrigation Project, including a Milk River unit and a project obligation ceiling of $415.8 million for planning and construction.
- The bill would require mitigation work on the Milk River Project to restore canal capacities with mitigation obligations capped at $300 million and would authorize $250 million for Blackfeet Tribe wastewater and water distribution facilities.
*Would authorize and direct deposits and appropriations of hundreds of millions of dollars, including mandatory appropriations and up to $300 million for mitigation, thereby increasing federal outlays.*
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
20,000 acre-feet for Fort Belknap
The Fort Belknap Indian Community would receive 20,000 acre‑feet per year of Lake Elwell storage for use on or off the Reservation. The Tribe would sign a perpetual allocation agreement and could lease or exchange this water within the Missouri River Basin, but could not permanently give it away. The United States would not charge a water service capital fee for this water, construction costs allocable to the Tribe would be nonreimbursable, and the Tribe would pay only a proportional share of O&M&R for industrial leases. The U.S. would not have to pay to develop or deliver the water.
Fort Belknap irrigation upgrades and debt relief
The Secretary would fix, modernize, and expand the Fort Belknap irrigation project, with total obligations capped at $415.8 million before indexing and oversight costs capped at 3% per project. A project management committee would be formed within one year, costs to the Secretary would not be reimbursed, and cost savings could be moved into an O&M account at the Tribe’s request. Separately, on enactment, the bill would cancel all construction and annual O&M assessment debts and liens tied to the Fort Belknap Indian Irrigation Project on tribal allotments.
Upgrade St. Mary and Milk River canals
The Secretary would work with the State and tribes to restore the St. Mary Canal to 850 cubic feet per second and enlarge the Dodson South Canal to 700 cubic feet per second. Total federal obligations would be capped at $300 million before indexing. The requirement would be met if the capacities are achieved or if all available mitigation funds are spent and the work still cannot be completed despite diligent efforts. Federal costs would not be reimbursed.
Funding and rules for Fort Belknap water
If enacted, this would set up a Settlement Trust Fund and a separate Implementation Fund with two accounts for irrigation and Milk River mitigation. It would direct $89.6 million to the Tribal Irrigation account and $331.9 million to the Clean and Safe Domestic Water account, authorize up to $187.1 million and up to $300 million for two implementation accounts, and require Treasury deposits of $29.9 million, $66.6 million, $110.6 million, and $228.7 million. Authorized amounts could be adjusted using a construction cost index until fully appropriated. Most Trust Fund money would be usable on the enforceability date, with some accounts available upon deposit for listed uses; no per‑capita payments would be allowed. Withdrawals would require a tribe‑run management or spending plan approved by the Secretary, and the Tribe would file annual spending reports. Investment earnings could be used as allowed, and the Secretary would not be liable for how the Tribe spends withdrawn amounts.
Water and sewer funds for Blackfeet
The bill would authorize $250 million, subject to appropriation, for planning, building, operating, maintaining, and replacing community water and wastewater systems for the Blackfeet Tribe. Funds would be available only if Congress later appropriates them.
Fort Belknap land transfers and access
Federal parcels would be taken into trust for the Tribe on the enforceability date, and exchanged lands would be taken into trust within 10 years. The Secretary would provide $10 million to help with appraisals and exchange work, and the State would contribute $5 million plus interest when a final decree is approved. Specified federal parcels would be temporarily withdrawn from public land and mining laws until they are placed into trust. About 2,500 acres of Dodson Land would also go into trust within 10 years, but a perpetual federal easement would limit uses; a cooperative agreement within 3 years would set allowed uses. If your lease or permit on transferred land ends, you would have 90 days to remove your personal property or it could become Tribe property, and private landowners could apply (at their expense) for a right‑of‑way needed for customary access.
Fort Belknap settlement steps and deadlines
The bill would ratify the Fort Belknap–Montana water compact and direct the Secretary to execute it, while following environmental laws; signing would not itself count as a major federal action under NEPA. The settlement would take effect only after six steps, including a tribal vote, court approval, deposits of funds, a signed allocation agreement, state funding, and executed waivers, followed by a notice from the Secretary. On that date, the Tribe and the United States (as trustee for allottees) would waive many older claims, while specific rights and claims would be kept. Legal time limits would be paused from enactment until the enforceability date. The title would expire if funding is not provided by January 21, 2035, or if required findings are not published by January 21, 2036 (unless later dates are agreed), and the United States would not be liable if Congress does not provide enough money or a designated fund lacks funds. It would also define who counts as an allottee and what land is part of the Reservation.
Free Policy Watch
You just read the policy. Now see what it costs you.
Pick a topic. PRIA runs your household against live legislation and sends you a free personalized readout.
Pick a topic to get started
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rep. Zinke, Ryan K. [R-MT-1]
MT • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Downing, Troy [R-MT-2]
MT • R
Sponsored 1/31/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.govTake It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Take the PRIA Score to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in