Montana Water Trust

September 10, 2005 By: Marshall Cutchin

Montana Water Trust does good work, extending the state’s practice of purchasing water rights to ensure adequate stream flows for native trout. “Brianna Randall, a Montana Water Trust development associate, said the agreements take many forms, running the gamut from long-term leases to installing more efficient irrigation systems and then leasing the water that’s saved for in-stream use. Montana is one of just a few states that recognize in-stream flows as a beneficial use of water. The Legislature changed the state’s water code in 1995 to allow water rights holders to transfer some or all of their water rights to in-stream use.” Perry Backus in the Missoulian.