MFU applauds Daines and Tester for taking action on the CSKT Water Compact

Great Falls, MT- Montana Farmers Union would like to thank Senator Steve Daines and Senator Jon Tester for introducing a bill to settle the Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribes Water Compact (CSKT). The CSKT Water Compact was passed by the Montana legislature in 2015 and has been awaiting congressional action.

“Thanks to this legislation Montana water users are one step closer to bringing to fruition decades of negotiations on settling water rights affecting up to 73% of Montana’s irrigated acres,” said MFU President Walter Schweitzer. “Stakeholders from all over Montana put in countless hours working on this solution to a centuries old problem.”

MFU is appealing to Congressman Greg Gianforte to move quickly to introduce the CSKT Water Compact into the House.  If the CSKT Water Compact is not passed by January the Montana Water Court will be forced to start adjudicating thousands of CSKT water rights. “This could put water users across the state at risk,” said Schweitzer. “Montana farmers and ranchers are facing enough uncertainty. The last thing producers need is to have their water rights challenged and potentially lose the use of water necessary to operate and make a living.”

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