MISSOULA — Public plans for water rights in the Upper Clark Fork River Basin are almost finalized following years of work — but water rights get complicated.
A meeting hosted by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes is planned for 6:30 p.m. on Thursday in Drummond.
FWP and CSKT now publicly co-own the Milltown Water Right, which was once used for hydropower at the Milltown Dam and are going to manage the right to support fish conservation in the Upper Clark Fork and Blackfoot River basins.
Public input is ready to be accepted for input on their plans for the water.
Thursday's meeting will be held at the Drummond Community Hall.
Review the framework online here. Public meetings, hosted by FWP and CSKT, are set for May to go through the details and answer questions.
Additional information from FWP and CSKT:
The Clark Fork River lies in the heart of the CSKT’s aboriginal territory and has been used by the Tribes to fish, hunt, camp, and as a travel corridor for generations. For over 100 years, the Milltown Water Right was used by the former Milltown Dam to supply hydropower to the Bonner lumber mill and surrounding communities. In 2008, when the dam was removed, the State of Montana acquired the water right with the intent to help restore the fishery in the Upper Clark Fork River Basin.
Then, on April 24, 2015, the Montana Legislature ratified a Montana Water Rights Compact between the CSKT and State of Montana and split the Milltown Water Right into two rights—one for the Upper Clark Fork and one for the Blackfoot (still referred to collectively as the Milltown Water Right)—and made FWP and CSKT co-owners of the water right.
Enforcement of the water right was deferred until April 24, 2025, to give FWP and CSKT the opportunity to engage with stakeholders in the area. As FWP and CSKT move into the final stages of planning, they are sharing the framework and asking for input on future water management in the Upper Clark Fork and Blackfoot Basins. Find out more, provide input, sign up for updates, and request assistance with local water planning at fwp.mt.gov.
