House Bill 22 History

The 2003 legislature asked the Environmental Quality Council (EQC) to study water in Montana. HB22 is the result of the EQC's 18-month study. EQC concluded that getting the adjudication of the remaining 57,000 claims was the state's highest priority for water. EQC met with many water user groups during their study. The groups agreed the adjudication process needed to be completed, and after much discussion agreed to the terms of HB22.

HB22 serves two functions. The first is to provide funding to the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) and the Water Court to complete the adjudication process. The DNRC has 10 years to finish their examination of the remaining 57,000 claims. The Water Court has 15 years to issue the first decree in every basin in the state. There are currently 32 basins that need decrees. The second function sets benchmarks for DNRC. DNRC must meet these benchmarks or the funding will stop.

For further information see EQC's report at the following website.

http://leg.mt.gov/content/publications/environmental/2004waterreport.pdf