Water Distribution is the process where water users elect to have their water distributed on their behalf. District Court appointed Water Commissioners facilitate the distribution of water on Distribution Projects according to priority. DNRC provides education, support, water right data, and other information to help with the distribution process.

This page contains information on specific Distribution Projects and resources for Water Commissioners.

Water Distribution

Water Distribution is intimately connected to Water Commissioners and the Adjudication status of each basin in Montana. Distribution refers to the apportioning of waters to different valid water right holders (water users) within the bounds of the law. Montana uses the prior appropriation, “first in time, first in right” doctrine for water rights, which means senior water rights get fulfilled in their entirety before any junior water rights are fulfilled. Water shortages are not shared, without direction from water users and consultation with the Courts. Water Distribution projects are created once a Water Commissioner has been appointed to a source. The District Court who appointed a Water Commissioner will then request a tabulation of water rights, which is a request for a list of all water rights that will be involved in a Distribution Project. The DNRC creates this list based on the specific language in the District Court’s request. Water Commissioners use this list to distribute water. The list of distribution projects on this website will be updated annually.

Petitions for a Distribution Project must be signed by representatives of 15% of the flow rate or 15% of the water users on the source to be successful (MCA 85-5-101). A successful petition results in the Judge appointing a Water Commissioner. In some cases, one water user is enough for a successful petition. If petitioners do not make a proper showing of 15%, the Judge can still decide to appoint a Water Commissioner. In either scenario, all water users covered in the petition, not just those that signed it, are incorporated into the distribution project and are responsible for paying for the Water Commissioner’s services. Water users interested in getting a Water Commissioner will need to work with other water users and their local District Court. District Court information can be found by searching by County or City at https://courts.mt.gov/Courts/court/#court.

To view a live maps of distribution projects and access project information, please visit DNRC’s WaterMapper application by clicking on the link below. There, you will be able to view live maps of distribution projects, access live tabulation data, and more. Current and archived distribution project tabulations can also be found in the index below.

WaterMapper

Distribution Projects

This table lists each water distribution project by project number and also includes project name, county, and basin.
E#	Source	County	Basin	Status
E001	Musselshell River	Meagher, Golden Valley, Wheatland, Musselshell	40A 40C	Active
E002	West Gallatin River	Gallatin	41H	Active
E003	Hyalite Creek	Gallatin	41H	Inactive
E004	Mill Creek	Park	43B	Active
E005	Big Timber Creek	Sweet Grass	43B	Active
E006	Sweet Grass Creek	Sweet Grass	43BV	Active
E007	Shields River	Park	43A	Active
E008	Cottonwood Creek	Park	43A	Active
E009	Rock Creek	Park	43A	Active
E010	Careless Creek	Wheatland, Golden Valley	40A	Inactive
E011	Swimming Woman Creek	Golden Valley	40A	Inactive
E012	Silver Creek	Lewis and Clark	41I	Inactive
E013	Carlton Creek	Missoula	76H	Active
E014	Wisconsin Creek	Madison	41C	Active
E015	South Meadow Creek	Madison	41F	Active
E016	Rock Creek/Tributaries	Carbon	43D	Active
E017	Red Lodge Creek/Tributaries	Carbon	43D	Inactive
E018	Clear Creek	Carbon	43D	Inactive
E019	One Horse Creek	Ravalli	76H	Active
E020	Willow Creek/Tributaries	Madison	41G	Active
E021	Pipestone Creek/Tributaries	Jefferson	41G	Active
E022	Baker Creek	Gallatin	41H	Active
E023	Whitetail Deer Creek	Jefferson	41G	Active
E024	Indian Creek	Madison	41F	Inactive
E025	Bear Creek	Madison	41F	Active
E026	Sheafman Creek	Ravalli	76H	Inactive
E027	Dempsey Creek	Powell	76G	Active
E028	Racetrack Creek	Powell	76G	Active
E029	Cottonwood Creek	Powell	76G	Active
E030	Lower Willow Creek/Tributaries	Granite	76GJ	Active
E031	Sourdough Creek	Gallatin	41H	Inactive
E032	South Boulder River	Madison	41G	Active
E033	Dry Creek	Carbon	43D	Inactive
E034	Sweeney Creek	Ravalli	76H	Active
E035	Middle Cottonwood Creek	Gallatin	41H	Active
E036	Bluewater Creek	Carbon	43D	Inactive
E037	Fred Burr Creek	Ravalli	76H	Active
E038	Emigrant Creek	Park	43B	Inactive
E039	Modesty Creek	Deer Lodge	76G	Inactive
E040	Valition Ditch	Powell	76G	Active
E041	Chaffin Creek	Carbon	43D	Inactive
E042	North Meadow Creek	Madison	41F	Inactive
E043	Flint Creek	Granite, Deer Lodge	76GJ 76G 76E	Active
E044	Cottonwood Creek/Tributaries	Powell	76F	Inactive
E045	South Cottonwood Creek	Gallatin	41H	Active
E046	Mill Creek/Tributaries	Ravalli	76H	Active
E047	Deep Creek/Tributaries	Broadwater	41I	Inactive
E049	Indian Creek/Tributaries	Lincoln	76D	Inactive
E050	Cole Creek and Barry Creek	Carbon	43D	Inactive
E051	De Rozier Creek/Tributaries	Lincoln	76D	Inactive
E052	Fish Creek/Tributaries	Jefferson, Silver Bow	41G	Active
E053	Beaver Creek and Staubach Creek	Broadwater, Jefferson	41I	Active
E054	Douglas Creek/Tributaries	Powell	76F	Inactive
E055	Spring Creek/Tributaries	Teton	41O	Inactive
E056	Teton River/Tributaries	Teton, Chouteau	41O	Active
E057	Little Prickly Pear Creek/Tributaries	Lewis and Clark	41QJ	Inactive
E058	Tenmile Creek	Lewis and Clark	41I	Inactive
E059	Washington Creek	Powell	76F	Inactive
E060	Powder River and Little Powder River	Powder River, Custer, Prairie	42I	Inactive
E061	Flatwillow Creek	Petroleum, Fergus	40B	Active
E062	Sun River, South Fork	Lewis and Clark	41K	Active
E063	Big Bear Creek	Gallatin	41H	Inactive
E064	Big Elk Creek	Wheatland	40A	Active
E065	Crow Creek and Tributaries	Broadwater	41I	Active
E066	Nicholia Creek/Tributaries	Beaverhead	41A	Active
E067	Dupuyer Creek and Tributaries	Teton, Pondera	41M	Active
E068	Dry Creek Canal Company	Sweet Grass	43BJ 43B	Active
E069	Mill Creek	Madison County	41F	Active
E070	Three Mile Creek	Powell, Lewis and Clark	76G	Active
E071	Flathead Creek	Park	43A	Active
E072	Burnt Fork Creek	Ravalli	76H (HA)	Active
E073	Parrot Ditch Company	Madison	41G	Active
E074	Walker Creek	Lewis & Clark	41I	Active
E075	Martin Creek	Chouteau, Judith Basin	41R	Active
E076	Birch Creek, Willow Creek, and Tributaries	Beaverhead, Madison	41D	Active
E077	Gaunt Springs	Broadwater	41I	Active
E078	Creeklyn Ditch	Madison, Silver Bow, and Jefferson	41G	Active
E079	Indian Creek	Madison County	41C	Active
E080	Sawtooth Creek	Ravalli County	76H	Active
E081	Rock Creek (Big Hole)	Beaverhead County	41D	Active
E082	Big Lake Creek	Beaverhead County	41D	Active
E083	Horse Prairie Creek	Beaverhead County	41A	Active
E084	Medicine Lodge Creek	Beaverhead County	41A	Active
E085	Gallagher Creek	Powell County	76F	Active
E086	Howell Creek	Beaverhead County	41D	Active
E087	Beaverhead River	Beaverhead County	41B	Active

Water Commissioners

Water user conflicts and water shortages can lead to difficulties in water distribution. Distribution involves allocating water to valid water right holders based on their priority dates. When such difficulties arise, water users can petition their District Court to establish a distribution project addressing the problem source. If a project is set up, the District Court will appoint a Water Commissioner to lawfully distribute water on behalf of the water users. Water Commissioners have the authority to access every point of diversion and regulate flow rates in accordance with the law.

This role requires a person to work independently in rural Montana, accurately measuring water, operating diversions based on a proper understanding of water rights, and navigating land access and communication with water users and landowners. Individuals interested in becoming a Water Commissioner should contact Caitlyn Stevens at caitlyn.stevens@mt.gov to get connected.

Water users dissatisfied with a Water Commissioner's work can file a complaint with their District Court (Montana Code Annotated, MCA 85-5-301). Water users dissatisfied with the amount they owe the Commissioner, as identified in a letter from the Clerk of Court, may file an objection within 20 days of the mailing date of the letter (MCA 85-5-204). For Water Commissioner contact information, please contact your local District Court.

Water Commissioner Training

DNRC has developed an educational program for Water Commissioners that includes an annual training seminar on commissioner duties and water measuring techniques. All Water Commissioners must attend this training prior to distributing water. Others that may want to attend include District Court personnel.

2025 Water Commissioner Training Schedule and Information:

Please complete the RSVP form to attend Water Commissioner Training.

This table lists Montana water commissioner training times and locations.
Missoula: Monday March 31st, 2025 - 9am to 5pm
Missoula County Department of Ecology and Extension, Exploration Center, Missoula County Fairgrounds 1075 South Avenue West Missoula, MT 59801
Helena: Wednesday April 2nd, 2025 - 9am to 5pm
FWP Montana WILD Center. 2668 Broadwater Ave, Helena, MT 59602
Bozeman: Thursday April 3rd, 2025 - 9 am to 5 pm (space limited)
DNRC Water Resource Division Bozeman Regional Office, Big Sky Conference Room 2273 Boot Hill Court, Ste 110, Bozeman, MT 59715

Contact Garrett Musso at (406)542-5893 or garrett.musso2@mt.gov or Caitlyn Stevens at caitlyn.stevens@mt.gov with questions about the training.

Commissioner Resources

Resource Guide:

Manuals and Guidance:

Water Commissioner Training Manual

Forecasting

NRCS Information:

SNOTEL Stations:

Water Supply:

DNRC Water Supply Forecasts:

DNRC's Water Sciences Bureau generates long range (3 or 4 month) water supply forecasts for various stream gage sites. These forecasts use similar methods as the NRCS national water supply forecasts but are issued at locations where NRCS forecasts are not available. DNRC's forecasts predict the water supply from snowmelt only and represent rainfall as potential scenarios instead of attempting to predict future rainfall. The volumetric forecasts are issued in Mid- March, April and May with updated snow water equivalent (SWE) and precipitation values as they are reported.

Long range water supply forecast for the Teton River at the USGS Gage #06102500 Teton River below South Fork near Choteau.

Forecasting Post Creek
	March 2024	April 2024	May 2024
Forecast Report:	View	View	View
Snowmelt Runoff Graph:	View	View	View
Rainfall Scenarios Graph:	View	View	View

Long range water supply forecast for Post Creek at the CSKT Gage #486000 Post Creek above McDonald Reservoir.

This forecast is in cooperation with the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) Water Resources Program.

Forecasting Teton River Below South Fork
	March 2024	April 2024	May 2024
Forecast Report:	View	View	View
Snowmelt Runoff Graph:	View	View	View
Rainfall Scenarios Graph:	View	View	View

Water Distribution & Commissioner Resources