Land / brief
Crow Tribe water settlement amendments signed into U.S. law
The amendments allow smaller community water and wastewater projects in place of one centralized system, according to Representative Troy Downing's office.
President Donald Trump signed the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025 on October 15, according to the White House. The measure revises the 2010 federal settlement framework for water projects on the Crow Reservation in Montana.
Rep. Troy Downing's office says S. 240 replaces the original plan for one centralized municipal, rural and industrial water system with a framework that allows smaller water and wastewater projects for individual communities. The amendments also extend the Tribe's exclusive right to develop hydropower at the Yellowtail Afterbay Dam through 2030.
According to the Interior Department, the 2010 act and the Crow-Montana water compact provided funding to rehabilitate the Crow Irrigation Project and to design and build a municipal, rural and industrial water system. The new law changes how some of that work can proceed. Sen. Steve Daines introduced the bill with Sen. Tim Sheehy, according to the bill text.
Crow Tribe Chairman Frank Whiteclay, quoted in Downing's release, said the measure allows the Tribe to use previously appropriated funds for regional water treatment and improved wells.
Share this story
How we reported this
- Congressional Bills S. 240, S. 283, and S. 2403 Signed into Law, The White House
- Congressman Downing's Bill Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act Signed into Law, Office of Rep. Troy Downing
- Crow Tribe, United States and State of Montana Sign Historic Water Compact, U.S. Department of the Interior
- S. 240 (IS), Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025, U.S. Government Publishing Office (govinfo)
