This bill amends the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010 to improve water infrastructure and fund management, ensuring the Crow Tribe has better access to and control over their water resources. It refines project definitions, establishes new accounts for better fund allocation, and extends the period for water storage allocation.
Troy Downing
Representative
MT-2
The "Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025" amends the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010 to improve water infrastructure and management for the Crow Tribe. It refines the use and management of settlement funds, prioritizing water projects and environmental compliance, and extends the period for water storage allocation. The Act establishes new accounts for MRI projects and CIP implementation, clarifying tribal control over related projects and adjusting funding based on construction costs.
Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Gets a Major Upgrade: Funds for Infrastructure and Environmental Compliance Prioritized
The Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025 significantly updates the 2010 Settlement, streamlining how money is handled and focusing on crucial water projects. Instead of getting bogged down in bureaucratic processes, this bill ensures funds are directly used for what matters most to the Crow Tribe: improving water infrastructure and meeting environmental standards.
Making Every Drop Count: Updates to the Settlement
The 2025 Amendments make several key changes. First, they ditch Section 406 of the original Act, which dealt with an outdated system. This means saying goodbye to some red tape. The bill also sets up two new accounts: the "MRI Projects Account" and the "Crow CIP Implementation Account." Think of these as dedicated pots of money, specifically for water infrastructure (domestic, municipal, and wastewater, along with environmental compliance) and implementing section 405, respectively. This is a big deal, because it clarifies, in detail, exactly how the money should be spent.
For example, imagine a family on the Crow Reservation that has struggled with unreliable water access. Under these amendments, the priority is to use funds to fix that kind of problem directly (SEC. 2). Or, picture a local business needing better wastewater systems to comply with environmental regulations; this bill makes that a priority, too. Once those critical needs are met, any leftover funds in the MRI Projects Account can be used to buy land on the Reservation that has water rights, but only after notifying the Secretary in writing (SEC. 2). The bill also extends the time the Tribe has to use water stored in Yellowtail Dam from 15 to 20 years, a five-year extension, giving more flexibility in water resource management (SEC. 2).
Dollars and Sense: Funding Adjustments
Another smart move in the bill is adjusting the amount of money going into the MRI Projects Account to reflect changes in construction costs. Since 2008, building costs have fluctuated; the bill uses the Bureau of Reclamation Construction Cost Index to account for this, ensuring the Tribe has the actual buying power initially intended (SEC. 2). The federal government is explicitly not responsible for the maintenance or replacement of projects built with these funds (SEC. 2). The bill also clarifies that the Secretary can allow withdrawals from joint accounts, making it easier to move funds where they're needed(SEC. 2). It's all about making sure the money gets to the right places, efficiently, and is used effectively to improve the lives of people of the Crow Tribe, and to ensure environmental compliance.