Crow Tribe Water Settlement Overhaul: New Accounts and Inflation Adjustments for Water Infrastructure Funding

If you thought the federal government was done sorting out the 2010 Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement, think again. This new legislation, the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025, isn’t a massive policy shift, but rather a deep dive into the administrative plumbing. Essentially, it’s a major cleanup operation, restructuring how millions of dollars meant for critical water infrastructure will be managed and spent. The bill updates definitions, scraps an obsolete section, and most importantly, establishes two new dedicated accounts to handle the settlement funds, ensuring the money is channeled directly into water projects and that construction dollars keep pace with inflation.

Swapping Systems for Projects: What’s in a Name?

For the average person, the biggest change here is the administrative streamlining. The original 2010 Act had some clunky definitions and references that needed fixing. This amendment updates the definition of the “MRI Project” and replaces the term “System” with “Projects” throughout the relevant sections. This might sound like bureaucratic hair-splitting, but in the world of federal funding, clear terminology is crucial for avoiding costly delays and legal headaches down the road. It also officially repeals Section 406 of the original Act, which was apparently no longer relevant, proving that even legislation needs spring cleaning.

The New Financial Plumbing: Dedicated Accounts

The most practical change involves the creation of two new, distinct accounts under the management of the Secretary: the MRI Projects Account and the Crow CIP Implementation Account. Think of these as two separate, locked boxes for specific purposes. This move transfers funds from older, existing accounts into these new ones, which means clearer oversight and easier tracking of where the money goes. The funds in the MRI Projects Account are strictly prioritized: they must first be used by the Crow Tribe to plan, design, and construct essential water and wastewater infrastructure, including compliance with environmental laws. Only after the Tribe notifies the Secretary that these on-Reservation projects are complete can any remaining funds be used to purchase land with water rights.

Fighting Inflation with a Formula

One provision that busy people who deal with rising costs will appreciate is the introduction of an inflation adjustment for the MRI Projects Account. The bill mandates that certain appropriated amounts must be adjusted using the Bureau of Reclamation Construction Cost Index Composite Trend. Why does this matter? Construction costs don’t sit still. If funding was allocated based on 2008 prices (the baseline date mentioned in the bill), that money wouldn't buy nearly as much concrete and piping today. This indexing mechanism ensures that the Tribe’s construction dollars maintain their purchasing power, making it more likely that these vital water projects actually get built without running out of cash halfway through.

The Fine Print on Maintenance

While the bill provides the necessary funding structure for construction, it makes one thing perfectly clear: the Federal Government assumes no obligation to pay for the future operation, maintenance, or replacement of any MRI Project built with these funds. For the Tribe, this means that while the upfront construction cost is covered, the long-term financial burden of keeping the water flowing—the pumps running, the pipes repaired—falls squarely on them. This is a common feature in water settlements, but it’s a critical detail that highlights the ongoing financial responsibility that accompanies new infrastructure. Overall, this legislation is a necessary administrative update, designed to ensure that the water settlement money actually makes it to the ground and builds the infrastructure it was intended for, adjusting for the realities of modern construction costs along the way.