Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025
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Would amend the 2010 Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act to restructure how federal funds are managed for water infrastructure on the Crow Reservation in Montana, creating two new dedicated accounts and extending the tribe's exclusive right to develop hydropower at Yellowtail Afterbay Dam by five years.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would make several targeted amendments to the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010. It would establish a new nontrust, interest-bearing Crow CIP Implementation Account to allow the Bureau of Reclamation to continue rehabilitating the Crow Irrigation Project. It would also create a new MR&I Projects Account through which the Crow Tribe must direct funds toward water production, treatment, and delivery infrastructure — including domestic, municipal, and wastewater systems — with a secondary allowance to purchase on-reservation land with water rights once priority projects are complete. Throughout, the bill replaces references to the "MR&I System" with "MR&I Projects" to reflect the new account structure. It would also authorize the transfer of funds from existing joint signature accounts into each new account.
The bill would extend by five years — from 15 to 20 years after the 2010 act's enactment — the Crow Tribe's exclusive right to construct hydropower facilities on the Yellowtail Afterbay Dam in Montana. It would explicitly clarify that title to any infrastructure built with MR&I Projects Account funds remains with the tribe, and that the federal government has no obligation to pay for operation, maintenance, or replacement of those projects.
Key provisions
- 1Would establish the Crow CIP Implementation Account, a nontrust interest-bearing account managed by the Secretary, to fund continued rehabilitation of the Crow Irrigation Project.
- 2Would create the MR&I Projects Account, directing the tribe to use funds for water production, treatment, or delivery infrastructure, with a secondary option to purchase on-reservation land with water rights.
- 3Would authorize transfer of funds from existing joint signature accounts (CIP Account and MR&I Account) into the two newly established accounts.
- 4Would extend the Crow Tribe's exclusive right to construct hydropower facilities on the Yellowtail Afterbay Dam from 15 to 20 years after the 2010 act's enactment.
- 5Would clarify that title to infrastructure built with MR&I Projects Account funds remains with the tribe, and that the federal government has no obligation for operation, maintenance, or replacement.
- 6Would replace all references to the 'MR&I System' with 'MR&I Projects' throughout the 2010 settlement act to align with the new account structure.
Who would be affected
The Crow Tribe of Montana and its members who rely on reservation water infrastructure for domestic, municipal, and agricultural use. The Bureau of Reclamation, which administers the Crow Irrigation Project rehabilitation, and the Secretary of the Interior, who manages the new accounts. Tribal enterprises with potential interest in hydropower development at Yellowtail Afterbay Dam are also affected.
Why it matters
The restructured accounts would give the Bureau of Reclamation a clearer mechanism to continue long-delayed irrigation project rehabilitation, while giving the tribe dedicated, tribe-controlled funds for water infrastructure. The five-year extension of the hydropower exclusivity window could open revenue-generating opportunities for the tribe. The explicit federal disclaimer of operation and maintenance obligations places long-term infrastructure costs squarely on the tribe.
What would change
Changes to existing law
Amends Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-291) (Sec. 2)
Restructures water infrastructure funding by creating two new accounts, extending the hydropower exclusivity window, replacing 'MR&I System' with 'MR&I Projects,' and making conforming amendments.
Amends Claims Resolution Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-291) (Sec. 2(h))
Updates table of contents to reflect new section numbering after the insertion of the Crow CIP Implementation Account section.
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- MR&I Projects Account to be established as soon as practicable after enactment
How implementation would work
The Secretary of the Interior would establish the Crow CIP Implementation Account and the MR&I Projects Account as soon as practicable after enactment, then transfer funds from existing joint signature accounts into each. Bureau of Reclamation would draw from the CIP Implementation Account for irrigation project rehabilitation. The tribe would draw from the MR&I Projects Account for priority water infrastructure work; before shifting to secondary uses (on-reservation land purchases), the tribe must provide written notice to the Secretary that on-reservation MR&I projects are complete. MR&I Projects Account deposits would be adjusted using the Bureau of Reclamation Construction Cost Index to account for cost fluctuations since May 1, 2008.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Held at the desk.
Official CRS summary
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This bill revises the water rights settlement agreement entered into by the Crow Tribe of Montana and Montana.
The Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010 ratified, authorized, and confirmed the water rights compact between the tribe and Montana. Among other provisions, this settlement act authorized the Bureau of Reclamation to plan, design and construct the following two major projects on the Crow Reservation: (1) the rehabilitation and improvement of the Crow Irrigation Project (CIP); and (2) the planning, design, and construction of the MR&I System (the municipal, rural, and industrial water system of the Crow Reservation).
Among other provisions, the bill revises the settlement act to
- replace references to the MR&I System with MR&I Projects;
- establish a nontrust, interest-bearing account (to be known as the Crow CIP Implementation Account) to allow Reclamation to continue to work on the rehabilitation of the CIP;
- create a new MR&I Projects Account, through which the tribe must use funds for activities related to water production, treatment, or delivery infrastructure; and
- extend by five years (to 2030) the period during which the tribe has the exclusive right to construct hydropower facilities on the Yellowtail Afterbay Dam in Montana.
Legislative subjects
Dams and canals; Government trust funds; Indian lands and resources rights; Montana; Native Americans; Water use and supply
Committee report
S. Rept. 119-93