Several of the state’s farmers recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to ask Montana's congressional delegation to approve the ratification of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes water compact.
The compact, which the Montana legislature approved four years ago, reportedly has a January 2020 deadline. According to the Northern Ag Network, Congress has until Jan. 10 to ratify the CSKT compact because that is the day a stay implemented by the Water Court will come to an end.
The CSKT Water Compact ratification legislation includes a damages settlement for past water-related mismanagement by the federal government.
Two farmers fear that if Congress does not act, they could be forced into many years of litigation that supposedly does not appear in their favor.
Among the supporters for ratification include Montana Attorney General Tim Fox and the Trump administration. Both sides of the congressional delegation also back ratification.
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