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IN THE WATER COURTS OF THE STATE OF MONTANA YELLOWSTONE DIVISION YELLOWSTONE RIVER BETWEEN THE TONGUE & POWDER RIVER BASIN (42K) ************************* IN THE MATTER OF THE ADJUDICATION OF THE EXISTING RIGHTS TO THE USE OF ALL ) THE WATER, BOTH SURFACE AND UNDERGROUND,) WITHIN THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER BETWEEN ) CASE 42KTHE TONGUE AND POWDER RIVERS DRAINAGE AREA, INCLUDING ALL TRIBUTARIES OF THE ) YELLOWSTONE RIVER BETWEEN THE TONGUE ) AND POWDER RIVERS IN ROSEBUD, CUSTER, GARFIELD AND PRAIRIE COUNTIES, MONTANA. ) 4 FILED APR 17 198a State of Mcntana Water Courts 'i 1cl CLAIMANT: United States of America, (Bureau of Land Management) OBJECTOR: United States of Ameri*, (Bureau of Land Management) MASTER'S REPORT FINDINGS OF FACT 1. The 219 water right claims consolidated into case 42K-15 were decreed to the United States of America Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, in the preliminary decree of the Yellowstone River between the Tongue and Powder Rivers, Basin 42K. The water right numbers are listed in the table under conclusion of law IV, infra. These claims were filed either for stockwater or for "wildlife use (consumptive and non-consumptive), riparian vegetation maintenance, water supply maintenance during drought periods, and evaporation and seepage losses." 2. On March 14, 1986 the United States filed objections to each of these claims. The United States objects because specifically claimed volume and flow rates were deleted from these claims and states that "the preliminary decree merely recognizes a unit rate of consumption for stock and apparently did not recognize the claim to the storage volume for wildlife consumption and habitat." The United States requests that the preliminary decree be amended to reflect the specific quantities claimed. 3. The United States also objected to certain claims on bases other than flow rate and volume. The claims receiving additional objections and the nature of those objections are listed below: Claim Number Basis of Objection 42K-W-079834 42K-W-079835 42K-W-079906 42K-W-079939 42K-W-079940 42K-W-079941 42K-W-079942 42K-W-079943 42K-W-079944 42K-W-079945 42K-W-079946 42K-W-079947 Priority Date Priority Date Source Place of Use Place of Use Priority Date Priority Date Priority Date Priority Date Priority Date Priority Date Point of Diversion, Place of Use Point of Diversion, Place of Use 42K-W-079948 4. On September 9, 1989, the United States filed a copy of a Declaration of Vested Groundwater Rights to substantiate its objection to claims 42K-W-079834 and 42K-W-079835. This declaration, filed by the Bonine Ranch on December 31, 1963, states that beneficial use of water from the well claimed under these rights commenced on September 10, 1951. 5. The United States' objection to claim 42K-W-079906 based on an incorrect source name states that the correct source is Mack Creek. During examination of this claim, the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) changed the source name from UT Mack Creek to Mack Creek. -2- 6. On September 9, 1988, the United States filed a map outlining the place of use for claims 42K-W-079939 and 42K-W-079940. The reservoir claimed under these rights is located, in part, on federal land in the NESE and SENE of Section 31, T12N, R49E. 7. The United States filed a Bureau of Land Management Project Completion Report and Range Improvement Application and Permit in support of its claimed March 13, 1966, priority date for claims 42K-W-079941 and 42K-W-079942. 8. The United States filed a copy of a Notice of Completion of Groundwater Appropriation by means of well to substantiate its priority date objection to claims 42K-W-079943 and 42K-W-079944. This notice, which was originally filed with the Prairie County Clerk and Recorder, states that the well claimed under these rights was completed on November 22, 1966. 9. The United States filed a copy of a Declaration of Vested Groundwater Rights to substantiate its priority date objections to claims 42K-W-079945 and 42K-W-079946. This declaration originally filed with the Prairie County Clerk and Recorder, states that beneficial use of the water from the well claimed under these rights commenced on September 1, 1961. 10. On January 3, 1989, the United States filed an affidavit by Dex A. Hight, BLM hydrologist, establishing the correct location of the spring source for claims 42K-W-079947 and 42K-W-079948. This spring is located in the NENWSW Section 22, T13N, R47E, Prairie County. 11. On March 31, 1989, the United States filed an -3- affidavit by Frances S. Rieman concerning claim 42K-W-079920 stating that the claimed volume of 16.39 acre feet per year is incorrect and the volume used for the claimed purposes is 255.39 acre feet per year. The affiant also states that there is a point of diversion from Custer Creek at NESWNE, Sec. 22, T11N, R49E in addition to the claimed points of diversion. 12. No other persons have filed objections to these 13. No person has filed a notice of intent to appear claims. concerning the objections filed by the United States. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW The Water Court has jurisdiction to consider objections to preliminary decrees pursuant to MCA Sec. 85-2-233. A decree of a specific flow rate and volume for a surface stockwater or wildlife use which reflects the right's historic beneficial use is not inconsistent with MCA Title 85, Chapter 2. With respect to certain stockwater rights, including rights taken from a spring, stream or reservoir, the Water Court's policy in Basin 42K was to not specify a flow rate and to decree a volume of 30 gallons per day per animal unit. These rights, however, may be more specifically quantified on a case-by-case basis. The Water Court has authorized similar changes to Bureau of Land Management claims in other basins. See e.g., Basin 40L. -4- There is no evidence before the Water Court to contradict the United States' assertion that the specific flow rate and volume figures claimed reflect the historic beneficial use of the rights. A statement of claim of an existing water right constitutes prima facie proof of its content. MCA Sec. 85-2-227. IV. The abstracts of the following water right claims, as shown in the preliminary decree of the Yellowstone River between the Tongue and Powder Rivers, should be changed to reflect the corresponding flow rates and volumes: Water Right No. 42K-W-079788 42K-W-079789 42K-W-079790 42K-W-079791 42K-W-079792 42K-W-079793 42K-W-079794 42K-W-079795 42K-W-079796 42K-W-079797 42K-W-079798 42K-W-079799 42K-W-079800 42K-W-079801 42K-W-079802 42K-W-079803 42K-W-079804 42K-W-079805 42K-W-079806 42K-W-079807 42K-W-079808 42K-W-079809 42K-W-079810 42K-W-079811 42K-W-079812 Purpose of Right* Flow Rate 10.00 gpm 10.00 gpm Runoff Runoff 5.0 gpm 5.0 gpm Runoff Runoff 10.0 gpm 10.0 gpm Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff WI ST WI ST WI ST WI ST WI ST WI ST ST WI WI ST WI ST WI ST WI ST WI ST ST -5- Volume (Acre Feet Per Year) 15.63 0.50 0.07 0.50 7.56 0.50 3.50 0.50 15.63 0.50 2.50 0.50 0.79 3.41 9.21 0.79 27.70 0.50 377.50 0.50 2.21 0.79 6.41 0.79 0.79 42K-W-079813 42K-W-079814 42K-W-079815 42K-W-079816 42K-W-079817 42K-W-079818 42K-W-079819 42K-W-079820 42K-W-079821 42K-W-079822 42K-W-079823 42K-W-079824 42K-W-079825 42K-W-079826 42K-W-079827 42K-W-079828 42K-W-079829 42K-W-079830 42K-W-079831 42K-W-079834 42K-W-079835 42K-W-079836 42K-W-079837 42K-W-079838 42K-W-079839 42K-W-079840 42K-W-079841 42K-W-079842 42K-W-079843 42K-W-079844 42K-W-079845 42K-W-079846 42K-W-079847 42K-W-079848 42K-W-079849 42K-W-079850 42K-W-079851 42K-W-079852 42K-W-079853 42K-W-079854 42K-W-079855 42K-W-079856 42K-W-079857 42K-W-079858 42K-W-079859 42K-W-079860 42K-W-079861 42K-W-079862 42K-W-079863 42K-W-079864 42K-W-079865 42K-W-079866 42K-W-079867 42K-W-079868 WI WI ST ST WI ST WI WI WI ST ST WI ST WI ST ST WI WI ST WI ST WI ST WI ST WI ST WI ST ST WI WI ST ST WI ST WI WI ST ST WI ST WI WI ST WI ST WI ST WI ST WI ST WI Runoff 8.0 gpm 8.0 gpm Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff 2.0 gpm Runoff 2.0 gpm Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff 5.0 gpm 5.0 gpm 3.0 gpm 3.0 gpm Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff 6.0 gpm 6.0 gpm Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff 1.0 gpm 1.0 gpm Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff 9.31 12.11 0.79 0.92 0.58 0.62 2.38 3.11 2.61 0.69 0.62 37.78 0.62 9.38 0.62 0.62 6.38 7.44 0.62 4.22 0.62 1.38 0.62 9.50 0.50 11.38 0.62 2.88 0.62 0.62 8.88 1.50 0.50 0.50 9.18 0.50 1.50 4.50 0.50 0.69 33.31 0.69 0.81 0.31 0.69 0.31 0.69 0.82 0.79 43.01 0.79 7.21 0.79 3.21 -6- i 42K-W-079869 42K-W-079870 42K-W-079871 42K-W-079872 42K-W-079873 42K-W-079874 42K-W-079875 42K-W-079876 42K-W-079877 42K-W-079878 42K-W-079879 42K-W-079880 42K-W-079881 42K-W-079882 42K-W-079883 42K-W-079890 42K-W-079891 42K-W-079892 42K-W-079893 42K-W-079894 42K-W-079895 42K-W-079896 42K-W-079897 42K-W-079898 42K-W-079899 42K-W-079900 42K-W-079901 42K-W-079902 42K-W-079903 42K-W-079906 42K-W-079907 42K-W-079908 42K-W-079909 42K-W-079910 42K-W-079911 42K-W-079912 42K-W-079913 42K-W-079914 42K-W-079915 42K-W-079916 42K-W-079917 42K-W-079920 42K-W-079921 42K-W-079922 42K-W-079923 42K-W-079924 42K-W-079925 42K-W-079926 42K-W-079927 42K-W-079929 42K-W-079930 42K-W-079931 42K-W-079932 42K-W-079935 ST WI ST ST WI ST WI WI ST ST WI WI ST WI ST WI ST ST WI ST WI ST WI ST WI WI ST WI ST WI ST ST WI WI ST ST WI WI ST WI ST WI ST WI ST ST WI WI ST WI ST ST WI ST Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff 5.0 gpm 5.0 gpm Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff 1.0 gpm 1.0 gpm Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff 3.0 gpm 3.0 gpm Runoff Runoff 3.0 gpm 3.0 gpm Runoff Runoff 1.0 gpm 1.0 gpm Runoff -7- 0.79 4.01 0.79 0.79 5.81 0.79 1.01 5.50 0.50 0.50 9.50 12.70 0.50 2.21 0.79 14.21 0.79 0.79 17.81 0.62 0.38 0.62 7.43 0.93 19.07 40.12 0.62 0.97 0.62 9.38 0.62 0.62 6.38 5.50 0.50 0.92 12.28 4.07 0.93 2.50 0.50 255.39 0.50 3.85 0.93 0.92 3.88 3.85 0.93 8.08 0.92 0.62 0.99 0.50 42K-W-079936 42K-W-079937 42K-W-079938 42K-W-079939 42K-W-079940 42K-W-079941 42K-W-079942 42K-W-079943 42K-W-079944 42K-W-079945 42K-W-079946 42K-W-079947 42K-W-079948 42K-W-079949 42K-W-079950 42K-W-079951 42K-W-079952 42K-W-079955 42K-W-079956 42K-W-079959 42K-W-079960 42K-W-079961 42K-W-079962 42K-W-079963 42K-W-079964 42K-W-079965 42K-W-079966 42K-W-079967 42K-W-079968 42K-W-079969 42K-W-079970 42K-W-079972 42K-W-079973 42K-W-079974 42K-W-079975 42K-W-079976 42K-W-079977 42K-W-079978 42K-W-079979 42K-W-079980 42K-W-079981 42K-W-079982 42K-W-079983 42K-W-079985 42K-W-079986 42K-W-079987 42K-W-079988 42K-W-079989 42K-W-079990 42K-W-079991 42K-W-079992 42K-W-079993 42K-W-079994 42K-W-079995 Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff 15.0 gpm 15.0 gpm 8.0 gpm 8.0 gpm 5.0 gpm 5.0 gpm WI WI ST WI ST ST WI WI ST ST WI WI ST ST WI ST WI WI ST WI ST WI ST WI ST WI ST ST WI WI ST WI WI ST ST WI WI ST ST WI WI ST ST WI WI ST WI WI ST ST WI ST WI WI 1.0 gpm 1.0 gpm Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff 3.0 gpm 3.0 gpm Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff -8- 3.50 26.68 0.50 14.50 0.50 0.79 23.42 12.11 0.79 0.79 7.27 0.80 0.79 0.79 9.21 0.79 6.21 39.71 0.79 17.81 0.79 3.99 0.79 2.21 0.79 5.61 0.79 0.79 9.81 124.01 0.79 10.61 6.21 0.79 0.79 23.81 16.01 0.79 0.79 2.21 16.21 0.79 0.79 22.61 2.21 0.79 38.81 10.21 0.79 0.79 14.21 0.79 6.61 2.21 42K-W-079996 42K-W-079997 42K-W-079998 42K-W-079999 42K-W-080000 42K-W-080001 42K-W-080002 42K-W-080003 42K-W-080004 42K-W-080005 42K-W-080006 42K-W-080007 42K-W-080008 42K-W-080009 42K-W-080010 42K-W-080125 42K-W-080126 42K-W-080143 42K-W-080144 42K-W-080145 42K-W-080146 42K-W-080213 42K-W-080214 42K-W-080251 42K-W-080252 42K-W-080427 42K-W-080428 42K-W-081033 42K-W-081034 42K-W-081106 42K-W-081107 ST WI ST ST WI WI WI ST ST ST WI WI ST ST WI ST WI ST WI WI ST ST WI WI ST WI ST ST WI WI ST Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff Runoff 0.79 2.21 0.79 0.79 4.21 85.41 5.21 0.79 0.79 0.79 77.21 3.21 0.79 0.40 9.60 0.79 10.61 0.79 5.21 9.21 0.79 0.40 3.60 3.11 0.39 4.50 0.50 0.50 3.50 12.21 0.79 * ST denotes stockwater, WI denotes wildlife. V. The following change should be made to the abstracts of claims 42K-W-079834 and 079835 as they appear in the preliminary decree for Basin 42K: PRIORITY DATE: September 10, 1951. VI. The abstract of claim 42K-W-079906 should state that Mack Creek is the source of water under this right. VII. The following change should be made to the abstracts of claims 42K-W-079939 and 079940 as they appear in the preliminary decree for Basin 42K: PLACE OF USE: NESE Section 31, T12N, R49E SENE Section 31, T12N, R49E VIII. The priority date for claims 42K-W-079941 and 42K-W-079942 should be March 13, 1966. For the purposes of this general adjudication, the Water Court has held that the Bureau's internal documentation of a groundwater appropriation for a beneficial use is sufficient to establish a priority date reflecting the date of the actual appropriation and use. See, e.g., In re adjudication of existing rights within the O'Fallon Creek Drainage Area, Case 42L-2 (Yellowstone Div., Feb. 26, 1985). In the instant case the Bureau of Land Management Project Completion Report and Range Improvement Application establishes that water was first put to beneficial use on March 13, 1966. IX. The following changes should be made to the abstract of claims 42K-W-079943 and 079944: PRIORITY DATE: November 22, 1966. X. The following change should be made to the abstract of claims 42K-W-079945 and 079946: PRIORITY DATE: September 1, 1961. XI. The following changes should be made to the abstracts of claims 42K-W-079947 and 079948: POINT OF DIVERSION: NENWSW Section 22, T13N, R47E, Prairie Co. PLACE OF USE: NENWSW Section 22, T13N, R47E, Prairie Co. XII. An additional point of diversion at NESWNE, Sec. 22, T11N, R49E, Prairie County, should appear on the abstract of claim 42K-W-079920. Water is diverted from Custer Creek at this location by means of a ditch. The following remark should appear on the claim abstract: REMARK: THE POINT OF DIVERSION AT NESWNE, SEC. 22, IS ON CUSTER CREEK. The point of diversion was changed without previous basin-wide notice. Notice of this change should be given to afford interested parties an opportunity to file objections or appear. DATED this 1-1 b.% day of , 1989. D Bill Dockins Water Master CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I, Lori M. Burnham, Clerk of Court of the Montana Water Court, hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the above MASTER'S REPORT was duly served upon the following persons by depositing the same, postage prepaid, in the United States mail: Bureau of Land Management P. 0. Box 36800 Billings, MT 59107-6800 John R. Hill, Jr., Attorney at Law Department of Justice 1961 Stout St., Drawer 3607 Denver, CO 80294 DATED this VA day of 198 . A. IA* Cl -12- Burnha of Court -.1110.1_

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