Montana Dept of State Lands, US (Bureau of Land Management), Walsh

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IN THE WATER COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA ********** * ***** **** NOTICE OF FILING OF MASTER'S REPORT TO: ALL PARTIES RE: Case 41F-16, Claims 41F-W-132919-00, 41F-W-132921-00, 41F-W-132922-00, 41F-W-214042-00 This is to provide you with Notice that the Water Master has filed a Master's Report (Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law) with the Clerk of the Water Court for the water right(s) listed above. A copy of the Master's Report is enclosed with this Notice. Please review this Master's Report carefully. If there are any corrections or changes that need to be made, you have 10 days from service of this Notice to file a written objection. You must mail a copy of your written objection to all the other parties who have been involved in this proceeding and file a certificate of such mailing with the Water Court. (This procedure is required by Rule 1.11. Water Right Claims Examination Rules and by Rules 5 and 53 of the Montana Rules of Civil Procedure.) DATED this 13th day of February 1992. LORI M. BURNHAM Clerk of Court Montana Water Court P. 0. Box 879 Bozeman, MT 59771-0879 (406) 586-4364 1-800-624-3270 (in Montana) IN THE WATER COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA UPPER MISSOURI DIVISION MADISON RIVER BASIN (41F) ************************* IN THE MATTER OF THE ADJUDICATION OF THE EXISTING RIGHTS TO THE USE OF ALL THE WATER, BOTH SURFACE AND UNDERGROUND, WITHIN THE MADISON RIVER DRAINAGE AREA, INCLUDING ALL TRIBUTARIES OF THE MADISON RIVER IN BEAVERHEAD, GALLATIN AND MADISON COUNTIES, MONTANA. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) CASE NO. 41F-16 41F-W-132919-00 41F-W-132921-00 41F-W-132922-00 771 r CLAIMANT: Eugene C. and Lois M. Walsh OBJECTOR: United States of America (Bureau of Land Management) Montana Department of State Lands MASTER'S REPORT FINDINGS OF FACT 1. The Montana Department of State Lands objected to the above-referenced stockwater claims of Eugene C. and Lois M. Walsh on the basis of ownership, point of diversion and place of use. 2. The United States of America objected to these claims on the basis of ownership. 3. On September 3, 1991 the claimants and the United States of America filed a stipulation with the Water Court stating that the points of diversion and places of use of these water right claims include the following public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management: OTR.SEC. SEC. TWP. RGE. COUNTY W2SW SE E2 N2SW LOT 14 14 24 24 24 24 24 08S 08S 08S 08S 08S 08S 08S 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON NW SESW SWSE CONTINUED NEXT PAGE QTR.SEC. 1 2 3 8 9 1 2 3 4 SEC. TWP. RGE. COUNTY E2NENE W2NENE NWNE NESE SESE E2NENE W2NENE E2SENE W2SENE LOT 01 01 01 01 01 12 12 12 12 09S 09S 09S 09S 09S 09S 09S 09S 09S 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON 4. The Stipulation states that the parties agree that the United States is the sole owner of a stockwater right directly from the Madison River at the above-referenced points of diversion and places of use. 5. The stipulation states that the claimants are the owners of stockwater rights directly from the Madison River at the following listed points of diversion and places of use: QTR.SEC. SEC. TWP. RGE. COUNTY E2SE NENE E2 E2 SENE 14 23 25 36 01 08S 08S 08S 08S 09S 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON 6. On September 23, 1991 the claimants and the Montana Department of State Lands filed a stipulation stating that the parties agree that the following points of diversion and places of use be deleted from the Temporary Preliminary Decree: Points of Diversion: OTR.SEC. E2 SEC. TWP. ROE. COUNTY 36 08S 01W MADISON -2-- DIRECT FROM SOURCE Place of Use: SEC. TWP. RGE. COUNTY 36 OTR.SEC. 08S 01W MADISON 7. The Temporary Preliminary Decree for these stockwater claims contains broad legal descriptions encompassing points of diversion and places of use for livestock watering directly from two sources: (1) the Madison River and (2) the Smith Ditch, an irrigation ditch running through claimant's land west of and approximately parallel to the river. Due to these broad legal descriptions encompassing both sources and the deletion of several points of diversion and places of use from the Madison River by the Stipulations, the Temporary Preliminary Decree does not reflect accurate legal descriptions for points of diversion and places of use for claimants' stockwater rights from the Smith Ditch. On November 29, 1991 the claimants filed an Affidavit with the Water Court clarifying the correct points of diversion and places of use of their stockwater rights from the Smith Ditch as follows: OTR.SEC. E2 E2NW W2SE NW NENE 8. SEC. TWP. RGE. COUNTY 23 23 25 25 26 08S 08S 08S 08S 08S 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON In a letter received December 24, 1991, the United States indicated to the Water Court that it agrees with the points of diversion and places of use set forth in claimant's Affidavit. 9. The Temporary Preliminary Decree includes the -3- following points of diversion and places of use for these claims: Points of Diversion and Means of Diversion: QTR.SEC. SEC. TWP. RGE. COUNTY NENWNE NE E2E2 E2 E2 36 12 01 36 25 24 23 14 08S 09S 09S 08S 08S 08S 08S 08S 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON SEC. TWP. RGE. COUNTY 14 23 24 24 26 25 36 01 12 08S 08S 08S 08S 08S 08S 08S 09S 09S 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON NENE S2 HEADGATE DIRECT FROM DIRECT FROM DIRECT FROM DIRECT FROM DIRECT FROM DIRECT FROM DIRECT FROM SOURCE SOURCE SOURCE SOURCE SOURCE SOURCE SOURCE Place of Use for Stock: OTR.SEC. S2 W2 SWSE NENE NE 10. The correct points of diversion and places of use for these stockwater claims as indicated by the combined Stipulations and Affidavit are at the following locations: Points of Diversion and Means of Diversion: QTR.SEC. SEC. TWP. RGE. COUNTY NENWNE E2 E2NW W2SE 36 23 23 25 25 26 14 23 25 01 08S 08S 08S 08S 08S 08S 08S 08S 08S 09S 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON NW NENE E2SE NENE E2 SENE -4- HEADGATE DIRECT FROM DIRECT FROM DIRECT FROM DIRECT FROM DIRECT FROM DIRECT FROM DIRECT FROM DIRECT FROM DIRECT FROM SOURCE SOURCE SOURCE SOURCE SOURCE SOURCE SOURCE SOURCE SOURCE Place of Use for Stock: OTR.SEC. E2 E2NW W2SE NW NENE E2SE NENE E2 SENE SEC. TWP. RGE. COUNTY 23 23 25 25 26 14 23 25 01 08S 08S 08S 08S 08S 08S 08S 08S 09S 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON CONCLUSIONS OF LAW The Montana Water Court has jurisdiction to review all objections to temporary preliminary decrees pursuant to Mont. Code Ann. §85-2-233. II The Montana Water Court has jurisdiction over all matters relating to the determination of existing water rights and may consider a matter within the Court's jurisdiction on its own motion. Mont. Code. Ann. §3-7-224. III Upon review of the Stipulations and the Affidavit, it appears that they are proper and are accepted by this Court. IV By accepting the Stipulation filed by the claimants and the United States the Water Court does not address the legal issue concerning private ownership of stockwater claims located on lands administered by the United States of America (Bureau of Land Management). -5- V An implied claim with the United States as owner should be generated based on the Stipulation of the parties. This claim will be designated number 41F-W-214042-00 and should be assigned the earliest priority date of the three parent claims, April 12, 1902 from claim 41F-W-132921-00. VI Water right claims 41F-W-132919-00, 41F-W-132921-00 and 41F-W-132922-00 appear to duplicate each other in all respects except for priority date. To assure the orderly adjudication and administration of water rights, the following remark shall be added to these claims: CLAIM NOS. W-132919, W-132921 AND W132922 APPEAR TO BE DUPLICATIVE IN ALL RESPECTS EXCEPT FOR PRIORITY DATE. IT APPEARS THAT THESE CLAIMS MAY INVOLVE A SINGLE RIGHT WITH THE EARLIEST CLAIMED PRIORITY DATE. TO ASSURE THE ORDERLY ADJUDICATION OF WATER RIGHTS, THE WATER COURT MAY SET A HEARING TO DETERMINE THESE ISSUES IF NO OBJECTIONS ARE MADE AFTER ISSUANCE OF THE PRELIMINARY DECREE. VII The changes to points of diversion and places of use set forth in Finding of Fact No. 10 should be made to water right claims 41F-W-132919-00, 41F-W-132921-00 and 41F-W-132922-00 in the Temporary Preliminary Decree for the Madison River Basin (41F). DATED this ! -6- CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I, Janet Lackey Fulcher, Deputy Clerk of Court of the Montana Water Court, hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the above MASTER'S REPORT, FINDINGS OF FACT, CONCLUSIONS OF LAW was duly served upon the persons listed below by depositing the same, postage prepaid, in the United States mail. Eugene C. and Lois M. Walsh Box 531 Cameron, MT 59720 United States of America Bureau of Land Management P. 0. Box 36800 Billings, MT 59107 Eric S. Gould, Attorney U. S. Dept. of Justice Environment & Natural Resources Division P. O. Box 663 Washington, DC 20044 Lon Maxwell, Attorney Mt. Dept. of State Lands Capitol Station Helena, MT 59620 DATED this /3 day of February 1992. ^. - IN THE WATER COURTS OF THE STATE OF MONTANA UPPER MISSOURI DIVISION MADISON RIVER BASIN (41F) r. 3 1991 ********************* IN THE MATTER OF THE ADJUDICATION OF ) CASE NUMBER: 41F-16 THE EXISTING RIGHTS TO THE USE OF ALL ) CLAIM NUMBER: THE WATER, BOTH SURFACE AND UNDERGROUND 41F-W-132922-00 WITHIN THE MADISON RIVER DRAINAGE AREA, INCLUDING ALL TRIBUTARIES OF THE MADISON ) RIVER IN BEAVERHEAD, GALLATIN, AND MADISON ) COUNTIES, MONTANA. COMES NOW, the United States of America, by and throuqh its undersigned attorneys, and Lois M. Walsh and Eugene C. Walsh, Claimants pro se, to hereby stipulate and agree as follows: 1. The Temporary Preliminary Decree for Basin 41F reflects that the owners of water right claim 41F-W-132922-00 are Lois M. Walsh and Eugene C. Walsh. 2 The points of diversion and places of use listed for water right claim number 41F-W-132922-00 include public lands of the United States which are administered by the Bureau of Livestock use of such lands can occur only Land Management. pursuant to a permit issued and administered by the Bureau of The involved public lands are listed below: Land Management. OTROTR W2SW SE E2 N2SW NW SESW SWSE LOT 1(E21JENE) LOT 2(W2NENE) LOT 3(NWNE) LOT 8(NESE) LOT 9(SESE) LOT 1(E2NENE) LOT 2(W2NENE) LOT 3(E2SENE) LOT 4(W2SENE) SEC 14 14 24 24 24 24 24 1 1 1 1 1 12 12 12 12 TWP 08S 08S 08S 08S 08S 085 08S 09S 09S 09S 09S 09S 09S 09S 09S 09S RNG 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W COUNTY MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON POD X X X X X X X X X X X X X X POU X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 3. The United States of America filed a Notice of Objection to the Temporary Preliminary Decree for this water right on the basis that the water pertaining to the public lands included in this claim was actually appropriated by the United States and should be so decreed. PAGE 2 OF 3 CASE NUMBER: 41F-16 STIPULATION: 41F-W-132922-00 4. Claimants agree that the Temporary Preliminary Decree for water right 41F-W-132922-00 should be changed to reflect that the United States is the sole owner of a water right for livestock use directly from the Madison River at the points of diversion and places of use listed in paragraph 2 of this stipulation. 5. That the Temporary Preliminary Decree for water right claim 41F-W-132922-00 should be changed to reflect that Lois M. Walsh and Eugene C. Walsh are the owners of a water right for livestock watering directly from the Madison River at the following listed points of diversion and places of use: SEC 14 23 25 36 1 QTRQTR E2SE NENE E2 E2 SENE 6. RNG 01W 01W 01W 01W 01W TWP 08S 08S 08S 08S 09S COUNTY MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON MADISON POU X X X X X POD X X X X X U p on entry of Preliminary and Final decrees for water right number 41F-W-132922-00 reflecting separate water rights for the United States and Lois M. Walsh and Eugene C. Walsh as described herein, the Objection of the United States of America shall be deemed to have been withdrawn. DATED this .z.7 OD - day of ¢ , 1991. / BY: 'LOIS M. WALSH, Claimant P.O 'Box 531 Cameron, Montana 59720 BY: pro se ) (41' EU nE C. WALSH, Claimant Box 531 .Cameron, Montana 59720 pro PAGE 3 OF 3 CASE NUMBER: 41F-16 STIPULATION: 41F-W-132921-00 DORIS M. POPPLER U.S. Attorney District of Montana 1/74,Le.w,ik, BY: JOHi R. HILL, JR., attorney U.S. Department of Justice Land and Natural Resources Div. 1961 Stout Street, Drawer 3607 Denver, Colorado 80294-3607 (303) 844-2892 ATTORNEYS FOR UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OBJECTOR 1 IN THE WATER COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA 2 UPPER MISSOURI DIVISION - MADISON RIVER BASIN (41F) 3 4 5 6 7 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * IN THE MATTER OF THE ADJUDICATION ) OF THE EXISTING RIGHTS TO THE USE ) OF ALL THE WATER, BOTH SURFACE AND ) UNDERGROUND, WITHIN THE MADISON RIVER DRAINAGE AREA, INCLUDING ALL ) TRIBUTARIES OF THE MADISON RIVER ) IN BEAVERHEAD, GALLATIN AND MADISON) COUNTIES, MONTANA. CASE NO. 41F-16 41F-W-132919-00 41F-W-132921-00 41F-W-132922-00 8 9 10 CLAIMANT: Eugene C. and Lois M. Walsh OBJECTOR: United States of America (Bureau of Land' Management)Montana Department of State Lands 11 STIPULATION 12 Eugene C. Walsh and Lois M. Walsh, owners of the above 13 referenced Claims, and the Montana Department of State Lands, 14 objector to these Claims, stipulate to the following changes 15 in the Temporary Preliminary Decree for the Madison River 16 Basin, a tributary of the upper Missouri River (41F): 17 1. As to all three Claims: Because the State owns all 18 of Section 36 TOSS RO1W, delete E1/2 Sec. 36 TO8S RO1W from 19 points of diversion and Sec. 36 TO8S RO1W from places of use. 20 (It is unnecessary to generate any Implied Claims for the 21 State from these three Claims, as DSL filed Claim No. 41F-W22 137232 covering this portion of the Madison River.) 23 2. This Stipulation does not affect that portion of 24 these Claims showing a point of diversion in the NE ?--4NW1/4NE1/2 of 25 Section 36 TO8S RO1W. Claimants divert water from that point SlAnPuw,,,Co 1 2 by means of a headgate for use on adjacent fee lands. DSL recognizes such right or rights as belonging to claimants. 3. 3 4 5 6 7 Department of State Lands v. Pettibone, 216 Mt. 361, 702 P.2d 948 (1985), wherein the Montana Supreme Court held that title to water rights on state school trust lands vests in the name of the State and not its lessees. 4. 8 9 The basis of these changes is the decision in That upon the signing of this Stipulation by both parties and with the understanding that the Montana Water 10 Court will implement the above changes, the objections filed 11 by DSL against these Claims will be deemed completely 12 withdrawn, thereby concluding this litigation. DATED this 13 , 1991. 141i -L of 14 Montana Department of State Lands 1625 Eleventh Avenue Helena, Montana 59620 15 16 17 By: 18 19 20 Morrow, Sedivy & Bennett Attorneys at w P.O. Box 1 Bozeman, 9715 21 By: 22 23 24 25 -2- ..... r.Ste 117--1-Lon U. Maxwell Staff Attorney 91/a/646. 6Diy,e42e DIABLO MESA RANCH V 2 r?, 9 1 : BOX 531 CAMERON, MONTANA 59720 l'oveber 26, 1q91 rAk r AA t9c2.tfq C.7s'ck, 71.1 1-pve iLr Trer-r-e EF V(771-,t=H. "rv tr lv, e(2z.y.Y ¢ ¢ ¢!, ¢ - _ ¢ (';',/ 2 9 STATE OF MONTANA COUNTY OF 64/ At 1991 ) ss . r-m, fOrthrOl Watel emurt AFFIDAV ( 1. I/W are the owner(s) ct26ter right numbers 2. . .-1.".A 6/ \ The place of use prior to July 1, 1973 is: OTR.SEC. RGE. TWP. SEC. COUNTY /6ti k7 "aav bre) /vAiL- / (A) (J) /4iv7/4 .S' / ck) /t4/1- 8 /64..) D- 3 .1s- it) LA-) -.S 5 ri, NE 4. -s-,,S` ,,Cc, /0/4 A correct map describing the above is attached. 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I : 4 .....viS., . t . %.% I /C c t7'.. ... ¢ RP--:- ' ¢ i '`.. .4 ( ¢ I !t ¢y I, I.,,.. --o ---se - ¢- , / ... WOO 6 /--3 c.1-1 }- ' - 1 4- 1 3 * I , ¢ ¢ 4 /.I -. 24 -. 3. U.S. Department of Justice e WMC:ESGould 90-1-2-1233 Washington, D.C. 20530 December 23, 1991 Michael J.L. Cusick Water Master Montana Water Court P.O. Box 879 Bozeman, Montana 59771-0879 CLE: , E C'tPa, W f=" t Re: Case No. 41F-16 Dear Water Master Cusick: This letter constitutes the Status Report of the United States as requested in the Water Courts' letter of November 1991, and December 9, 1991. Based on the research of the Bureau of Land Management regarding the claimants' Smith Ditch, the claimed place of use does not appear to affect the BLM's stock water rights directly from the Madison River subject to the stipulation of the parties. With regard to the inquiry regarding the nature of the implied claim on behalf of the United States, the United States believes that it is more appropriate that the claim be made as to a single stockwater right with the priority of the earliest claim. It is the understanding of counsel for the United States that such position will not prejudice the claimant's claims. Sincerely, c_L Eric S. Gould United States Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division General Litigation Section cc: Lon Maxwell, Montana Dept. of State Lands Bureau of Land Management, Billings, MT J.H. Morrow

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