Jack Ross; Ross Ranch & Livestock Co.

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FILED 01/12/2024 Sara Calkins CLERK Montana Water Court STATE OF MONTANA By: D'Ann __________________ CIGLER 40D-0288-R-2023 Montana Water Court PO Box 1389 Bozeman, MT 59771-1389 (406) 586-4364 1-800-624-3270 watercourt@mt.gov Nordlund, Julia 2.00 IN THE WATER COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA LOWER MISSOURI DIVISION BIG DRY CREEK - BASIN (40D) PRELIMINARY DECREE ******************************************************** CLAIMANTS: Jack Ross; Ross Ranch & Livestock Co. CASE 40D-0288-R-2023 40D 109826-00 NOTICE OF FILING OF MASTER’S REPORT This Master’s Report was filed with the Montana Water Court on the above stamped date. Please review this report carefully. You may file a written objection to this Master’s Report within 10 days of the stamped date if you disagree or find errors with the Master’s findings of fact, conclusions of law, or recommendations. Rule 23, W.R.Adj.R. If the Master’s Report was mailed to you, the Montana Rules of Civil Procedure allow an additional 3 days be added to the 10day objection period. Rule 6(d), M.R.Civ.P. If you file an objection, you must serve a copy of the objection to all parties on the service list found at the end of the Master’s Report. The original objection and a certificate of mailing to all parties on the service list must be filed with the Water Court. If you do not file a timely objection, the Water Court will conclude that you agree with the content of this Master’s Report. 1 MASTER’S REPORT Claim 40D 109826-00 appeared in the Preliminary Decree for the Big Dry Creek (Basin 40D) with issue remarks resulting from pre-decree examination by the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC). The claim did not receive objections, counterobjections, or notices of intent to appear. To address the issue remarks, the Water Court consolidated the claim into case 40D-0288-R-2023. FINDINGS OF FACT 1. Claim 40D 109826-00 received the following issue remarks: THE PLACE OF USE APPEARS TO NEED MODIFICATION BASED ON THE DNRC CORRECTION TO THE POINT OF DIVERSION AND RESERVOIR RECORD. THE CORRECT PLACE OF USE LEGAL LAND DESCRIPTION APPEARS TO BE THE SENESW SEC 9 TWP 17N RGE 41E GARFIELD COUNTY. RESERVOIR RECORD AND POINT OF DIVERSION WERE MODIFIED AS A RESULT OF DNRC REVIEW UNDER MONTANA WATER COURT REEXAMINATION ORDERS. IF NO OBJECTIONS ARE FILED TO THIS CLAIM, THESE ELEMENTS WILL REMAIN AS THEY APPEAR ON THIS ABSTRACT AND THE REMARK WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CLAIM. THE CLAIMANT DID NOT IDENTIFY THE PERIOD OF DIVERSION FOR THIS RIGHT. A PERIOD OF DIVERSION HAS BEEN ADDED TO MATCH THE PERIOD OF USE. IF NO OBJECTIONS ARE RECEIVED TO THE PERIOD OF DIVERSION OR PERIOD OF USE, THOSE ELEMENTS WILL BE DECREED AS SHOWN ON THIS ABSTRACT AND THIS ISSUE REMARK WILL BE REMOVED FROM THIS CLAIM. 2. Claimants were given a deadline of November 28, 2023 to file evidence resolving the place of use issue remark. If nothing was filed, the Court stated it would change the abstract to match what the remarks recommended. 3. No response was filed. 4. The new place of use for claim 40D 109826-00 is as follows: ID 1 Acres Govt Lot Qtr Sec SENESW SWSE 2 Sec 9 Twp Rge county 17N 41E GARFIELD CONCLUSIONS OF LAW 1. The Water Court has exclusive jurisdiction to determine the extent of all water rights in Montana as they existed prior to July 1, 1973. In re Deadman’s Basin Water Users Ass’n, 2002 MT 15, ¶ 15; Section 3-7-501, MCA. 2. The Water Court must resolve all issue remarks not resolved through the objection process. Section 85-2-248(2). The Court has authority to resolve issue remarks when the claim file and information available to the Court provide a sufficient basis to do so. Section 85-2-248(3), MCA. 3. When resolving issue remarks, the Court must weigh the issue remark and the information resulting in the issue remark against the claimed water right. Section 852-247(2), MCA. The Water Court is permitted to use information submitted by DNRC, the statement of claim, information from approved compacts, and any other data obtained by the Court to evaluate water right claims. Section 85-2-231(2), MCA. 4. A properly filed Statement of Claim for Existing Water Right is prima facie proof of its content. Section 85-2-227, MCA. This prima facie status may be overcome by a preponderance of the evidence showing that an element of the claim is incorrect. Section 85-2-227, MCA; Rule 19, W.R.Adj.R. A preponderance of the evidence is evidence that shows a fact is “more probable than not.” Hohenlohe v. State, 2010 MT 203, ¶ 33. 5. If a claimant, objector, or intervenor fails to appear at a scheduled conference or hearing or fails to comply with an order issued by the Court, the Court may upon motion or its own initiative, issue such orders of sanction with regard thereto as are just. Rule 22, W.R.Adj.R. 6. Sanctions for a claimant’s failure to comply with an order issued by the Court in its review of issue remarks include: 1) amending elements of the claim to conform with information in the claim file, 2) amending element of the claim to conform with information obtained by the court, or 3) removing the issue remark. Section 85-2248(9), MCA; Rule 22, W.R.Adj.R. 3 7. Claimants failed to respond to the Water Court’s Order Setting Filing Deadline. Therefore, it is proper for the Water Court to resolve the issue remarks and amend the claim. 8. The remaining issue remarks are for notice purposes only and do not overcome the prima facie status of the claim, and should be removed. RECOMMENDATIONS Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, the changes specified above should be adopted. A Post-decree abstract of the claim accompany this Order to confirm the changes have been made in the State’s centralized water right record system. ELECTRONICALLY SIGNED AND DATED BELOW. Service via USPS Mail: Jack Ross PO Box 42 Jordan, MT 59337 Ross Ranch & Livestock Co PO Box 43 Jordan, MT 59337 \\JUDHLNSRV-DATA\Share\JUDGALH2OSRV (Datavol)\Share\WC-BASIN FOLDERS\40D PD\40D Cases\40D-0288-R-2023\40D-288 MR- no resp POU IR 110-24 jr.docx 4 Electronically Signed By: Hon. Judge Julia Nordlund Fri, Jan 12 2024 09:44:25 AM January 10, 2024 40D 109826-00 Page 1 of 1 Post Decree Abstract POST DECREE ABSTRACT OF WATER RIGHT CLAIM BIG DRY CREEK BASIN 40D 40D 109826-00 Water Right Number: STATEMENT OF CLAIM 3 -- POST DECREE Version: ACTIVE Status: JACK ROSS PO BOX 42 JORDAN, MT 59337 Owners: ROSS RANCH & LIVESTOCK CO PO BOX 43 JORDAN, MT 59337 Priority Date: OCTOBER 1, 1970 Type of Historical Right: USE Purpose (Use): STOCK Flow Rate: A SPECIFIC FLOW RATE HAS NOT BEEN DECREED FOR THIS USE FROM THIS ONSTREAM RESERVOIR. THE FLOW RATE IS LIMITED TO THE MINIMUM AMOUNT HISTORICALLY NECESSARY TO SUSTAIN THIS PURPOSE. Volume: THIS RIGHT INCLUDES THE AMOUNT OF WATER CONSUMPTIVELY USED FOR STOCKWATERING PURPOSES AT THE RATE OF 30 GALLONS PER DAY PER ANIMAL UNIT. ANIMAL UNITS SHALL BE BASED ON REASONABLE CARRYING CAPACITY AND HISTORICAL USE OF THE AREA SERVICED BY THIS WATER SOURCE. Source Name: UNNAMED TRIBUTARY OF TAYLOR CREEK SURFACE WATER Source Type: Point of Diversion and Means of Diversion: ID Govt Lot 1 Qtr Sec Sec Twp Rge County SENESW 9 17N 41E GARFIELD Sec 9 Twp 17N Rge 41E County GARFIELD Sec 9 Twp 17N Rge 41E County GARFIELD Period of Diversion: JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 31 Diversion Means: DAM Reservoir: ONSTREAM Govt Lot Qtr Sec SENESW Diversion to Reservoir: DIVERSION # 1 12.00 FEET Dam Height: Depth: 9.00 FEET Surface Area: 2.58 ACRES Capacity: 9.29 ACRE-FEET JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 31 Period of Use: Place of Use: ID 1 Acres Govt Lot Qtr Sec SENESW

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