The Blackfeet Tribal Business Council has taken action to amend the Blackfeet Water Code (Resolution 211-2021) as a part of the Tribe’s obligation to implement the provisions of the Blackfeet Water Rights Compact and Settlement Act. The amendment repeals and replaces Ordinance 62 adopted on May 15, 1980 and re-adopted on July 12, 1988.

The public has 30 days starting March 11, 2021 to provide comments to the Blackfeet Water Code.  All comments must be received by the Blackfeet Legal Department on or before April 10, 2021.

View or download the Blackfeet Water Code and authorizing Tribal Resolution No. 211-2021. A hard copy of the Blackfeet Water Code is available at the Blackfeet Tribal Offices (front reception desk).

Please submit all comments by April 10, 2021 (30 days from March 11, 2021) to:

• Blackfeet Legal Department
  P.O. Box 849
  Browning, MT 59417

Comments also may be submitted by email on or before April 10, 2021 to blackfeetwatercode@gmail.com.

The amended Blackfeet Water Code is summarized below:

The Blackfeet Tribal Business Council adopted the Water Code under the authority of the Blackfeet Constitution and By-Laws and its sovereign authority, which is to control, manage and protect the waters of the Blackfeet Reservation in perpetuity for the permanent Blackfeet homeland.

Pursuant to the Treaty of October 17, 1855, the Blackfeet Tribe reserved all waters of the Blackfeet Reservation necessary to provide a permanent homeland (Winters Doctrine right); and are essential to the existence of the Blackfeet Tribe culturally, historically and economically and to the continuing viability of the Blackfeet.

The purposes of this Water Code is to protect the health and welfare of Reservation residents, the political integrity of the Tribe, and the economic security of the Reservation through effective administration, regulation and management of the Reservation water resources in order to protect the quantity, quality and integrity of the water resource.

The Tribe possesses the sole jurisdiction and authority to administer Tribal waters on the Reservation for the benefit of the Tribe and its members and to authorize use of the Tribal Water Right by any person.

The administration, regulation and management of the waters of the Reservation through under this Water Code shall comply with due process requirements, all Tribal law, regulations and procedures and any applicable federal law. 

The protection and preservation of the Tribe’s water resources, and the economic stability and well-being of the Blackfeet Tribe now and for generations to come, are dependent on the efficient and effective management, control and development of the Tribe’s water resources which this Water Code is intended to provide.

The Water Code applies to every person who seeks to use or is using Blackfeet Tribal Water.  This includes Tribal members, allottees and non-members. No person shall use Tribal Water without a permit issued pursuant to this Water Code.  The Water Code sets out the process for obtaining a Tribal water permit and also addresses the circumstances in which a permit may be transferred to another tribal member, a family member or to third parties.

The Water Code also provides for the establishment of the Blackfeet Water Department and the structure and authority of the Department.

On and after April 15, 2009 (the date of State ratification of the Blackfeet Compact), all basins on the Blackfeet Reservation are closed to issuance of State of Montana certificates of water rights and water permits and the Blackfeet Tribe shall have sole and exclusive jurisdiction to authorize use of water within the Blackfeet Reservation.

The Blackfeet Tribe entered into a Compact with the State of Montana and the United States quantifying the Winters Doctrine rights of the Tribe. (ratified by the State of Montana, MCA 85-20-1501, and by the United States in the Blackfeet Water Right Settlement Act, Public Law 114-322, 130 Stat. 1628, Title III, Subtitle G).  The Compact and Settlement Act were approved by the Blackfeet tribal membership in a referendum vote held on April 20, 2017 and certified by the Secretary of the Interior’s delegate on May 30, 2017.