Tribal Water Rights Act Passes Committee

Congressman Troy Downing’s bill, H.R. 726, the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025, passed the House Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday, July 15.

The legislation updates the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010 to provide the Crow Tribe with greater flexibility to develop water infrastructure and keep long-overdue projects on the reservation moving forward.

The original settlement ratified the water rights compact between the Crow Tribe and the State of Montana and authorized the Bureau of Reclamation to rehabilitate the Crow Irrigation Project and construct a municipal, rural and industrial water system.

H.R. 726 modernizes that framework by converting the MR& I component from a single centralized project into a more flexible, localized approach. Instead of one large system, the legislation allows the Tribe to develop smaller water and wastewater projects tailored to the needs of individual communities across the reservation.

In addition, the legislation extends the Crow Tribe’s exclusive right to develop a hydropower project at the Yellowtail Afterbay Dam for five years, through 2030, helping support future energy development on the reservation.

“Access to clean and reliable water is critical for the Crow Tribe and the communities it serves,” Downing said. “I’m proud that H.R. 726 passed the House Natural Resources Committee. Advancing this legislation will provide the tribe with the flexibility it needs to develop water and wastewater projects that work for local communities, as well as pursue hydropower development at Yellowtail Afterbay Dam. This bipartisan legislation honors our commitments to the Crow Tribe and invests in Montana’s future.”