Fort Belknap water rights bill introduced to U.S. Senate

Montana Senss Jon Tester, a Democrat, and Steve Daines, a Republican, introduced the Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Act to the Senate Wednesday, a potentially historic bill that will secure the Fort Belknap Indian Community’s Indian water rights.

The bill would invest $1.3 billion in water infrastructure and provide economic opportunity across the Hi-Line as well as help to avoid costly litigation over water rights in the area, a release from Fort Belknap said Wednesday.

The bill also includes congressional ratification of the 2001 Water Compact between Fort Belknap, the...