This bill settles the Fort Belknap Indian Community’s water rights in Montana and sets up money and tools to deliver clean water, support farms, and manage rivers. It confirms a water agreement with the state, puts the Tribe’s water rights in trust so they can’t be lost by non-use, and requires a Tribal water code to manage and share water fairly, including for allottees (Tribal members with allotted lands) . The Tribe gets an allocation from Lake Elwell and can use or lease that water within the Missouri River Basin; industrial leases must help pay federal dam operations costs . The bill creates a trust fund with dedicated accounts to build irrigation projects, restore wetlands, improve domestic water and sewer systems, and run the water program over time . It also cancels old irrigation debts on Tribal allotments and directs work to repair key canals that serve the region’s water supply, with capped federal spending for those fixes . Separately, it authorizes funding to build and maintain water and wastewater systems for the Blackfeet Tribe .

A land exchange with Montana is authorized to bring certain federal and state lands into trust for the Tribe, and about 2,500 acres near Dodson Diversion Dam will be taken into trust with easements to keep federal canal access and maintenance rights in place . The settlement only takes effect after Tribal approval, court approval of the compact, and full funding; if deadlines are missed, the deal expires and actions unwind .

• Who is affected: Fort Belknap Indian Community (including allottees), nearby water users, and the Blackfeet Tribe for wastewater projects .
• What changes: Tribal water rights are recognized and protected; a Tribal water code is required; funding supports irrigation, drinking water, sewer systems, and canal repairs; certain lands move into trust with protections for federal water facilities; old irrigation debts on allotments are canceled .
• When: After federal and state approvals and deposits are complete; if not done by the set dates, the settlement expires and funds and rights revert as outlined .