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In Montana, we pride ourselves on treating strangers as friends and solving problems as neighbors.

Water is our state’s most valuable resource. Montana’s farmers’ and ranchers’ livelihood depends on access to water for their crops and livestock.

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes were encouraged by the first U.S. Senate hearing of their water compact settlement with the State of Montana.

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes say the water compact that settles their claims against the federal government will “create 6,330 jobs and generate $52.9 million in recurring, annual economic activity in Montana,” according to an

The ink has run like a river torrent ever since the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ Water Compact was introduced – and approved – in the previous legislative session.

Earlier today Senator Jon Tester announced his introduction of landmark legislation to create jobs, ratify the CSKT Water Compact, and settle the claims of the CSKT against the federal government.

I strongly support the CSKT Water Compact as a negotiated agreement between farmers, ranchers, irrigators, water users, and tribal members that will help to ensure the future of agriculture in Montana.

The FJBC lawsuit is nothing more than a last ditch effort by compact opponents to force uncertainty

Failure to ratify the Compact would not bode well for those with non-Tribal water rights.

Without the Compact, the tribes would have to define their water rights through litigation in the Montana Water Court — a costly, time-consuming and uncertain process that would have dire consequences for Montana taxpayers…

The Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes Water Compact is much more than just a piece of legislation; it’s a negotiated agreement ensuring the future of agriculture in our state.

The CSKT Water Compact is much more than just a piece of legislation—it is a negotiated agreement that ensures the future of agriculture in our state.