About Senior Ag Water Rights Alliance
Senior Ag Water Rights Alliance (SAWRA) is the watchdog for Montana water rights. Currently, we are focused on addressing two main issues that have significant implications for water rights in our state:
Maintaining local control of water rights post-adjudication
SAWRA is dedicated to protecting Montana’s water rights and ensuring local control post-adjudication. We oppose the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation's (DNRC) push for a centralized Water Division Court which would include unelected water judges and impose an expanded bureaucratic system on water users—a move that could significantly increase government involvement and potentially violate constitutional principles, thereby endangering the rights of water users. Our commitment lies with the District Court model, which honors the original design of the water court system—concluding its role after adjudication, with District Courts overseeing water management, preserving local representation, and ensuring constitutional enforcement of water rights.
Defending your water rights against state encroachment
SAWRA is also actively challenging the DNRC's claims over private water rights on state-leased lands. Such actions by the DNRC threaten the mutual benefits of public land leases, essential revenue for our state, and, fundamentally, our members' property rights. SAWRA is actively campaigning for the Montana Land Board to intervene and reaffirm our members' rights to retain their water rights, preventing the DNRC from turning temporary improvements into permanent state claims.