University of Arkansas · System Division of Agriculture
[email protected] · (479) 575-7646 An Agricultural Law Research Article The Adjudication of Montana’s Waters – A Blueprint for Improving the Judicial Structure by Donald Duncan MacIntyre Originally published in MONTANA LAW REVIEW 49 MONT. L. REV. 211 (1988) www.NationalAgLawCenter.org ARTICLES THE ADJUDICATION OF MONTANA'S WATERS-A BLUEPRINT FOR IMPROVING THE JUDICIAL STRUCTURE Donald Duncan MacIntyre· I. Introduction..................................... 211 II. Montana Water Resources . .. 213 A. The Physical Facts . .. 213 B. The Adjudication Process in Montana ........ 215 III. Water Court Issues Affecting the Adequacy of Mon· tana's Adjudication. .. 235 A. The Constitutional Issue. .. 235 B. The Need for Change ....................... 244 1. Selection of Judges . .. 244 2. Administration.......................... 249 3. Procedure............................... 249 IV. A Blueprint for Change: The Water Court Statutes 254 A. Water Divisions. .. 254 B. Water Judges. .. 256 C. Water Masters .............................. 262 D. Jurisdiction. .. 263 V. Conclusion...................................... 264 I. INTRODUCTION Water is the lifeblood of Montana. Few issues are more impor tant to Montana than those concerning water and agriculture. 1 Re· • Chief legal counsel, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation; L.L.M., agricultural law, University of Arkansas School of Law, 1987; J.D., University of Montana School of Law, 1973; B.S., engineering, Montana College of Mineral Science and Technology, 1970. The views expressed are solely the author's and not necessarily those of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation nor the state of Montana. 1. T. Schwinden, One State's Strategy for Putting Water to Beneficial Use, in WATER SCARCITY IMPACTS ON WESTERN AGRICULTURE 437 (E.