Senate Bill 190 amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to streamline the process for water right holders seeking temporary changes in appropriation rights, particularly for instream flow purposes. The bill allows applicants to waive the requirement of proving a lack of adverse effects on existing water rights if they obtain written consent from affected water right holders, as indicated by the new insertion in section 85-2-408. This change is designed to facilitate the maintenance and enhancement of instream flows for fishery resources, reducing the burden of proof on water right owners when applying for temporary change authorizations.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies that temporary change authorizations can remain valid if the associated water right is transferred with real property and limits the maximum quantity of water that can be changed for instream flow purposes to the amount historically diverted. It also specifies that only the water right owner can enforce these authorizations and emphasizes that they do not grant rights of access across private property. Overall, the amendments aim to balance the interests of water right holders with the need for environmental conservation and effective water resource management.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 85-2-311, 85-2-320, 85-2-360, 85-2-402, 85-2-407, 85-2-408
SB0190_1(1): 85-2-311, 85-2-320, 85-2-360, 85-2-402, 85-2-407, 85-2-408
SB0190_1(2): 85-2-311, 85-2-320, 85-2-360, 85-2-402, 85-2-407, 85-2-408
SB0190_1(3): 85-2-311, 85-2-320, 85-2-360, 85-2-402, 85-2-407, 85-2-408
SB0190_1(4): 85-2-311, 85-2-320, 85-2-360, 85-2-402, 85-2-407, 85-2-408
SB0190_1(5): 85-2-311, 85-2-320, 85-2-360, 85-2-402, 85-2-407, 85-2-408
SB0190_1(6): 85-2-311, 85-2-320, 85-2-360, 85-2-402, 85-2-407, 85-2-408
SB0190_1: 85-2-311, 85-2-320, 85-2-360, 85-2-402, 85-2-407, 85-2-408
SB0190_2: 85-2-311, 85-2-320, 85-2-360, 85-2-402, 85-2-407, 85-2-408