WSP03082

• File Number: 8064
• Description: Section "D" General Federal Issues/Policies - Indian Water Rights
• Date: 4/19/1985
• Title: Final Report of Tribal Negotiating Team to Fort Peck Tribal Executive Board of Fort Peck-Montana Water Compact
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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whatever data are available in the way of
ground water in the general area. We will
probably, as we move along and determine
irrigable acreage and the potential sources
of water supply for those areas, we will
then probably develop some conceptualized
plans. That would be three or four months
down the line. We've got to get the other
work done first. And as to where we would
make the diversions, where the ca~als would
be located, where the booster pumps would
be, what types of irrigation we would use
in the various fields, what types of crops.
We will be going through the determination
of the net water requirements, consumptive
use, deficiencies, diversion requirements,
Rll that type of information as we move
along.

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"So I would say that within the next three
or four months we will have a fairly
general handle on what kind of acreage we
are talking about, how many acres of
irrigable land, how it could be developed,
what methods of irrigation, what types of
crops can be grown, and that sort of thing,
and have some preliminary figures on
quantification." (Tr. Sept. 24, 1981, pp.
42-43) .

The State experts agreed to do their own land
classification (id., pp. 45-46), and that both the tribal and
state experts would exchange standards being used for analysis
and interpretation (id., pp. 48-50). It was agreed that soils
studies and land classifications and water supply studies would
be completed by February, 1982. By March 1982, the State
agreed to identify all existing uses on the tributary streams
(except the mainstem of the Milk River). (Tr. Sept. 24, 1981,
pp. 73-74, 78-83, 88-91.)

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Stetson Engineers carefully studied all existing data
for all lands on the Reservation. After several months of
study, Stetson Engineers determined that 501,755 acres --
nearly one-quarter of the Reservation -- could feasibly be
irrigated out of the Missouri River. In making that
determination, Stetson Engineers analyzed the Soil Conservation
Service data for all lands on the Reservation. They identified
all irrigable lands, and planimetered them to determine
acreages. Irrigable lands were classified in Classes II, III
and IV. There were no Class I lands and only 19,870 acres were
Class IV. Climate was carefully analyzed. This entire
analysis was presented to the tribal negotiating team, and

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