Montana Code 85-2-114. Judicial enforcement
85-2-114. Judicial enforcement. (1) If the department ascertains, by a means reasonably considered sufficient by it, that a person is wasting water, using water unlawfully, preventing water from moving to another person having a prior right to use the water, or violating a provision of this chapter, it may petition the district court supervising the distribution of water among appropriators from the source to:
Terms Used In Montana Code 85-2-114
- Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
- Person: includes a corporation or other entity as well as a natural person. See Montana Code 1-1-201
- State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Montana Code 1-1-201
- Temporary restraining order: Prohibits a person from an action that is likely to cause irreparable harm. This differs from an injunction in that it may be granted immediately, without notice to the opposing party, and without a hearing. It is intended to last only until a hearing can be held.
(a)regulate the controlling works of an appropriation as may be necessary to prevent the wasting or unlawful use of water or to secure water to a person having a prior right to its use;
(b)order the person wasting, unlawfully using, or interfering with another’s rightful use of the water to cease and desist from doing so and to take steps that may be necessary to remedy the waste, unlawful use, or interference; or
(c)issue a temporary, preliminary, or permanent injunction to prevent a violation of this chapter. Notwithstanding the provisions of Title 27, chapter 19, part 3, a temporary restraining order must be granted if it clearly appears from the specific facts shown by affidavit or by the verified complaint that a provision of this chapter is being violated.
(2)Upon the issuance of an order or injunction, the department may attach to the controlling works a written notice, properly dated and signed, setting forth the fact that the controlling works have been properly regulated by it. The notice constitutes legal notice to all persons interested in the appropriation or distribution of the water.
(3)The department may also direct its own attorney or request the attorney general or county attorney to bring suit to enjoin the waste, unlawful use, interference, or violation.
(4)The county attorney or the attorney general may bring suit to enjoin the waste, unlawful use, interference, or violation or bring an action under 85-2-122(1) without being requested to do so by the department.
(5)A county attorney who takes action pursuant to subsection (3) or (4) may request assistance from the attorney general.
(6)When enforcing the provisions of this section, the department, the county attorney, and the attorney general shall give priority to protecting the water rights of a prior appropriator under an existing water right, a certificate, a permit, or a state water reservation.
(7)After considering the provisions of subsection (6), the department may attempt to obtain voluntary compliance through warning, conference, or any other appropriate means before petitioning the district court under subsection (1). An attempt to obtain voluntary compliance under this subsection must extend over a period of at least 7 days and may not exceed 30 working days.
(8)Pursuant to 85-20-1902, the provisions of this section do not apply within the exterior boundaries of the Flathead Indian reservation.
(9)The provisions of this section do not limit a water right owner from seeking relief, including injunctive relief, in district court under Title 27, chapter 19, or this chapter.