BENEFITS

How We Benefit Landowners The Montana Water Trust believes in protecting landowners’ rights to use water (including for instream use), and providing them with secure, alternative sources of income to maximize the value of their property.  We develop voluntary, cooperative agreements to compensate landowners for leaving water in the stream. We are committed to developing creative agreements that meet each individual landowner’s property management needs—MWT recognizes that Montana is a diverse state with a range of people, places, and opportunities. That's why we provide a variety of incentives in exchange for transferring water rights to instream flow. MWT is always open to new approaches for water transactions.  Some of our options for landowners include: tax benefits, compensation, technical assistance, expert advice, and irrigation efficiency improvements.  MWT uses accepted valuation techniques to estimate the fair market value of each water right.

How We Benefit Streamflows

The Montana Water Trust works creatively and cooperatively to restore the 4,000 miles of chronically and periodically dewatered streams inMontana.  We work with willing landowners to increase streamflows by decreasing the amount diverted from dewatered streams.

Our projects are prioritized by working with fisheries biologists, conducting hydrologic studies, and gathering historical data. The agreed upon water is then left in the project stream to improve the aquatic ecosystem. We work in areas where even a little water makes a big difference for the spawning, rearing, and migration of native fish species. MWT's projects focus on connecting watersheds in order to facilitate the recovery of native species and freshwater ecosystems.

In addition to re-watering certain streams, Montana Water Trust has also implemented a thriving scientific monitoring program with interns from the University of Montana.  Our interns monitor flow levels to ensure protection of MWT’s agreed upon instream water rights, and also determine fish presence and aquatic health in our project streams by taking snorkel counts.

How We Benefit Communities

Healthy streams and financially secure landowners benefit communities, too. By increasing instream flow and enhancing native fisheries, we protect communities recreation opportunities, increase property values, and maintain Montanans treasured open spaces and flowing rivers.

The Montana Water Trust partners with a variety of local and regional groups, such as watershed councils, state and federal organizations, and conservation groups. We strongly believe that the long-term success of watershed restoration, including our instream flow program, depends on working collaboratively with public and private organizations.

We seek to build new alliances, and include all members of the community, from agricultural and real estate interests to conservationists and recreation interests. We share MWT ideas, data, and watershed restoration goals through continued outreach and presentations.

The Big Sky is renowned for its beautiful rivers and unique communities—MWT is dedicated to maintaining Montana's celebrated resources and way of life.