Members of Crow Tribe set for vote on water rights settlement
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Filed Under:
Environment
|
Law
|
Politics
Members of the
Crow Tribe of Montana will vote this Saturday on a water right settlement that was signed into law by
President Barack Obama last
December.
Some landowners on the reservation oppose the deal, fearing it takes away their water rights without compensation and treats future claims as inferior to those of the state and of non-Indians. Some filed a lawsuit in tribal court hoping to delay the election but a judge rejected the request.
“I believe that the allottees are well-protected and I don’t see any problems in the future as far as protecting the rights of allottees as far as the beneficial use of the water is concerned,” Chairman Cedric Black Eagle told The Billings Gazette.
The settlement confirms the tribe's rights to the Bighorn River and Bighorn Lake. It also provides $460 million for water projects on the reservation.
Get the Story:
Debate continues ahead of vote on Crow Water Settlement Act
(The Billings Gazette 3/17)
Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2009:
H.R.
3563 |
S.375
Related Stories:
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HCN: Crow Tribe
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Letter: Water rights settlement betrays needs of
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Landowners from
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Crow Tribe discusses water rights settlement in
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Crow Tribe to celebrate settlement of water rights
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Claims Settlement
Act authorizes $460M Crow water settlement (12/1)
Senate passes water rights settlements for tribes
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Letter: Members
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