News Summary
Crazy Mountain Ranch in Montana admits to violating water laws by irrigating its golf course without permits. The DNRC is seeking legal action for the infraction. A temporary restraining order has been issued, preventing further irrigation. Local irrigators have raised concerns over the ranch’s water diversion from Rock Creek, leading to multiple complaints. The ranch plans to source water legally while awaiting permit approvals and has agreed to a consent decree to halt unlawful practices. Local ranchers fear the ranch’s actions could threaten their water supply.
Livingston, Montana – Crazy Mountain Ranch, located in Park County, has officially admitted to violating Montana’s water law by irrigating its golf course without the necessary permits. The ranch’s general manager, David Hardwick, expressed regret for prematurely starting the irrigation process.
The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) has responded by seeking a temporary restraining order and civil remedies against the ranch. A District Court hearing regarding these requests is scheduled for July 28 in Livingston.
The legal action by the state followed the discovery that Crazy Mountain Ranch began watering its extensive 112-acre golf course, which includes 35 acres of newly laid turf, in June of last year. The DNRC identified that the ranch was irrigating without the proper permits, thus violating the Montana Water Use Act. In response, Judge Matthew Wald issued a temporary order on July 18, mandating that the ranch cease all irrigation activities on the golf course.
Representatives from Crazy Mountain Ranch defended their actions by stating the necessity to irrigate the golf course to protect their significant investment in expensive turf, which had been transported from Idaho. They also claimed that delays in the permit issuance by the DNRC, coupled with the requirement for additional paperwork, had hindered their ability to secure the necessary approvals in a timely manner.
In a more alarming development, it has come to light that the ranch unlawfully began diverting water from Rock Creek to irrigate the golf course. This action has provoked anger among local irrigators, leading to 15 formal complaints against the ranch. In an attempt to mitigate the situation, the ranch has now announced plans to transport up to 100,000 gallons of water weekly from a nearby water plant while continuing to pursue the required water permits.
A consent decree was filed on July 25, in which Crazy Mountain Ranch agreed to refrain from using water from Rock Creek for irrigation purposes. This decree permits the ranch to continue irrigating using purchased water as they await the DNRC’s ruling on their water rights application. As part of the consent decree, the ranch is obliged to provide weekly reports detailing water usage to the DNRC and allow for inspections of the golf course by DNRC officials.
In a move reflecting their intent to resolve the issue, the DNRC has agreed to waive any penalties unless the consent decree’s terms are violated. In the event of a breach, fines could reach as high as $1,000 per day. Crazy Mountain Ranch’s golf course is part of a larger 18,000-acre property designed as a member-only recreational facility.
The situation has stirred significant concern among local ranchers, who are apprehensive that the ranch’s unauthorized water use could adversely impact their water supply and livelihoods. The DNRC is currently investigating the numerous complaints lodged by local irrigators regarding the unauthorized use of water by the ranch.
If the DNRC ultimately approves Crazy Mountain Ranch’s water permit applications, the state intends to dismiss its injunction against the ranch. Conversely, if the permits are denied, the injunction will remain active, prohibiting the ranch from accessing the contested water rights.
The tensions surrounding this case are heightened by the historical context of water disputes in the Shields River Valley, a region characterized by limited water resources. Many local ranchers have raised alarms that the luxury development represented by Crazy Mountain Ranch poses a threat to agricultural water needs, further complicating already strained water relations.
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Additional Resources
- KBZK: DNRC Files Lawsuit Against Crazy Mountain Ranch
- Wikipedia: Water Law
- NBC Montana: Golf Course Sparks Water Rights Clash
- Google Search: Montana Water Rights
- KBZK: Rising Tensions at Crazy Mountain Ranch
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Water Right
- NBC Montana: DNRC Files Cease and Desist Against Crazy Mountain Ranch
- Google Scholar: Montana Water Law
