Do other states also negotiate their water rights with the U.S. Forest Service and other federal agencies?
Western states have different approaches to quantifying federal reserved rights. There are other examples where water rights have been successfully negotiated between the U.S. Forest Service and a state. Unfortunately, federal reserved water rights claimed by the U.S. Forest Service have frequently been the focus of expensive litigation. The State of Montana had the foresight to establish a compact commission to negotiate federal reserved water rights in Montana.
Related Questions
- Does the U.S. Forest Service have the ability to object to other water rights holders, in other words have "standing," in the state adjudication process?
- Are the instream flow water rights in the Compact the extent of instream flow water rights that the U.S. Forest Service will ever hold?
- Do other states also negotiate their water rights with the U.S. Forest Service and other federal agencies?
