Parties involved with a water use agreement for irrigators on the Flathead Reservation will hold informational meetings on the agreement in February followed by a vote to approve it.

Negotiators for the Confederated Salish-Kootenai Tribes, the Flathead Joint Board of Control and the federal government recently unveiled the Flathead Indian Irrigation Project agreement that would, if approved, become part of a larger tribal water rights compact.

A tribal press release states that the water use agreement would, among other things, protect existing water uses on the irrigation project, address concerns of extra-duty lands, protect property rights, improve irrigation project operations and facilities, improve instream flows and expand access to low-cost electricity for the project.

“Negotiations on the FIIP Water Use Agreement have been detailed and demanding,” said Walt Schock, chairman of the Joint Board of Control. “The parties recently concluded what we believe is a good agreement that protects the legitimate interests of all those involved.”

He said the Joint Board of Control has aimed to protect all irrigators “and we now think that the agreement does not only that, but will provide numerous benefits to the entire community.”

However, some irrigators have objected to previous drafts of the agreement, contending that it would leave them short of the water they have historically used. 

The Joint Board of Control will hold meetings Feb. 4 at the Arlee Community Center at 1 p.m. and the St. Ignatius Senior Center at 6 p.m. and on Feb. 5 in Hot Springs at the Lone Pine Hall at 1 p.m. and at a yet-to-be announced location in Ronan at 6 p.m.

The board will conduct a vote by its membership after the informational meetings are held. 

Tribal Chairman Joe Durglo is hopeful the agreement will be approved.

“The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes have been at the negotiating table regarding water rights for years,” he said. “It’s remarkable that we stand so close to reaching the final agreement to get the water compact introduced and moved through the state Legislature. For the good of the community, we will get this agreement completed.”

The overall compact, which quantifies tribal rights on and off the reservation and provides for administration of water rights on the reservation, must be ratified by the Legislature, Congress and the Tribal Council, a process that is expected to take several years.

The compact is not without critics. 

A group called Concerned Citizens of Western Montana will hold a town hall meeting to discuss the compact Jan. 23 at the Ronan High School auditorium from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. 

The meeting will feature Kate Vandemoer, a hydrologist from Arizona who has been consulting for the organization.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by email at [email protected].