Honest Cattle · Dawson County
Water Rights
Water Rights & Land Ownership
Dawson County is anchored at Glendive on the Yellowstone River — Cretaceous fossil country (Hell Creek formation, mosasaurs, T. rex finds) and Bakken oil patch. The Yellowstone cuts NW-SE through the county; Redwater River drains the northern county south to the Yellowstone. Stock and Yellowstone main-stem irrigation rights make up most of the 5,000 active records.
4,983Active water rights
Irrigation & StockPrimary uses
2,373 mi²County area
42M · 40PDNRC basins
Active rights pulled live from DNRC WRQS on 2026-06-01. Dawson spans two basins: 42M (Yellowstone lower main) and 40P (Redwater R.).
Dawson County Watershed Map
Rivers Yellowstone R. Redwater R. Irrigation
Search Dawson County water rights
DNRC WRQSOwner, priority, abstract — pre-filter on basin 42M (Yellowstone) after opening. DNRC WaterMapperYellowstone main-stem and Redwater diversions. Montana CadastralParcel boundaries & geocodes. GWIC MapperWells & aquifer data.
- Water right format:
- 42M 12345 00 (Yellowstone lower) · 40P (Redwater).
- Primary basins:
- 42M Yellowstone lower main · 40P Redwater R.
- DNRC regional office:
- Miles City Regional Office, 406-234-0241.
- Clerk & Recorder:
- Dawson County, 406-377-3058.
Quick links
Data sources: Montana DNRC, MSL/DOR Cadastral, MBMG GWIC. Active rights pulled live from DNRC WRQS on 2026-06-01. Informational only.