Honest Cattle · Lake County
Water Rights
Water Rights & Land Ownership
Lake County is largely the Flathead Indian Reservation (Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes — CSKT). Polson sits at the south end of Flathead Lake; the Mission Mountains rise east. The Flathead River drains south from the lake through the National Bison Range area toward the Clark Fork. The CSKT-Montana Water Compact ratified in 2015 establishes federally-reserved Tribal water rights senior to most state priorities on reservation parcels.
Active state-administered rights pulled live from DNRC WRQS on 2026-06-01. Lake spans four basins: 76K (Stillwater R. side), 76L/76LJ (Flathead R. main), 76M (Lower Flathead / Clark Fork edge). CSKT Compact rights administered by the Flathead Reservation Water Management Board.
Lake County Watershed Map
Search Lake County water rights
- Water right format:
- 76L 12345 00 (Flathead main) · 76K (E side) · 76M (Lower Flathead).
- Primary basins:
- 76L/76LJ Flathead main · 76K Stillwater side · 76M Lower Flathead / Clark Fork edge.
- CSKT Compact (2015):
- Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes hold quantified federally-reserved water rights ratified by MCA 85-20-1901. The Flathead Reservation Water Management Board co-administers reservation water resources with state DNRC.
- FIIP:
- Flathead Indian Irrigation Project — historic federal project now under Tribal management.
- DNRC regional office:
- Kalispell Regional Office, 406-752-2288 (Missoula serves Arlee / S edge).
- Clerk & Recorder:
- Lake County, 406-883-7268.
Quick links
Data sources: Montana DNRC, MSL/DOR Cadastral, MBMG GWIC, CSKT, BIA. CSKT Tribal compact rights administered separately from state WRQS. Informational only.