Honest Cattle · Sanders County
Water Rights
Water Rights & Land Ownership
Sanders County is the Clark Fork–Flathead River confluence county — Thompson Falls is the county seat. The Clark Fork enters from the east through the Lower Clark Fork canyon; the Flathead River enters from the SE at Paradise (after exiting the Flathead Reservation). The eastern portion of the county is within the Flathead Indian Reservation (CSKT). Cabinet Gorge / Noxon Rapids hydropower projects sit downstream toward Idaho. About 6,600 active state rights.
Active state-administered rights pulled live from DNRC WRQS on 2026-06-01. Sanders spans five basins: 76D (Lower Kootenai margin), 76L/76LJ (Flathead lower), 76M (Lower Clark Fork), 76N (Bull River / Noxon area). CSKT compact rights administered separately on reservation parcels.
Sanders County Watershed Map
Search Sanders County water rights
- Water right format:
- 76M 12345 00 (Lower Clark Fork) · 76L (Flathead) · 76N (Bull R. / Noxon).
- Primary basins:
- 76L/76LJ Flathead lower · 76M Lower Clark Fork · 76N Bull R. / Noxon · 76D Lower Kootenai margin.
- CSKT Compact (2015):
- Eastern Sanders County reservation parcels carry federally-reserved Tribal water rights senior to most state priorities.
- Hydropower:
- Cabinet Gorge / Noxon Rapids reservoirs are FERC-licensed hydropower facilities — flow allocations governed by FERC license + Columbia River Treaty considerations.
- DNRC regional office:
- Kalispell Regional Office, 406-752-2288 (Missoula serves S edge).
- Clerk & Recorder:
- Sanders County, 406-827-6922.
Quick links
Data sources: Montana DNRC, MSL/DOR Cadastral, MBMG GWIC, CSKT, FERC. Active rights pulled live from DNRC WRQS on 2026-06-01. CSKT Compact rights administered separately. Informational only.