Water rights often decide what a ranch in Treasure County is worth and how much hay and grass it can grow. Before you buy, lease or irrigate ground here, check the Treasure County water rights tied to it with the tools below. For current snowpack, drought and cattle movement, see the Treasure County, Montana page; statewide rules are at the Montana DNRC water rights site.
Water Rights & Land Ownership
Treasure is one of the smaller counties in Montana — Hysham is the county seat, on the Yellowstone River. About 2,100 active rights, mostly Yellowstone main-stem irrigation and stock diversions. Sarpy Creek drains the southern county.
Active rights pulled live from DNRC WRQS on 2026-06-01. Treasure spans two basins: 42KJ (Yellowstone main & tributaries) and 43P (Pryor-side margin).
Treasure County Watershed Map
Search Treasure County water rights
- Water right format:
- 42KJ 12345 00 (Yellowstone) · 43P (Pryor side).
- Primary basins:
- 42KJ Yellowstone main & tribs · 43P Pryor-side margin.
- DNRC regional office:
- Billings Regional Office, 406-247-4415 (Miles City also serves E half).
- Clerk & Recorder:
- Treasure County, 406-342-5547.
Irrigated Acres — USDA Census
Treasure County reported 31,818 irrigated acres in the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture, down from 36,647 in 2017 — a change of −4,829 acres (−13.2%). These are acres that actually received irrigation in the census year, not all land equipped for irrigation.
Source: USDA 2022 Census of Agriculture, Table 10 (irrigated land, acres). See the Measuring Montana Moisture overview →
Quick links
Data sources: Montana DNRC, MSL/DOR Cadastral, MBMG GWIC. Active rights pulled live from DNRC WRQS on 2026-06-01. Informational only.