Honest Cattle · Valley County
Water Rights
Water Rights & Land Ownership
Valley County is anchored at Glasgow on the Milk River with Fort Peck Reservoir dominating the southern county — Fort Peck Dam is one of the largest earth-fill dams in the United States. The northern county is high plains drained by Frenchman Creek (Canadian border) and the Milk River. Over 18,000 active rights — second only to Phillips in eastern Montana — reflecting the Milk River Project’s reach and the Fort Peck Lake influence.
Active rights pulled live from DNRC WRQS on 2026-06-01. Valley spans eight basins: 40E (Missouri Breaks), 40J/40L/40M/40N (Milk main and tributaries), 40O (Lower Milk), 40Q (Poplar trib. NE), 40S (NE Missouri side).
Valley County Watershed Map
Search Valley County water rights
- Water right format:
- 40J 12345 00 (Milk main) · 40L/M/N (lower Milk).
- Primary basins:
- 40E Missouri Breaks · 40J Milk main · 40L/M/N/O Milk lower & tribs · 40Q/40S NE Missouri side.
- Fort Peck Dam:
- USACE-administered; the dam’s pool and downstream releases drive Lower Missouri flow. Reservoir storage rights senior to most downstream irrigation.
- Fort Peck Reservation:
- Reservation extends into NE Valley County — Tribal compact rights senior to most state priorities on reservation parcels.
- DNRC regional office:
- Glasgow Regional Office, 406-228-2561.
- Clerk & Recorder:
- Valley County, 406-228-6226.
Quick links
Data sources: Montana DNRC, MSL/DOR Cadastral, MBMG GWIC, USBR, USACE. Active rights pulled live from DNRC WRQS on 2026-06-01. Fort Peck Tribal compact rights administered separately. Informational only.