Honest Cattle · Wheatland County
Water Rights
Water Rights & Land Ownership
Wheatland County is Musselshell headwaters country — Harlowton at the confluence of the North and South Forks of the Musselshell, ringed by the Little Belt, Big Snowy, and Crazy Mountains. The legendary Bair Ranch sits south of Harlowton; Bair Reservoir backs water for downstream irrigation. Most rights are stock and small-irrigation on tributaries off the mountain fronts.
Combine the DNRC WRQS water-rights record with the Montana Cadastral using the 17-digit geocode that links them.
Active rights pulled live from DNRC WRQS on 2026-06-01. Wheatland spans three DNRC basins: 40A (upper Musselshell), 40C (Musselshell main), and 41S (Judith side / northern margin).
Wheatland County Watershed Map
The North Fork Musselshell drains the Little Belts; the South Fork drains the Crazy Mountains. They meet at Harlowton. Bair Reservoir sits on the South Fork south of town. Big Elk Creek and Daisy Dean Creek drain the western and northwestern county.
Search Wheatland County water rights
- Water right format:
- 40A 12345 00 (upper Musselshell) · 40C (main) · 41S (Judith side).
- Primary basins:
- 40A upper Musselshell · 40C Musselshell main · 41S Judith-side margin.
- Bair Reservoir note:
- Privately operated storage with senior downstream delivery rights — call-year supply influenced by Bair release schedule.
- DNRC regional office:
- Lewistown Regional Office, 406-538-7459.
- Clerk & Recorder:
- Wheatland County, 406-632-4324.
Quick links
Data sources: Montana DNRC, MSL/DOR Cadastral, MBMG GWIC. Active rights pulled live from DNRC WRQS on 2026-06-01. Informational only.