I Have Water Rights — What are my options?
Because the Upper Missouri Basin is closed to new surface water rights, existing rights play a critical role in supporting agriculture, communities, development, and streamflow.
Gallatin Water Trust helps you understand and manage your right by:
Evaluating what your right allows
Know what your water right allows — amount, location, purpose, and historical use.
Guiding you through the DNRC change process
We manage forms, filings, and mitigation requirements so everything is done correctly.
Connecting you with potential buyers or partners
We match your water with trusted users who need it and will use it responsibly.
By owning water rights in the Gallatin Watershed, you have options.
Donate a right
Permanently protect water for streamflow, fish habitat, and community needs.
Sell or transfer a right
Transfer your water right permanently for agricultural, municipal, mitigation, or
development use.
Lease a right
Share water temporarily while keeping long-term ownership.
Depending on your preference, your water can support agriculture, development, municipal needs, or the ecological needs of the watershed
Working with GWT is voluntary and designed to support both landowners and the watershed.
Why Your Water Right Matters
Your water right plays an important role in the future of the Gallatin Valley.
Because the Gallatin Watershed is part of a closed basin, no new surface water rights can be created.
This means existing rights are essential for:
Keeping Streams
Flowing
Supporting Ranches
and Farms
Meeting Community
Water Needs
Allow Responsible
Growth
Ensuring New Uses do not harm fisheries or downstream users