A bill to settle the water rights of the Crow Tribe of Montana faces continued opposition from Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), the new vice chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.

Barrasso is concerned about the effect of the bill on water users in Wyoming. The settlement covers Bighorn River and Bighorn Lake, which span the Montana-Wyoming border.

Sen. Jon Tester (D-Montana), who also sits on the committee, has been working with Barrasso to address the issues for "close to a year on this." I don't see it the same way he does, but we'll try to find common ground and move forward," Tester told the Associated Press.

The tribe is willing to accept some changes, vice chair Cedric Black Eagle said.

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$527M federal bill would improve water systems for Crow (AP 2/5)