Along with the settlement to the Indian trust fund lawsuit, H.R.4783, the Claims Settlement Act of 2010, includes a water rights settlement for the Crow Tribe of Montana.

The settlement confirms 650,000 acre-feet of water for the tribe. It authorizes $460 million in payments and infrastructure, including funds for the rehabilitation of an irrigation project on the the reservation, a clean drinking water system and renewable energy projects.

"Today is a momentous day for the Crow people," Chairman Cedric Black Eagle said in a press release. "We have worked long and hard to enact this water settlement bill. With its passage, the Crow people can look forward to clean drinking water and an improved irrigation system, along with the many other elements in the bill. Most of all, it represents a vindication of our rights and claims, which we pressed for so many years."

Get the Story:
House passes Cobell settlement, Crow water compact (The Clark Fork Chronicle 11/30)
House approves $5.5 billion for settlements (The Billings Gazette 12/1)

Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2009:
H.R. 3563 | S.375

Related Stories:
Letter: Members of Crow Tribe should vote against water rights (10/6)
Crow Chairman: Water settlement in tribe's best interests (4/2)
Opinion: Water bill hurts landowners on Crow Reservation (3/29)
Crow Tribe's water rights settlement advances (9/11)
Crow Tribe near deal on water rights settlement (08/03)