The golf course at Crazy Mountain Ranch, highlighting the lush turf that became central to a legal water dispute.
Crazy Mountain Ranch in Park County has admitted to violations of Montana water law by irrigating its golf course without permits. The Montana Department of Natural Resources is seeking legal action against the ranch, which has faced complaints from local irrigators over unauthorized water use. As concerns grow about water resources in the Shields River Valley, the ranch’s future water rights are under review by state officials. A court hearing is scheduled to address the injunction against the ranch’s irrigation practices.
Crazy Mountain Ranch in Park County has admitted to violating Montana water law by irrigating its golf course without the necessary permits. In a court filing, the ranch’s general manager expressed regret over the situation, acknowledging that the ranch had commenced the irrigation process prematurely.
The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) is actively seeking a temporary restraining order along with civil remedies against the ranch. A District Court hearing regarding these requests by the DNRC is scheduled for July 28 in Livingston.
The state’s actions were initiated after the ranch began irrigating its 112-acre golf course, which includes 35 acres of new turf, starting last June. The DNRC’s investigation revealed the ranch had conducted these irrigation activities in violation of the Montana Water Use Act by failing to secure the appropriate water use permits.
On July 18, Judge Matthew Wald issued a temporary order mandating the cessation of irrigation at the golf course. Ranch representatives contended that the need to irrigate was crucial to safeguard their investment in expensive turf imported from Idaho.
In response to the ongoing situation, the ranch had diverted water illegally from Rock Creek to irrigate its golf course. This action has led to local irrigators expressing significant concern, resulting in at least 15 complaints against the ranch for its unauthorized water use.
To address the immediate irrigation needs, Crazy Mountain Ranch planned to transport up to 100,000 gallons of water weekly from a local water plant while seeking the requisite water permits. On July 25, under a consent decree, the ranch agreed to discontinue the use of Rock Creek water for irrigation. The agreement permits the ranch to continue irrigating using purchased water while its application for water rights is under review by the DNRC.
As part of the consent decree, the ranch is required to submit weekly water usage reports to the DNRC and allow inspections of the golf course by DNRC officials. Should the ranch violate the terms of the consent decree, penalties could reach up to $1,000 per day.
Crazy Mountain Ranch is situated on 18,000 acres developed as an exclusive member-only recreational facility. However, the ranch’s water diversion activities have raised alarm bells among local ranchers, who fear the impact on their own water supply and livelihoods. The situation has heightened tensions in the Shields River Valley, a region historically fraught with water disputes and navigating limited water resources.
The DNRC is currently investigating the complaints lodged by local irrigators regarding the ranch’s unauthorized water use. If the DNRC ultimately approves the ranch’s water permit applications, it is expected that the state will forgo its injunction against the ranch. Conversely, if the permits are denied, the injunction will remain in place, effectively preventing the ranch from utilizing the contested water rights.
The developments at Crazy Mountain Ranch reflect broader issues concerning water management and usage rights in Montana. The state’s limited water resources and existing agricultural water needs have stirred significant debate as luxury developments emerge in rural areas. Local ranchers maintain that such developments threaten their vital water supplies, underlining the critical nature of this ongoing dispute and the enforcement of water laws.
As the July 28 court hearing approaches, the situation at Crazy Mountain Ranch remains under close scrutiny, both from the state and the local community, as they await the outcomes of the legal proceedings and the department’s investigations.
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