Water Rights Purchases allow streamflow protection in perpetuity.

Donations of valid water rights on priority streams are accepted by the Coalition and dedicated to instream flow.  Donated water rights typically are irrigation rights that have been fulfilled historically throughout the irrigation season.

Short-Term Leases protect water instream for 1-5 years, and play an important role in the Coalition’s acquisition strategy for several reasons. These leases give landowners the opportunity to to “test the waters” and establish trust with the Coalition before considering a longer water right lease.  Short-term leases allow for irrigators to assess the impact the agreement has on their water needs, and for the Coalition to assess the impact of the agreement on streamflows.  As with all leases, all or a portion of the water right may be leased.

Long-Term Leases are leases of 5-10 years.  Long-term leases establish long-term flow protection and provide a secure alternate source of income for landowners. Ten years is the maximum term for a water right lease before renewal is required.  All water right leases have the potential for unlimited renewals.

Split-Season Leases allow for consumptive use, such as irrigation, of a water right during the first half of the season. The water right then remains instream for the second, drier half of the season. Thus, the irrigator gets a first cutting from the early season irrigation, and the stream gets additional water later in the summer, when it is needed the most. These agreements can be tied to a cutoff date or a trigger event such as streamflow levels, after which the irrigator ceases diverting water.

Point of Diversion and Source Changes are another way to potentially increase flows in critical stream reaches.  The irrigator's point of diversion is changed to a location downstream of the critical reach, or a new source is utilized all toghether.  Examples of alternative water sources are  irrigation district water and stored water.

Irrigation Efficiency Improvements, such as the installation of a more efficient irrigation system can improve both water quantity and quality.  Landowners can lease all or a portion of the conserved water to the Coalition for instream use.

Diversion Reduction Agreements involve negotiating agreements with water users outside of the MT Department of Natural Resources and Conservation water right change process, and therefore are not formal, state authorized, water right leases. The water user agrees to forego diversions during certain times if the measured flow from the tributary falls below a certain level. This option is useful in drought situations when instream water is needed quickly to sustain and protect fisheries.