The golf course at Crazy Mountain Ranch, highlighting the lush turf that became central to a legal water dispute.
Crazy Mountain Ranch in Montana has admitted to violating water laws by irrigating its golf course without proper permits. The DNRC is pursuing legal action against the ranch, which began watering its course last June, leading to community backlash. A temporary order has halted their irrigation practices, and a consent decree allows for limited water usage while they work on obtaining the necessary permits. Local ranchers have raised concerns over potential negative impacts on their water supply as tensions rise in the area.
Livingston, Montana – Crazy Mountain Ranch, located in Park County, has admitted to violating Montana water law by irrigating its golf course without the required permits. The general manager of the ranch, David Hardwick, expressed regret over the decision to start irrigation ahead of obtaining necessary approvals.
The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) is pursuing a temporary restraining order and civil remedies against Crazy Mountain Ranch. A District Court hearing on these requests has been scheduled for July 28 in Livingston. This legal action follows the discovery by the state that the ranch began watering its 112-acre golf course, which includes 35 acres of newly installed turf, last June without the proper permits, contravening the Montana Water Use Act.
On July 18, Judge Matthew Wald issued a temporary order prohibiting the ranch from irrigating its golf course. Representatives from the ranch contended that watering the course was necessary to safeguard their investment in costly turf imported from Idaho. However, they also claimed that the DNRC’s delays in permit processing and demands for additional paperwork significantly hindered their ability to obtain the required approvals.
The situation escalated when Crazy Mountain Ranch began diverting water from Rock Creek illegally to irrigate the golf course. This action sparked local outrage among irrigators and resulted in 15 complaints against the ranch from the community. As a temporary solution, the ranch has planned to transport up to 100,000 gallons of water weekly from a nearby water plant while working to secure the essential water permits.
A consent decree filed on July 25 outlined an agreement in which the ranch committed to stopping all use of water sourced from Rock Creek for irrigation. Under this consent decree, the ranch is permitted to continue irrigating their golf course with purchased water while awaiting approval of their water rights application from the DNRC. The terms also stipulate that the ranch must provide weekly reports on their water usage to the DNRC and allow inspections of the golf course to ensure compliance.
The DNRC has indicated it will waive penalties for Crazy Mountain Ranch as long as the consent decree is not breached. Should violations occur, fines of up to $1,000 per day could be levied against the ranch. Crazy Mountain Ranch is part of a broader 18,000-acre property developed as a private recreational facility for members.
Local ranchers have expressed deep concerns regarding the ranch’s unauthorized water diversion, fearing it could negatively impact their water supply and therefore their livelihoods. The DNRC is currently looking into the complaints raised by these local irrigators concerning the ranch’s illegal water use.
If the DNRC approves Crazy Mountain Ranch’s applications for water permits, the state has committed to rescinding its injunction against the ranch. Conversely, if the applications are denied, the injunction will remain in effect, barring the ranch from utilizing the contested water rights.
Tensions within the Shields River Valley have grown due to a historical backdrop of water disputes and the limited availability of water resources in the region. The activities of Crazy Mountain Ranch have faced scrutiny and criticism, particularly from local ranchers who argue that the luxury development threatens the agricultural community’s access to essential water supplies.
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