Montana § 70-17-112 Interference With Canal Or Ditch Easements Prohibited

Montana Statutes

§ 70-17-112 — Interference With Canal Or Ditch Easements Prohibited

Montana § 70-17-112

Title 70PROPERTY

Ch. 17SERVITUDES, EASEMENTS, AND COVENANTS RUNNING WITH THE LAND

Part 1Servitudes -- Easements

This text of Montana § 70-17-112 (Interference With Canal Or Ditch Easements Prohibited) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Montana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Mont. Code Ann. § 70-17-112 (2026).

Text

70-17-112 . Interference with canal or ditch easements prohibited.

(1)A person with a canal or ditch easement has a secondary easement to enter, inspect, repair, and maintain a canal or ditch or to operate the appropriation works. A person retains this secondary easement if the canal or ditch is converted into a pipeline and the pipeline is conspicuously marked.

(2)A person may not encroach on or otherwise impair any easement for a canal or ditch used for irrigation or any other lawful domestic or commercial purpose, including carrying return water. A person may not encroach on or otherwise impair any easement for a canal or ditch under this subsection that has been converted into a pipeline.

(3)The provisions of subsection (2) do not apply if the holder of the canal, ditch, or pipeline

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70-17-112 . Interference with canal or ditch easements prohibited. (1) A person with a canal or ditch easement has a secondary easement to enter, inspect, repair, and maintain a canal or ditch or to operate the appropriation works. A person retains this secondary easement if the canal or ditch is converted into a pipeline and the pipeline is conspicuously marked.
(2) A person may not encroach on or otherwise impair any easement for a canal or ditch used for irrigation or any other lawful domestic or commercial purpose, including carrying return water. A person may not encroach on or otherwise impair any easement for a canal or ditch under this subsection that has been converted into a pipeline.
(3) The provisions of subsection (2) do not apply if the holder of the canal, ditch, or pipeline easement consents in writing to the encroachment or impairment.
(4) Each canal or ditch easement obtained by prescription or conveyance is included within the scope of this section. Nothing in this section establishes a secondary easement where none existed prior to April 14, 1981. This section does not affect contracts or agreements concluded prior to April 14, 1981.
(5) If a legal action is brought to enforce the provisions of this section, the prevailing party is entitled to costs and reasonable attorney fees.