85-2-331. Reservations within Missouri River basin and Little Missouri River basin. (1) Except as provided in 85-20-1401, the state, an agency or political subdivision of the state, or the United States or an agency of the United States that desires to apply for a state water reservation in the Missouri River basin or in the Little Missouri River basin shall file an application pursuant to 85-2-316 no later than:

(a) July 1, 1989, for reservation of water above Fort Peck dam; or

(b) July 1, 1991, for reservation of water below Fort Peck dam and in the Little Missouri River basin.

(2) Subject to legislative appropriation, the department shall provide technical and financial assistance to other state agencies and political subdivisions in applying for state water reservations within the Missouri River basin and the Little Missouri River basin.

(3) Except as provided in 85-20-1401, the department shall:

(a) make a final determination in accordance with 85-2-316 on all applications filed before July 1, 1989, for state water reservations in the Missouri River basin above Fort Peck dam.

(b) make a final determination in accordance with 85-2-316 on all applications filed before July 1, 1991, for state water reservations in the Missouri River basin below Fort Peck dam and in the Little Missouri River basin.

(c) determine which applications or portions of applications are considered to be above or below Fort Peck dam.

(4) Except as provided in 85-20-1401, state water reservations approved by the department under this section have a priority date of July 1, 1985, in the Missouri River basin and a priority date of July 1, 1989, in the Little Missouri River basin. If the department issued a permit under Title 85, chapter 2, part 3, prior to the granting of a state water reservation under this section, the department may subordinate the state water reservation to the permit if it finds that the subordination does not interfere substantially with the purpose of any state water reservation. If the department issued a certificate for ground water development under Title 85, chapter 2, part 3, prior to the granting of a reservation under this section, the department may subordinate the reservation to the certificate if it finds that the subordination does not interfere substantially with the purpose of any reservation and the reservant consents to the subordination. The department shall by order establish the relative priority of applications approved under this section.