85-2-247. Purpose. (1) Because the state of Montana is the owner of all water in the state, pursuant to Article IX, section 3, of the Montana constitution, the legislature recognizes that it is in the state's best interest to ensure that valid issues raised as a result of claims examination in the statewide adjudication of pre-July 1, 1973, water rights are resolved before a final decree is issued.

(2) If as a result of the examination or the prior verification conducted by the department an issue remark is attached to a claim, the information resulting in the issue remark and the issue remark must be weighed against the claimed water right.