Crazy Mountain Ranch is sourcing some of its golf course irrigation water from Big Timber, Montana. This small town of 1,500 people is located about 50 miles from the luxury ranch. The city is selling water to a contractor, reportedly using it on the golf course, according to Big Timber Councilwoman Kerri Baird.
Residents have been curious about the water source since large trucks began transporting water to Crazy Mountain Ranch. The ranch started trucking water after being blocked from accessing Rock Creek and its lake by regulators. A lawsuit filed on July 11 by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) claims Crazy Mountain Ranch lacks a valid water right for the golf course irrigation it started in 2024. The DNRC seeks to stop the irrigation and may impose fines for violating the Montana Water Use Act.
District Court Judge Matthew Wald has ordered the ranch to cease irrigating its golf course with disputed water rights until a preliminary hearing on July 28. Crazy Mountain Ranch’s attorney noted plans to truck in up to 110,000 gallons of water weekly to sustain the 18-hole golf course.
Baird mentioned no contract fixes the water amount, but approximately 27,000 gallons are sold daily, expected to continue through September. “We’re only selling what we’re comfortable selling,” Baird stated, indicating sales would stop if the system can’t handle it. The bulk water pricing is $14 per 1,000 gallons, with Big Timber City Clerk Hope Mosness noting similar sales to Montana Rail Link and other companies. The utility serves about 950 local residences and businesses.
Residents raised concerns about water sales during a Big Timber City Council meeting, wary of a relationship with Crazy Mountain Ranch. Baird responded that 27,000 gallons daily is minimal. The EPA reports a family of four uses about 400 gallons daily. Crazy Mountain Ranch declined to comment on its water source amid DNRC’s cease-and-desist order.
Big Timber obtains water from the Boulder River, with access to thousands of acre-feet. A U.S. Geological Survey stream gauge showed the river running at 284 cubic feet per second, half the typical volume for this time of year. The Big Timber City Council plans to revisit the water sale issue in a future meeting.
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