Montana Title 85. Water Use § 85-5-408. Apportionment of costs

(1) When a commissioner is appointed upon the application of an owner or owners of a ditch, the court may fix the compensation of the commissioner and the term of the commissioner's employment. The court shall make an order apportioning the amount of compensation among the several owner or owners, tenants in common, or stockholders of the ditch according to their respective rights and interest. The order has the effect of a judgment against the person to whom the water was admeasured and for whose benefit it was used. When, in the discretion of the court, an order of apportionment of expense is made against the land for which the water was used, it has the effect of a lien against the land to which the apportionment was made. Execution may issue upon the order as upon a judgment by direction of the court, upon the application of any person interested in the order.

(2) When a commissioner is appointed under the provisions of this chapter to distribute the waters of the stream from which the waters flowing in a ditch are taken and to apportion and distribute the waters of the ditch according to the rights of the respective owners of the waters, the judge, in the judge's discretion, may, in addition to the apportionment taxed against the respective owners of the waters of the stream, apportion and tax the amount, if any, that the owners of the ditch shall pay in addition to the amount taxed under the provisions of this chapter.