Mont. Code Ann. § 85-5-106

Upon written request of the owners of at least 51% of the water rights in any adjudicated ditch or single water system, the judge of the district court may empower the commissioner to maintain and keep in reasonable repair such water ditch or water system at the expense of the owners thereof, and for such purposes the commissioner shall have authority to enter and work upon any ditch, canal, aqueduct, or other source of conveying the waters affected by the decree and the right-of-way thereof and to visit, inspect, and adjust all headgates or other means of distribution of such waters.