Ada Montague Stepleton brings a wealth of experience in Land Use and Water Law, backed by a strong reputation for collaborative problem-solving and meticulous legal practice. Since joining NARF, Ada has focused her expertise on Tribal water settlements, including her work on the Tule River Water Settlement. She also contributes significantly to the Tribal Water Institute, advancing efforts to protect and restore Tribal water rights.
Ada’s legal career is rooted in a deep commitment to public service and environmental stewardship. She began as a land use planner in Bozeman, Montana, before earning her law degree from the University of Montana. She then honed her specialization in water law at the boutique firm Franz & Driscoll, PLLP. Her next chapter took her to the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), where she monitored drought conditions, served as a water rights hearings examiner, and represented the state in the Fort Belknap Water Right Compact. Her work also included advocacy for school trust lands and participation in federal court cases as amicus in forestry-related litigation.
Ada joined NARF to apply her legal skills toward building a more just and sustainable future for the next generation — an endeavor that continues to shape her impactful career.
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Education
- University of Montana, J.D.
- Marjory Hunter Brown Fellowship Recipient
- Certificate in Natural Resources Conflict Resolution
- University of Montana, M.S. Environmental Studies
- Focus on watershed ecology
- Vassar, B.A. Urban Studies
- Cum Laude
Admissions to Practice
- State courts of Montana and Colorado
Publications
- Strange Bedfellows: States, Tribes, and Water Rights (https://scholarworks.umt.edu/plrlr/vol47/iss1/6/)
- Renewable Energy Development on State Trust Lands (https://delpf.law.duke.edu/article/renewable-energy-development-on-state-trust-lands-montague-vol32-iss2/)
- Land Trusts and Water (https://landtrustalliance.org/resources/learn/explore/digital-download-land-trusts-water-strategies-resources)
- Mitigating for Growth: A Blueprint for a Ground Water Exchange Pilot Program in Montana (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1936-704X.2012.03111.x?msockid=07cbcdd9096d6e4f22f8d86008956f84)
