Office: (406) 251-6100 P.O. Box 9285 Missoula, MT 59807 waterrightsinc@gmail.com
What we do...
WATER RIGHTS, INC. (WRI) is a multi-disciplined natural resource consulting firm dedicated to providing comprehensive services to industry, government and individuals.
Lee Yelin
Founder and President
Lee has more than 30 years of experience in water rights and water resource related projects. His expertise are vast, with extensive knowledge in the water right permitting process, interpreting historical documents, maps, land uses and aerial photographs, Montana Water Court decrees; restoration projects such as stream bank stabilization and mining reclamation; pond permitting and installation; ditch laws and maintenance issues; wetland delineations; and hazardous material remediation in soils and aquatic medium.
Lee started WRI after 10 years at the DNRC. He began private projects and consultation in 1992. Lee's expertise in water rights and resources is unsurpassed in the State of Montana.
Jeremy Longdon
Water Rights Biologist
Jeremy earned a Bachelor of Science in Terrestrial Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana in 2008. Jeremy's interests and areas of prior experience include: lab work (aquatic invertebrate sampling, classifying and sorting), wildlife ecology/conservation (environmental science, fieldwork in population dynamics and mortality of elk in Montana and nest success of Passerines in Sagebrush Steppe habitats) and surface/ground water quality sampling and monitoring in support of mining in Western Montana and Idaho. He possesses strong analytical, oral, written, and computer skills (Microsoft Word, Works, Excel, Access, PhotoShop, ArcGIS, LOAS, etc.).
Pat Lauridson
Water Rights Specialist
Pat Lauridson is a dynamic natural resources professional with over 30 years of experience in the occupational field. He began his career as a wildlife biologist working for a nonprofit and then state government agency where he specialized in the conservation of waterfowl and upland game species. He spent the next 15 years working alongside Western Montana farmers and ranchers as a biologist for the USDA-NRCS where he performed conservation easement, water rights, aquatic habitat restoration, and environmental compliance related duties. Prior to arriving at WRI, Pat served the last four years with the USDA Forest Service where he served as a regional manager overseeing land acquisition and conveyance cases spanning five states.
Jeff Silkwood
Geomorphologist and
Projects Advisor
Jeff is a geomorphologist and a published cartographer with extensive knowledge of GIS and spatial systems analysis for surface and groundwater, and natural resource restoration including streams, rivers and wetlands. He conducts hydrologic investigations, conducts water rights research, assists with water rights permitting and provides water rights evaluation and documentation.
John Hackethorn III
GIS Specialist
John Hackethorn III is an emerging professional specializing in GIS technology and environmental monitoring, with a strong focus in forestry, remote sensing, and hydrology. He earned both his Bachelor's degree in Forest Management, with a GIS certificate, and his Master's degree in Sustainable Forest Management focusing in Geomatics and Biometrics from Oregon State University. John holds a FAA remote pilot license, enabling him to leverage drone technology for advanced environmental assessments. His Master's thesis centered on environmental monitoring for stream restoration, integrating aerial image processing, data analysis, and hydrology-focused research.
We're a Missoula based water resource consulting firm, with expertise in water rights, stream and pond projects, and environmental cleanup. We look forward to hearing from you.
Please visit our blog and feel free to ask us any questions.
Lee Yelin, President