Potential benefits of the St. Mary Canal Modernization Project include increased reliability of water delivery for Milk River Project users, including eight irrigation districts, the Blackfeet Nation, numerous private irrigators, several municipalities, and the Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge; improved drought resilience; and reduced risk of infrastructure failure that could cause environmental damage on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, the St. Mary River, and the North Fork Milk River.  

The NOI formal scoping period begins on June 21, 2023, and closes August 7, 2023, during which time the public has a chance to submit comments to be considered in the drafting of the Plan-EIS. After the scoping period, information gathered during this period will inform the writing of the Draft Plan-EIS. The Draft Plan-EIS will then be published for public review and comment, and an additional public meeting will be held which is estimated to occur during the Fall of 2024. 

FCA and HDR are leading the consulting services in support of the St. Mary Canal Modernization Project under National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Milk River Joint Board of Control (MRJBOC), and Bureau of Reclamation’s oversight. They are responsible for preparing a Plan-EIS pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Principles, Requirements, and Guidelines for Water and Land Related Resources Implementation Studies (PR&G) to assess the potential environmental impacts from modernization of the St. Mary Canal and its associated infrastructure. 

Submitting comments is the most effective way to make your voice heard in the EIS process. Please feel free to send comments at any time during the process. 

Comments may be: 

• Emailed to milkriver.project.comments@gmail.com 
• Submitted online at http://www.milkriverproject.com/projects/watershed via a comment form (linked here) 
• Submitted via phone to USDA NRCS, Alyssa Fellow, Environmental Compliance Specialist, at (406) 587–6712 
• Mailed to USDA NRCS, Alyssa Fellow, Environmental Compliance Specialist, Attn: St. Mary Canal Modernization Project, 10 East Babcock Street, Room 443, Bozeman, MT 59715 

The NRCS Montana State Office is funding the development of the Plan-EIS for the St. Mary Canal Modernization Project. The Bureau of Reclamation is the water right holder and owner of portions of the Milk River Project infrastructure, including the St. Mary Canal and associated infrastructure considered for the modernization project. NRCS is the lead federal agency and Bureau of Reclamation will be a cooperating agency during the Plan-EIS process. 

The PR&G govern how federal agencies evaluate proposed water resource development projects. They provide direction to federal agencies when evaluating and selecting major water projects. As it relates to the St. Mary Canal Modernization Project, in addition to complying with the requirements of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Plan-EIS must also meet PR&G requirements. More information on how the PR&G will be incorporated into the Plan-EIS process can be found in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Guidance for Conducting Analyses Under the Principles, Requirements, and Guidelines for Water and Land Related Resources Implementation Studies and Federal Water Resource Investments DM 9500-0013. 

NEPA was the first major environmental law in the United States, signed by President Nixon on January 1, 1970. NEPA requires federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of their proposed actions prior to making decisions. The goal of the NEPA process is to foster action that protects, restores, and enhances our environment. This is achieved through using Environmental Assessments (EAs) and Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) to provide public officials with relevant information and allow a detailed look at the potential environmental consequences of each proposed project. Read more about the NEPA process from the Council of Environmental Quality. 

A Plan-EIS is an official environmental review document required by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for planning and carrying out projects under the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program (also known as Public Law 83-566) and to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). A Plan-EIS is required for any project that applies for federal financial assistance through the NRCS Watershed Program and anticipates that the proposed project could significantly affect the quality of the human and natural environment. 

The purpose of the proposed project is to improve agricultural water management by rehabilitating and modernizing the St. Mary Canal along its existing alignment. The proposed project is needed due to existing system inadequacies, as well as the risk of infrastructure failure. The current system inadequacies have reduced the reliability of water delivery to water users who rely on the St. Mary Canal for agricultural, municipal, residential, industrial, and recreational uses. Failure could lead to environmental damage on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, the St. Mary River, and the North Fork Milk River.  

All project activities will take place along the existing St. Mary Canal alignment. The Milk River Joint Board of Control (MRJBOC), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Bureau of Reclamation are committed to working with property owners along the St. Mary Canal alignment to address concerns. To learn how your property might be impacted by the St. Mary Canal Modernization Project, please contact USDA NRCS, Alyssa Fellow, Environmental Compliance Specialist, at (406) 587–6712. 

The project is located in Glacier County, Montana, and lies completely within the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.