Milk River Project
The Lifeline of the Hi-Line
Ongoing Projects
Stay up-to-date as structures throughout the Milk River and St. Mary system move through the planning, design, and construction phases.
St. Mary Siphon Failure Updates
On June 17, 2024, the St. Mary Siphon failed, causing significant impacts to the Milk River Project. To stay informed click here.
MRJBOC invites the public to participate in the Draft Watershed-EIS Plan Scoping Meeting. Click here to learn more and get involved.
What is the Milk River Project?
The Milk River Project is beyond remarkable. With over a century of successful operation, this engineering feat diverts water from the St. Mary River on the Blackfeet Reservation, flowing through northern Montana and Glacier National Park, and across southern Alberta, Canada. This project is a testament to the intricate canals, siphons, and diversions designed for a seamless flow of water. The Milk River Project is essential to fulfill Montana’s water demands, catering to eight irrigation districts, Reclamation pump contracts, private contracts, the Blackfeet and Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, and other living communities along the Milk River. The project has created numerous recreational opportunities for the surrounding inhabitants, contributing to the ecosystem’s prosperity and wildlife habitats. With such a prominent and successful project, the Milk River Project has proven to be a symbol of limitless possibilities.
Benefits to Montana’s Economy
How the Milk River Project has been providing to Northern Montana for over 100 years.
18,000
Residents provided drinking water
1,000,000
People fed annually
140,000
Acres of irrigated lands
700+
Farms
729
River miles of wildlife habitat and recreation
Milk River Project Partners
How about a little St. Mary Diversion Dam tour as the crews have been very busy at work. A lot has changed out there over the past few weeks and there is activity happening in nearly every corner of the site.
Crews continue making progress on the fish screen structures, concrete work, backfilling, and site grading while coordinating around the bypass system to keep operations moving during construction. You can really start to see how all the pieces of this project are coming together.
This project is not only about replacing aging infrastructure, but also modernizing the system for the future with improved reliability, safer operations, and better fish passage for Bull Trout.
Big thank you to all of the contractors, operators, engineers, inspectors, truck drivers, and crews out there putting in long hours to keep this project moving forward in a very remote and challenging location. We appreciate all the hard work going into this important piece of the Milk River Project.
Here are a few snapshots from around the job site. 👇 ... See MoreSee Less
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Hydroseeding continues at the St. Mary Siphon site and hopefully just in time for a little moisture to help get things growing. Once completed there, crews will move over to Hall’s Coulee. Fencing operations will also begin around much of the disturbed area to give the vegetation a chance to establish before the livestock and local wildlife decide to enjoy the fresh growth. 🌱 ... See MoreSee Less
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Well, we had an “inspector” stop by Camp 9 today to check things out and make sure everything was in order as we continue cleanup. This grizzly took a lap around the yard, looked things over, and then casually went on its way.
Someone probably let it know a lot of us around here are Bobcat fans… I mean, it is written right on the pipes after all. 🤣
All jokes aside, if you are out around the project or stopping to look at the work, please stay aware of your surroundings and pay attention to wildlife activity. We are working in some very remote country, and safety always comes first. ... See MoreSee Less
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Just a few aerial photos as the snow starts to melt and hydroseeding continues across the site at the St. Mary siphon. And before you ask the same question I did—we do not have that bright blue or green dye in the tackifier. I’ll admit, I questioned the coverage at first too since I am used to seeing that bold color on lawns.
From the air, the application shows up as more of a darker greenish gray tone on the outer edges. It is more subtle in appearance, but rest assured the coverage is there, especially when you get closer it just blends in a little more than that bright blue stuff.
#stmarysiphon #milkriverproject ... See MoreSee Less
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First, we want to thank our Congressional delegation for their continued support. We are requesting consideration for a new funding opportunity as part of the Big Beautiful Bill package. This funding is a strong fit for our project and would allow us to advance the remaining work on the 29 mile, more than 100 year old St. Mary Canal system, a federally owned piece of critical infrastructure. Thank you Senator Steve Daines, Senator Tim Sheehy , Congressmen Ryan Zinke, and Troy Downing for your assistance in bringing attention to our project and needs to Secretary of Interior Doug Burgum.Today I sent a letter to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation w/ @TimSheehyMT, @RepRyanZinke & @RepTroyDowning requesting funding to repair the St. Mary diversion dam & canal. This key infrastructure provides critical water resources to communities along the Hi-Line & we need to make sure that it will be fully functioning for years to come. ... See MoreSee Less
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Spring in Montana is a beautiful thing. Up at the Diversion Dam in Babb, these big snowflakes and muddy conditions may have halted construction for the rest of the week, but they’re a welcome sight for everyone in the area.
Here’s a quick look at what’s happening on site as the project continues to move forward. The bypass canal might look full in this photo, but it’s currently carrying about 615 cfs. Given the condition of the existing canal and the remaining 100-year old structures, we do not plan to increase flows beyond this. The bypass was designed to handle 650 cfs, so it’s doing exactly what it was built to do.
#milkriverproject #stmarydiversiondam ... See MoreSee Less
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