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
From Our Social Media
Milk River Project Partners
Before the snow flew, our friend Colynn took to the skies to capture some incredible aerial footage of the St. Mary Diversion Dam Project!
These shots give you a great perspective on just how much work is being accomplished and the impressive progress being made on this major infrastructure project!
A huge thank you to Colynn for sharing these amazing views with us! Check out a few of his photos here, and follow the link in our bio to his YouTube channel to watch the entire flyover. It's definitely worth a look!
👏 Pretty impressive work by all the crews bringing this project together!
YouTube link: youtu.be/HaDgoaPy85g ...
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💧 Investing in the Future of the St. Mary Canal and Milk River Project!
Many of you know we have been working on a Watershed Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the St. Mary Canal Project, an important step toward securing the long-term future of this critical water delivery system.
Through this partnership, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has invested funds for the investigation, engineering, and planning needed to evaluate improvements to the project.
We have partnered with Farmers Conservation Alliance (FCA) and HDR Engineering to complete this effort, gather public input, identify necessary improvements, and work toward our ultimate goal of restoring the St. Mary Canal to its authorized capacity of 850 cubic feet per second (cfs).
So, what exactly is a Watershed EIS, and why is it important?
A Watershed EIS is a planning and decision-making tool that takes a comprehensive look at a water delivery system, identifying existing problems, evaluating potential improvements, and examining the environmental, economic, and community impacts of different alternatives. This includes considering the impacts on residents and landowners living along the canal, surrounding agricultural lands, waterways, and the communities that depend on the system.
Just as importantly, this planning process helps establish the groundwork for future project approvals, funding opportunities, and construction. It gives us a roadmap for making informed investments in the future of the St. Mary Canal.
Across the West, aging canals and pipelines are struggling to meet today's water needs as infrastructure ages, drought challenges water supplies, and communities continue to grow. Modernizing these systems is essential to improving water reliability, reducing the risk of failures, and protecting the agricultural producers and communities who depend on them.
NRCS Montana's investments are helping irrigation communities plan and implement projects that repair and modernize aging infrastructure before it's too late. These projects provide multiple benefits, from improving water delivery and system efficiency to strengthening resilience against drought and other disasters. Most importantly, they help keep water flowing for agriculture and our communities for generations to come.
For the Milk River Project, this investment is especially important. The St. Mary Canal is much more than a canal. It is a lifeline for approximately 120,000 acres of irrigated farmland and 18,000 residents who depend on a reliable water supply.
As we continue incorporating public comments and moving the EIS toward completion, Farmers Conservation Alliance has put together a great video highlighting why water infrastructure modernization matters and why these investments are so critical.
Take a few minutes to watch and see why the work we are doing today matters so much for the future of the Milk River Project and the communities we serve! 💧🌾
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It’s all about making progress before the snow flies! ❄️
The team has been pushing hard on concrete pours, and now we’re getting into the fun part — installing all of the mechanical and technical components that will make the new St. Mary Diversion Dam work in Babb, MT.
This photo shows the trash rake being installed. The trash rake helps keep the diversion operating efficiently by removing sticks, branches, vegetation, and other debris that can collect in front of the intake and trash racks. Keeping that material cleared helps maintain water flow into the canal and protects the gates and other downstream equipment from damage or blockage.
A lot of pieces are starting to come together, and every installation gets us one step closer to a fully operational diversion dam! ...
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Workers are replacing the aging diversion dam and headworks while also incorporating new infrastructure designed to protect fish.
Learn more about the project, and its deep history in the area, in the comments: ...
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Well, that’s a wrap for Irrigation 2026!
Tom and Clayton pulled the drains, and now the next phase begins as the system starts to dry out. Once we can get back in, we’ll be inspecting the canal and structures, addressing any settling, and taking care of any other issues that need attention before next season.
A huge shoutout to Tom and Clayton, along with everyone at the Marias Milk River Reclamation Division, for all of their work keeping the canal operational and the structures running in top shape throughout the season — even through the flooding.
Bull Trout salvage will also be happening soon to safely remove any fish that may have been entrained in the canal and Sherburne. This could also be the last year for bull trout salvage in the canal sections if the Diversion Dam does its job as intended.
Another irrigation season in the books! ...
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Remember, with the new St. Mary Diversion Dam outside of Babb, Montana, comes more than just the dam itself — it also means more equipment for the fish-friendly features and a new control house!
This new building will serve as a shop for the crew, with space for equipment storage as well as office space. Camp 9 isn’t going anywhere, but after many years of use, the crew is getting an upgrade. Having additional space right at the Diversion Dam will also make it much easier to store equipment on-site and have it readily available when needed.
Take a look at the progress Treasure State Inc. and BOLT are making on this new structure! It’s another important piece of the overall project coming together. 👏🚧 ...
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