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.
Wildlife & Recreational Benefits
The Milk River flows over 700 miles creating incredible wildlife habitats, hunting, and recreational benefits.
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
Isn’t technology amazing? A huge thank you to our team at HDR Engineering for bringing the St. Mary Inlet structure to life for us to all see through these incredible visualizations.
#StMarySiphon #MilkRiverProject ... See MoreSee Less
10 CommentsComment on Facebook
Can someone give us an overview of how it works and why it's needed? Just a curious engineer.
Do the new siphons transport the same volume of water as the old one or is it upsized any?
Very Nice Update & Amazing Illustration Keep up the Great Work 👏
Load More
If you’ve visited the St. Mary Siphon site recently, you’ve likely noticed NW Construction crews working hard, digging a massive hole and moving material. This is all essential prep work for the inlet structure—and when we say massive, we mean it! The side walls of this structure are an incredible 40 feet tall! 🏗️ I’ve asked our design team to create a graphic showing how this enormous structure will fit into the canal so you can visualize it, but for now here is a 3-d model sketch of the structure.
Next week, Sletten Construction will take the reins and begin their portion of the work. Meanwhile, their crews have been busy tying rebar, and we’re all optimistic that concrete placement will start very soon, maybe even next week!
#StMarySiphon #MilkRiverProject ... See MoreSee Less
11 CommentsComment on Facebook
This was in The Phillips County News today
Is there a estimate on completion date?
OUTSTANDING. Thanks, guys, for putting the pedal to the metal to get this project finished. A whole lot of farmers and ranchers are counting on it.
Load More
✨ A bird's-eye view! ✨
Check out this amazing aerial shot from last week (1.8.25) as the team wrapped up the final segments of pipe installation and began excavation work at the St. Mary Siphon inlet. 🚧👏
(Sorry I forgot to hit publish last week, but these photos are too good not to share!)
#stmarysiphon #milkriverproject ... See MoreSee Less
12 CommentsComment on Facebook
In the Mid seventies we trailed a bunch of cows across the Milk River over buried pipe and they said we went into Canada and then back into the USA. Could this be the place? Anyone know. We started at the 3C- and ended up at Percy De’Wolfs
Excited to get our river back!!!!!!
Wow! Darn near completed!👍🏼 Happy farmers!
Load More
🚧 Big Changes at the St. Mary Siphon! 🚧
The "eviction notice" has been officially served, and crews are on the move! Operations are shifting to the opposite side, clearing the way for work on the massive inlet structure. 🚜 NW Construction is already in action, kicking off excavation for this critical phase.
Next week, a new crew from Sletten Construction will join the effort, mobilizing forms and supplies to start the inlet concrete work and keep the momentum going strong.
Over the next couple of months, expect to see exciting progress: pipe installation and welding will forge ahead, the bridge will begin to take shape, the inlet construction will be underway, and we’ll continue to push hard to get water flowing back into the Milk River. 🌊
Stay tuned for more updates as we make big strides on this vital project!
#StMarySiphon #MilkRiverProject ... See MoreSee Less
5 CommentsComment on Facebook
So exciting. Would love to come for a tour, to see some of this first hand.
Unbelievable progress made by the Crew Great Job & updates 👏
In construction, in January, in Montana.....lol. Let her rip boys....
Load More
Throwback Thursday time! Let's journey back to this day in 1913, to the historic St. Mary Crossing Camp—what we now call Camp 9 and the Kennedy Creek Camp. 🏕️
Back then, these bustling camps were hubs of activity, filled with stables, blacksmith shops, bunkhouses, stores, and so much more. 🛠️🐴
A fascinating glimpse into the past of the hardworking communities that laid the foundation for this project today! #Throwback #milkriverproject #stmarysiphon ... See MoreSee Less
10 CommentsComment on Facebook
Fond memories of staying at Camp 9 in the 50s-70s with Aunt Liz Siers and Uncle Earl Siers.
Oh man…and we think we struggle now. Them fellas were tough!
Photos are amazing! These people had to be tough!!
Load More
The holiday break is over, and NW Construction is back at it, rolling and doing what they do best—pushing the schedule forward! Pro-Pipe Corporation is also back and hard at work welding! 🚧💪 Excavation has begun in preparation for the inlet installations as the pipe work nears the top on the failure side. Progress is moving full steam ahead! #stmarysiphon #milkriverproject
🎥: Thomas Ahkaapoii Gervais ... See MoreSee Less
15 CommentsComment on Facebook
Awesome job on the progress so far! Everyone's efforts have been amazing!
A map of the area where the repair work is being done:
Here's hoping we have a green year in milk river valley
Load More