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
On this beautiful Monday morning, we'd like to spotlight another essential partner in our ongoing efforts at the St. Mary project: A Jay Concrete Pumping, LLC from Great Falls, MT. Their expertise ensures that concrete placement is efficient and seamless, keeping our projects running smoothly. With an impressive fleet of pump trucks ranging from 28-meter to 55-meter booms, they've consistently p ... See MoreSee Less
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Happy Friday!
Before the NW Construction crews get to work burying the pipe, I wanted to share one last bird’s-eye view from earlier this week. With temperatures rising in the Babb area, progress is moving right along and they will be backfilling these pipes before we know it. A lot of great things have happened this week, and we’re looking forward to keeping the momentum going.
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Our crews have been working tirelessly through the winter—some logging six days a week—to keep the project on track and ensure reliable water delivery to the Hi-Line. Their dedication is paying off!
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Another exciting day at the St. Mary Siphon and we had to share it in real-time! Watching the old bridge pipe come out was impressive, but seeing the first siphon pipe set on the brand-new bridge—built by Sletten Construction Company—is on another level.
Now, it's time for Pro-Pipe Corporation to start welding it all together! What do you think? 
#milkriverproject #stmarysiphon
{I left the s ... See MoreSee Less
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Concrete placement is both a science and an art, requiring precision and careful monitoring to ensure structural integrity. We're fortunate to have a robust set of quality control measures in place to keep our work within the correct parameters—especially when constructing critical wall structures like our pour Sletten Construction Company did yesterday. We have two companies we would like to high ... See MoreSee Less
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The first wall pour for the St. Mary Siphon Inlet is officially in the books! The site was buzzing with activity today—like a well-coordinated ant hill of progress. Huge thanks to the hardworking crews from Sletten, HDR Engineering, AJ Concrete Pumping Services, Terracon, and SW Concrete for making it happen. Your dedication and expertise are driving this project forward!
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