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
📸 Before the rain and weather rolled in, our friend Colynn was able to sneak up to the St. Mary Diversion Dam near Babb and capture some great photos of the progress being made. The project continues to move forward, and every week brings noticeable changes as crews keep pushing toward completion.
🌧️ Many of you who watch the gauges may have noticed that we recently reduced flows in the St. Mary Canal. With the significant rainfall we've been receiving, this is a proactive step to help reduce stress on canal banks and infrastructure during these storm events.
💧 At the same time, runoff into Sherburne Reservoir continues to climb. Between snowmelt and recent precipitation, inflows are increasing faster than we can store them, requiring higher releases to maintain safe reservoir operations and protect project facilities.
As always, Reclamation operators are closely monitoring conditions and making adjustments to balance water deliveries, reservoir storage, and system safety.
Enjoy the photos and precipitation, and thank you to everyone following along as we continue rebuilding and modernizing this critical piece of the Milk River Project!
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🚨 ATTENTION MILK RIVER PUMP CONTRACTS 🚨
If you are a Milk River Project Bureau of Reclamation pump contractor and are diverting water from the Milk River without placing a water order, you are taking water outside of the approved system and impacting downstream users’ ability to receive their scheduled deliveries.
All pump contractors are required to follow the proper procedure by calling in water orders to Brooks at 406-247-7318 before pumping begins.
Operating without a water order not only disrupts river operations and other water users, but may also place your water contract in jeopardy.
Honestly folks, this is not that hard to make a quick phone call. A little common courtesy and communication goes a long way in helping us manage the system fairly for everyone depending on this water. ... See MoreSee Less
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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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