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.
Have questions about water rights or concerns about unauthorized use after the St. Mary Siphon failure?
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
Water will be starting again today!
Rain earlier this week caused some delays, but NW Construction has been working long hours to tackle the issues in the embankment. The leak turned out to be a series of smaller leaks caused by fractured sandstone outcropping beneath the canal—part of the original foundation it was built on. Water was flowing through the rock and reappearing on the downstream side of the embankment, making it tricky to track.
Crews were able to locate and address the problem areas, and weather permitting, backfilling will be completed today. While we weren’t able to install a liner this week, we’ll revisit a longer-term solution during the planned August shutdown. In the meantime, keeping the canal offline for weeks to schedule a liner just wasn’t an option.
A huge thank you to Reclamation employees Tom and Clayton for catching the issue—and to Reclamation, HDR Engineering, NW Construction, and the Blackfeet Tribe for stepping up and putting in the hours on their days off to get everything back up and running. We’re incredibly grateful for your dedication!
#milkriverproject #stmarycanal
🎥: Thomas Gervais ... See MoreSee Less
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Well folks, this isn’t the news we wanted to share. We experienced a minor slide on the downstream side of the St. Mary Canal Friday (7/11) afternoon, just past Spider Lake—likely compounded by increased traffic over a gravel vein while moving equipment to Halls Coulee. Crews caught it quickly and added material to stabilize it, but the slope continued to move. As a precaution, we’ve shut the system down and are currently dewatering the area to prevent it from becoming a larger issue.
Crews will be on site first thing Monday morning to make repairs, and we expect to have things back up and running within a couple of days. We’re planning to hold water in Spider Lake to help speed up the restart process once repairs are complete. Fortunately, we already have the crews and materials on site, so we’re ready to move quickly.
This is another clear example of the challenges we face in maintaining a 100-year-old canal system—and why full rehabilitation is more important than ever. The funding for a complete rehabilitation is already included in the Ft. Belknap Water Compact, and we remain committed to pushing those efforts forward in Congress. This system is vital to our communities, our farms, and our future.
Thanks for your patience and continued support.
#milkriverproject #stmarycanal ... See MoreSee Less
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Tom happened to be on the road just as the Phillips 66 and Michels Utility crews were rolling in to begin work on relocating and directionally boring the oil pipeline that currently runs beneath the Halls Coulee siphons. This critical step clears the way for construction on the new siphon structures to begin. It’s all about teamwork and coordination to keep this project moving forward!
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.3 CommentsComment on Facebook
As the Fresno Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited wraps up a major community-driven project extending the Fresno Main and Kremlin Bay Boat Ramps, we wanted to give you a look at this exciting improvement to the reservoir—and recognize the incredible local contractors, partners, and agencies that made it all happen.
This project would not have come to life without the dedication, donations, and hard work of the following:
🔧 Storm Water Construction – Pat Bibeau and crew led excavation, framing, pouring, and finishing for both ramps. They also donated and installed three concrete picnic pads and five picnic tables—so now you’ve got the perfect place to relax (and maybe critique your spouse’s boat-backing up skills 😅).
🔧 Pasco Ready Mix– Jared Williams delivered all concrete and pumping services, even donating a full day of equipment, concrete and labor to keep the project rolling.
🔧 Patrick Construction – Delivered and donated all the crushed rock, fabric, and riprap that helped stabilize both project sites.
🔧 HERC Rentals – Donated the use of a mini excavator, track bobcat, and attachments for construction support.
🔧 Bureau of Reclamation – Supplied rebar and steel for the ramp extensions and dock repairs. Huge thanks to Toby Tabor and Kody Peterson for stepping in with design help, permitting, and quick coordination in a very tight construction window.
🔧 Thomas Johnson – A retired welder who volunteered his time and talent to reinforce 85 feet of dock with expert craftsmanship.
🎣 And of course, a special shoutout to the Fresno Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited—whose leadership, vision, and tireless commitment made these upgrades possible for the entire community.
The Fresno Chapter also asked us to pass along a heartfelt THANK YOU to you for following this effort and to all the businesses and individuals who have supported their organization over the years. Your generosity has brought meaningful improvements to Fresno Reservoir that will be enjoyed for years to come.
#FresnoReservoir #WalleyesUnlimited #MontanaProud #BoatRampUpgrade #SupportLocal #TeamworkMakesTheDreamWork #FishingAccessMatters ... See MoreSee Less
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Photos from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks's post ... See MoreSee Less
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Well, it’s Monday morning, and after a week off-site to recharge—and a little celebration as water flows back into Fresno—I wanted to share a glimpse of some of my favorite people who have worked so hard to bring the St. Mary Siphons back online. (There are so many more I didn’t capture, and I’m sorry—we see you and appreciate you!) This project has been nothing short of remarkable.
To all the equipment operators—don’t think we forgot about you. There aren’t nearly enough photos of you here because you were too busy moving dirt like an army of determined little ants to stop and pose for the camera! 🐜💪 (I know you’ve got those selfies—send me your best truck shots for the next video!)
Thank you to every single person who showed up, day in and day out, to make this happen—from the office staff to the crews on the ground. Your skill, sweat, a few tears, and dedication are doing more than rebuilding infrastructure—you’re keeping the Milk River flowing for generations to come. Hats off to you!!!!
#StMarySiphon #ProjectProgress #Teamwork #crewappreciation #milkriverproject
**We DO NOT own the rights to this music (I purchased it from Amazon Music).** ... See MoreSee Less
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