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
--Fresno Reservoir informational public meeting being held in Havre--
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will host an open house and present information on the Fresno fishery in Havre on April 9, starting at 6 p.m., at the Best Western Plus Inn and Suites “on the hill” at 1425 Highway 2 NW in Havre.
Havre-area FWP fisheries biologist Cody Nagel and Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) staff will provide updates, including:
• FWP reviewing the 10-year fisheries management plan and the status of the Fresno fishery, including a review of the 2025 netting results and other projects.
• BOR providing Milk River Project updates and 2026 water forecasts on the Milk River and Fresno Reservoir.
Fresno Reservoir annually ranks as a top 5 most popular fishing destination in Northeast Montana and records more than 12,350 angler days annually. Fresno also generates approximately $1 million in angling related revenue annually.
The public is encouraged to attend to learn more about the Fresno fishery and get an update on the 10-year (2022-2031) management plan. To review the Fresno fisheries management plan, go here: fwp.mt.gov/conservation/fisheries-management/fresno-reservoir Hardcopies of the plan are available at the Glasgow and Havre FWP offices. Questions can be directed to the Havre (406-265-6177) or Glasgow (406-228-3700) FWP offices. ... See MoreSee Less
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Inflows have started to climb a bit higher than what the Bureau of Reclamation is comfortable with, so small releases have begun from Lake Sherburne near Babb to help balance conditions.
These adjustments will help stabilize inflows and outflows while also protecting the Sherburne structure as we wrap up work on the Hall’s Coulee siphon and prepare for upcoming water releases. ... See MoreSee Less
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Coming in as winner of the "Best Water/Sewer/Utilities Project" Excellence Award in the Concrete division was NW Construction, Inc. for their work on the Fresno Dan & Reservoir Modifications.
#LetsBuildMT #mca2025awards
buff.ly/1jMRrZO ... See MoreSee Less
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If there’s one thing everyone’s been talking about lately, it’s the wind. Out in the Babb area and across the Hi-Line, it’s been relentless. Our crews onsite have been seeing average winds around 55 mph this week.
Despite that, progress isn’t slowing down at the Hall's Coulee siphon. The Sletten crew has poured concrete three out of four days this week, and not small pours either.
NW Construction continues pushing forward with dirt work, backfilling structures, and preparing for canal lining. The Northwest Lining and Geotextile crew also arrived onsite Wednesday. They have everything staked and ready to go, just waiting for a break in the wind to get those large liners placed and secured.
Montana weather may test you, but this crew keeps delivering!! ... See MoreSee Less
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A little update from Hall’s Coulee Siphon as crews keep things moving on the inlet and canal, even with a little Montana weather mixed in.
Because the new structure sits right next to, and in some areas directly over, portions of the old inlet structure and canal, a small reroute of the canal was necessary. To safely work on both sides of the structure, the old canal section was filled in. This week crews have been busy digging that back out and reshaping the channel to prepare the area for liner installation.
You may also notice the canal slopes here are being reshaped a bit gentler than what we saw at the St. Mary siphon. Once installed, the liner will extend approximately 900 feet upstream on the inlet side and about 600 feet downstream on the outlet side, helping reduce seepage back into and around the structures.
Great progress continues at Hall’s Coulee as we move one step closer to completing this important part of the project.
#milkriverproject #hallscouleesiphon ... See MoreSee Less
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🚨 New Innovation Challenge – Help Detect Hidden Dam Cracks 🚨
Hidden cracks deep inside embankment dams can be nearly impossible to detect, yet they can lead to internal erosion—one of the leading causes of dam failures. These cracks may be only millimeters wide and buried deep within clay and silt, making them extremely difficult to find with existing technology.
The Bureau of Reclamation is launching a three-phase challenge to develop new ways to detect these subsurface cracks. Geophysicists, sensing specialists, nondestructive testing experts, AI/ML practitioners, and creative problem-solvers from any field are invited to participate.
Participants will move from concept development to prototype testing and real-world validation, competing for up to $400,000 in prizes while helping advance the future of dam safety.
💡 Think you have an idea?
Follow the challenge, review the guidelines, build your team, and show us what you can discover.Hidden cracks beneath embankment dams could pose serious risks but they’re incredibly hard to detect.
The Bureau of Reclamation is calling on innovators, technologists, and problem-solvers to help develop new ways to find these cracks.
💡 Think sensors, AI, geophysics, or something entirely new.
💰 Up to $400,000 in prizes available.
Learn more and get involved: www.herox.com/CrackTheCase ... See MoreSee Less
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