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
From Our Social Media
Milk River Project Partners
📣 We've had several questions about why the Board made the tough decision to shut down the canal again in August for the St. Mary and Halls Coulee work.
To be fully transparent: we’re on borrowed time at Halls Coulee. The integrity of that structure is at serious risk, and waiting any longer could mean a catastrophic failure. This work simply can’t wait.
That said, the time the canal is running this summer won’t go to waste—we’ll be building storage in Fresno to support municipal users and provide carryover for next season. It’s not ideal, but it’s the reality we’re facing.
As these photos show, the shutdown last season only added urgency to the situation. Reclamation crews have been working inside the siphon, installing Hydratite seals to help stop leaks and hold things together until full replacement is complete.
👉 And if all goes well—with permits falling into place and our incredible partners, the Blackfeet Tribe, still willing to put up with us—we’ll move crews over as soon as St. Mary water is flowing, with replacement work scheduled to begin in July for Halls Coulee. This will also help us avoid a heavy push in the middle of winter—because let’s be honest, we probably won’t get lucky with the weather two years in a row up there.
🙏 Thanks for sticking with us. We’re doing everything we can to keep this system running—for now and for future generations. 💧
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With all the good news about construction and getting the canal up and running soon, unfortunately, there’s also some tough news to share. That said—it’s still a far better outlook than last year, when we weren’t sure irrigation would be possible at all.
At last night’s Joint Board of Control Water Operations meeting, some difficult—but necessary—decisions were made. This flyer highlights the key outcomes and what they mean moving forward for irrigation operations, municipal users, and the Fresno Reservoir facilities.
⚠️ Please note: There will be only one irrigation for project acres and pump contract holders this season. Once water is turned on and ramped up, there will be a very short window to get those acres covered—planning ahead will be critical. Or if you are planning to float the river 😎
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We will update this page with correspondence as it goes out to the communities, pumpers, or contract holders as well: milkriverproject.com/water-forecasts/ ... See MoreSee Less
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It’s been a minute since we checked in on the Fresno Dam Safety of Dams project—so here’s a quick look at the progress!
NW Construction is currently removing the sacrificial cover and starting to place sand, gravel, and geotextile fabric up the face of the dam. This is a key step in strengthening the structure and improving long-term performance of this earth-filled dam.
Fresno Dam has been a cornerstone of the Milk River Project since the 1930s—storing water for irrigation, municipal supply, and recreation across the Hi-Line. These upgrades help ensure it continues to do its job safely for generations to come.
Stay tuned for more updates as this important work continues!
Project Completion: Fall 2025
Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=aukdQy3J8dU
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Starting this week, the St. Mary Inlet Structure "apron" takes center stage!
According to the schedule, we’re looking at concrete pours almost every single day—inside, outside, and all around this critical structure. The weather might have other plans for us though. ☔️
Here’s a look at the St. Mary Siphon Inlet apron as crews have been busy tying rebar and getting it prepped for the next big push!
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Project Completion: July 2025 ... See MoreSee Less
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Hang on tight—we’re making our final approach to the St. Mary Inlet Structure! 🤣🤣
Crews have been full throttle: backfilling, pouring concrete almost daily, tying rebar, welding pipe, and restoring the riverbanks. It’s all hands on deck as the team pushes hard to stay ahead of schedule.
Huge shoutout to the boots-on-the-ground teams from NW Construction, Sletten Construction Company, Harris Rebar, Pro-Pipe Corporation, HDR Engineering, Blackfeet Tribe, and SW Concrete—your hustle doesn’t go unnoticed!
We’re officially coming into the home stretch, and over the next couple of weeks, this project is going to come together. We can’t wait to show you how it all connects to get water flowing again for the Milk River Project!
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Project Completion: July 2025 ... See MoreSee Less
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Not a bad view for a workday, right?
Here’s a look from the outlet of the St. Mary Siphon Replacement Project. The west side—yep, the side that failed—is now fully backfilled. Things are moving right along, and we’re inching closer to turning the Milk River back on. Slow and steady… with a killer view.
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Project Completion: July 2025
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