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
How about a little peek at the St. Mary Diversion Dam in Babb, MT, and the stellar crews out there putting in the work on this rainy summer day that has us feeling all the fall vibes! 🍂🌧️
NW Construction and their subcontractors continue to make steady progress on this major piece of the St. Mary system.
This sequence of photos shows the work underway to get the mud mat poured for the fish screens—another important step forward as this project continues to take shape! ... See MoreSee Less
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Montana weather sure keeps us on our toes, and up here on the St. Mary Project, it’s no different! This week we went from temperatures over 100 degrees and smoky skies to fresh snow in the mountains around St. Mary.
Only in Montana can you get a little summer and winter all in the same week!
📸 Photo credit: Thomas Gervais ... See MoreSee Less
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Crews are making incredible progress on the St. Mary Diversion Dam near Babb, Montana—where the St. Mary Canal begins. The project has now reached the 50% completion milestone, and the massive new structure is really starting to take shape! ... See MoreSee Less
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Fresno Reservoir, just outside of Havre, Montana, is one of the primary storage reservoirs for the Milk River Project. Its primary purpose is storing irrigation water for the communities, farms, and ranches that depend on it, but it also provides an incredible recreational resource for boating, fishing, camping, and making memories with family and friends.
After spending the past couple of years at very low levels, the reservoir has made an incredible comeback and is now just over 60% full—looking absolutely beautiful this Fourth of July.
Last night, the skies over Fresno put on an amazing show as the northern lights danced overhead. A special thank you to the Lewis family for sharing these stunning photos from their cabin!
Did you catch the northern lights last night? We’d love to see your photos—or any pictures of how you’re celebrating the Fourth of July and enjoying this beautiful state we call home.
Happy Independence Day, and Happy Fourth of July! 🇺🇸🎆 ... See MoreSee Less
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Our Fresno Dam Tender, Kody Peterson, shared this photo yesterday, and I think it tells quite a story in this one picture.
Following the St. Mary Siphon failure, limited inflows, and a couple of challenging winters with little runoff, Fresno Reservoir reached levels low enough that vegetation began growing in areas that are normally underwater. Thanks to the widespread moisture we received over the weekend, inflows from the St. Mary project and the temporary shutdown of irrigation deliveries to allow the reservoir to refill, Fresno Reservoir is now over half full and continues to rise.
It's been an encouraging turnaround and welcome news for everyone who depends on this reservoir—from recreationists enjoying the lake, to municipalities relying on it for their water supply, and the irrigators counting on it to help grow this year's crops.
Looks to be setting up to be a great 4th on the Milk River project for everyone involved! ... See MoreSee Less
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