Article Summary –
A critical infrastructure designed to divert water from the St. Mary River to the North Fork of the Milk River has suffered a catastrophic failure, according to Milk River Project officials. The failure occurred as the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation was monitoring a crack in the St. Mary River Siphon, causing extensive damage to the surrounding areas, including a hillside, a bar, a hotel, and a roping arena. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law had included $100 million earmarked for rehabilitation of the Milk River Project, but the recent damage will likely have significant implications for water users dependent on the canal for drinking water and irrigation.
St. Mary River Siphon suffers severe failure
The St. Mary River Siphon, a critical infrastructure of Milk River Project, has experienced a disastrous failure. The siphon includes two 90-inch riveted steel barrels that divert water over a 3,200-foot section from the St. Mary River to the Milk River’s North Fork.
In a Facebook post, the Milk River Joint Board of Control reported the malfunction happened at 9 a.m. Monday while being monitored by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation personnel. The post noted extensive damage but thankfully no injuries. The canal was shut down prior to the failure, yet the surrounding area has suffered significant water impact.
The Bureau of Reclamation estimated around 600 cubic feet of water per second were flowing through the canal at the time of the failure. The older of the two barrels, built in 1915, has been plagued with issues related to buckling, seepage, and corrosion for decades, the Milk River Joint Board of Control explained.
Diversions have been halted, yet the canal is expected to drain for another 24 to 36 hours, according to the Bureau. Multiple agencies, including the Blackfeet Tribe, Glacier County Sheriff’s Department, National Park Service, and Glacier Electric, have responded to the incident.
Meanwhile, Blackfeet Nation/Blackfeet Tribal Business Council’s Facebook page cautioned residents to avoid the area and all river activities for at least a week due to localized property damage and potential public safety risks.
The Bureau is considering short-term solutions to address flooding impacts and will conduct detailed assessments of the siphon and reconstruction options when safe. Meanwhile, the implications of the failure on water users dependent on the canal for drinking water and irrigation remains to be seen.
The recently passed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, designed to alleviate such instances, has allocated $8.3 billion for the Bureau of Reclamation to repair aging water delivery systems, secure dams, and protect aquatic ecosystems. Both Gov. Greg Gianforte and U.S. Sen. Jon Tester have expressed their concern and are closely monitoring the situation.
The Infrastructure law included $100 million for the Milk River Project. A significant portion of this fund was predicted to be utilized for the rehabilitation of the St. Mary’s Diversion Dam. A Bozeman-based construction company has recently secured an $88 million contract to repair parts of the dam and canal, with construction set to start next month.
Previously, in 2020, a concrete structure on the 29-mile St. Mary Canal collapsed, leaving some irrigators along the Hi-Line without water for several months.
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