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When the Milk River overflowed, part 2

Milk River unit of the Havre flood control project

The Havre Flood Control Project was divided in two sections - section one being the Bull Hook Unit and section two being the Milk River Unit.

The Havre Daily News reported that the Bull Hook and Milk River units would provide flood protection for 1,278 residences, 152 businesses, 35 public buildings, highways in the area, streets, bridges, railroad and utilities.

In January 1954, the endeavor was started to get preliminary work funds for building the dike along the Milk River. Funds were needed for surveys, right of ways, and the proposed area for the dikes. No money was provided by the federal government for any preliminary work. Major costs to build the dikes would be from the federal government flood control fund.

A rural special improvement fund of $80 thousand was obtained in September 1954. This was to provide the preliminary work for the construction of the dikes along the Milk River. The federal government allowed $500,000 for the project, and it was under the supervision of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Peck district.

In 1955, bids for the construction of dikes along the Milk River and other work involved in the project were called for. Because the lowest bid was $300,000 dollars higher than the army engineers estimated, a second bid was asked for. Hilde Construction Company of Great Falls was the lowest bidder and awarded the contract.

The project was started in September 1955. In October, the clearing of trees and brush was done for the construction of dikes. By the end of 1956 most of the work was completed. They built 15,430 feet of levee on the north side of the Milk River and 5,150 feet on the south bank. Both levees tie into high ground east and west of Havre. These levees would confine the Milk River waters below the elevation of Havre, North Havre and the North Side. Forty-three 8-inch pressure relief wells were installed to lower the pressure of the high water in the Milk River and to help keep basements from flooding. Two 5,000-gallon-per-minute pumps at the Bull Hook station were to assist in the drainage. Three 1,600 gallon-per-minute-pumps were installed by the sewage pumping station.

Also in 1956, a rock dam was built on an inlet from the Milk River to the city water treatment plant. It was built to keep the water level up to permit more flow from the Milk River to the treatment plant, then to the city of Havre, this was a problem in earlier years. Officials expressed concern that in time high water and ice would wash it away, today, it's made of concrete.

Thursday, April 19, 1957, the Army Corps of Engineers turned over the keys for the Milk River Unit to the Hill County Commissioners. The Havre Flood Control Project was now completed.

 

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