Fresno irrigation releases end, water levels likely low into next year

Havre Daily News staff

Agencies have told the public that, despite releases from Fresno Reservoir for irrigation ending for the season, lower water levels in the reservoir are likely to impact fishing and irrigation at the reservoir.

The more-than-100-year-old St. Mary Diversion and Conveyance Works that supplies much of the water in the Milk River has been shut down since a concrete drop structure near the end of the 29-mile system collapsed in May.

Work to repair that and another drop structure which had been in fear of failure is ongoing, but no water, stored in Lake Sherburne on the edge of Glacier National Park to be transferred to the Milk River, has been transferred since then.

The 2020 irrigation operations season on the Milk River will be ramping down for all junior Milk River irrigators 45 days sooner than normal due to water supply shortages directly related to the repair work of St. Mary Canal infrastructure, a joint press release from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamations, which administers the system and Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation said. Stored water released from Fresno Reservoir after July 31 will be limited to municipal water supplies under Reclamation contract and for the Fort Belknap Indian Irrigation Project. Fort Belknap will continue to irrigate using their senior natural flow right and storage from Fresno Reservoir.

Municipal water deliveries to about 14,000 people primarily in the communities of Havre, Chinook and Harlem will not be impacted during the repair work. While irrigation deliveries will shut off by the end of July, sufficient water will be maintained in Fresno Reservoir to continue Municipal & Industrial deliveries through the 2020-2021 fall and winter period.

Montana’s water law dictates water use based on a priority system. The Fort Belknap Indian Tribes have the senior water right in the basin for 125 cubic feet per second — cfs — which is equivalent to 20 bathtubs per second. Current natural flow in the Milk River Basin is less than 125 cfs, and based on forecasted weather conditions, is not expected to increase.

Users of Reclamation’s Milk River Project — of which the St. Mary Diversion is part — are ceasing irrigation operations, and all junior natural flow right holders are required to stop using water to protect the deliveries to Fort Belknap and the municipalities.

“ The failure of St. Mary Canal infrastructure has threatened the most important industry of all Indian and non-Indian people relying on the Milk River for our livelihoods — agriculture,” Fort Belknap Indian Community President Andrew Werk, Jr. said.

Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman has determined the permanent repairs of Drop 2 and Drop 5 of the St. Mary Canal qualify to receive Emergency Extraordinary Maintenance funding under Public Law 111-11, 35-percent of which will be non-reimbursable. The replacement of the structures is estimated to cost approximately $8 million.

The total project financing package will include funding from the state of Montana and project users in addition to federal funding. The Milk River Irrigation Project Joint Board of Control will enter into a contract for the repayment of EXM funds as required under federal law.

“The water supply shortage is difficult for everyone in the Milk River Basin both in the United States and Canada. Permanent repairs to the St. Mary Canal drop structures are currently underway in support of a more reliable future water supply,” Reclamation Montana Area Manager Steve Davies said. “The repairs, along with diligent water management, should lead to improved water supplies in the coming year.”

“If basin water users can work as well together as the (Milk River Joint Board of Control) has done bringing the users and agencies together on replacing failed infrastructure, we will make it through the water shortages this year with hope for the future” DNRC Director John Tubbs said.

In another release, BOR, DNRC and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks said people should expect that the lower levels at Fresno will impact recreation there.

Water from Fresno is being used for its primary authorized project purpose to support irrigation, agricultural, and municipal water needs, which are being directly impacted from the St. Mary Canal drop structure repairs, the release said.

“While Fresno Reservoir offers excellent opportunities for recreation and fishing, the water stored at Fresno is needed to safeguard against the loss of irrigation water to Montana’s farmers and ranchers,” Davies said in the release. “It’s also important to ensure families who depend on the Milk River Project have sustained access to potable water supplies, especially during these critical times.

The current reservoir projections indicate Fresno Reservoir levels will be approximately 25 feet below full pool by the end of August, and may continue to draft through the fall and possibly into next spring to support municipal water deliveries. This will have an impact on recreational water activities and fishing in the area. If repairs are completed by the end of September, Fresno Reservoir levels could be expected to increase this fall as St. Mary water could be moved to the basin. Reclamation anticipates full use of Fresno Reservoir for recreation purposes again next summer.

The Milk River Project is often referred to as the lifeline of the Montana Hi-Line. Without diverted waters from the Milk River to the area, many farmers and towns would never have been able to flourish here. It is the primary water source for eight irrigation districts, tribes, contract pumpers and several municipalities downstream of Fresno Dam serving approximately 110,000 acres of land, and 18,000 users. Major crops grown in the watershed include wheat, barley, rye, oats, alfalfa and wild hay. The Milk River provides irrigation deliveries to 700 farms and contract holders for croplands that feed one million people annually.