'Marshall Plan' needed for St. Mary Canal

Are the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and Montana U.S. congressional delegation on the same “sheet of music” on plans to fix two failed steel siphon pipes near Babb? Are they talking?

Exceptional reporting from Tim Leeds, Joshua Murdock, and Keila Szpaller reveal competing priorities that need a “Marshall Plan” to meet “cost, schedule, and performance.”

As a former legislative aide at the U.S. Capitol, I used cost, schedule, and performance criteria to fund — or not fund — programs with taxpayer dollars. Let’s apply the three criteria for St. Mary Canal.

Congressional delegation wants $70 million for immediate repairs to recent siphon bursts and immediately return irrigation for farm operations.

BOR wants $70 million to permanently replace St. Mary Canal and Halls Couley siphons by fall 2025 for municipal water.

A “Marshall Plan” can accomplish both priorities above with the Congressional delegation closely working with BOR and 3 easy steps:

• Submit a “disaster response” Corps of Engineers Joint Permit Application in the Corps’ Billings Office citing the Corps’ Civil Works “irrigation and municipal water supply” mission;

• Set specific deadlines in the joint permit — with farmers input — to meet 2024-2025 irrigation for farm operations that meets BOR’s fall 2025 deadline, and

• Fully fund the “Marshall Plan.”

Now we’re talkin’.

——

John Metzger is a nonpartisan write-in candidate for U.S. House District 2