More money comes into St. Mary Diversion repairs

Sen. Jon Tester announced last Thursday that he had secured another $2 million to repair the catastrophic failure of two siphons in the St. Mary Diversion and Conveyance Works that shut down the water being diverted to the Milk River.

"It is critically important for irrigators who rely on the Milk River Project that we get water flowing as soon as possible," said Tester. "I'm glad to see that significant progress is already being made, but we've got to keep this project fully funded and moving. Montana's farmers and ranchers can't afford any delays, which is why I'm proud to have secured additional federal funding to support construction through the end of the year."

The funding, which comes from the Bureau of Reclamation's Dam Safety Office, will bridge the gap between the expiration of previous BOR emergency funds on November 1, 2024 and the release of additional funding through passage of the Fiscal Year 2025 government funding bill, a release from Tester's office said. Tester advocated for this new funding to ensure the project remains fully funded and on track to be completed without delay.

In early August, as a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Tester secured federal funding for the Milk River Project in the Fiscal Year 2025 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies bill. The bill, which will advance to the full Senate as part of the FY25 appropriations package, includes federal funding for repairs to the St. Mary canal. This funding is non-reimbursable, and comes at no cost to local communities.

BOR Montana Area Office Operations & Maintenance Manager Chris Gomer said last week that Replacement efforts are progressing expeditiously, all the existing siphon pipe has been removed, the inlet/outlet structures have been demolished, excavation to grade for the new pipes is ongoing and anticipated to be completed in the next few weeks.  A working bridge has been installed and removal of the existing bridge is ongoing.  The replacement steel pipe has been ordered and is scheduled to begin showing up on-site in late September or early October. 

He said that BOR projects that enough water will carry over in Fresno Reservoir that minimum deliveries to municipalities - Havre, Chinook and Harlem all get their municipal water from the Milk River - won't be impacted through the construction schedule.

BOR projects the siphons will be replaced and water shipments will resume late next summer.

Gomez said that the 2024 irrigation season ended July 31 for the Milk River Project Irrigators, several weeks early than anticipated prior to failure.  Impacts in 2025 will be significant based on current water supply projections, limited to natural flow of the Milk which would only provide for irrigation water from mid-May to mid-June. 

"All efforts are being made to move as quickly as possible to limit impacts," Gomer said.

He said, prior to the new $2 million in funding being announced, that total estimated project cost remains $70M of which roughly $20M has been secured through the State of Montana, Bureau of Reclamation and USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service.  Efforts are ongoing to secure the remaining funding through the State of Montana House Bill 6 and BOR's Aging Infrastructure Account.

NRCS announced last week that it is working to provide assistance to ag producers impacted by the failure.

NRCS is assessing the needs of farmers and ranchers in the counties impacted by the siphon failure. This includes ag operations that produce livestock, annual crops, perennial forages like hay, and more. Each type of farm or ranch may have different resource concerns, which would mean different conservation practices to address potential issues. Once the service has worked out how best it can assist, more information will be issued.

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines sent a letter to USDA in August asking them to assist with recovery efforts.

"The Milk River Project in Montana's Hi-Line provides vital irrigation water to farmers and ranchers in eight irrigation districts as well as municipal water to several rural communities and tribal water systems," Daines wrote in the letter. "I write to urge you to ensure that the Department of Agriculture is actively preparing to assist with the impending water crisis given the failure of two siphons that are key to the project's operation."

FSA State Executive Director Maureen Wicks said Tuesday that FSA is still waiting to see what, if any, assistance it can provide.

Wicks said FSA's emergency programs are tied to natural disasters, and as the catastrophic failure was of a man-made system, the agency programs do not apply.

"We are waiting to hear more what could make us more viable (in this situation)," she said.

She urged producers to go to their local FSA offices and make sure all records are current and up to date, which will help with any assistance that does come through.

Daines office said it will continue to work with the NRCS, FSA, and USDA Rural Development to make relief opportunities available and ensure that Montanans receive help they need. Additionally, the senator continues to work to ensure that the Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Act is signed into law this year, which would provide the funding necessary to repair the siphons and related infrastructure of the project.

The Senate in June passed Tester's FBIC water rights act, which is co-sponsored by Daines.

Rep. Matt Rosendale has a companion bill in the House, which has been heard by committee but not yet brought to the floor.

Rep. Ryan Zinke has a competing bill with some additional provisions, meaning if it passed it would have to go to a conference committee to resolve the differences.

Tester previously passed the FBIC Water Compact through the Senate earlier this Congress as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, but Speaker Mike Johnson and House Republicans stripped it from the final package.

In August, in a separate project that has no bearing on the siphon replacement, Montana-based contractor NW Construction, today broke ground on the replacement of the St. Mary Diversion Dam that diverts water from the St. Mary River into the canals that take it 29 miles to the North Fork of the Milk River.

An $88 million contract for the project was awarded to NW Construction as part of the up to $100 million Tester secured for the Milk River Project through the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Tester negotiated the bill and helped pass into law, and was the only member of Montana's Congressional delegation to support the legislation