Central Montana Times

U.S. Senator Steve Daines, along with the Montana congressional delegation, has urged Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Commissioner for the Bureau of Reclamation Camille Touton to authorize federal funds for the replacement of the St. Mary siphons, which failed on June 17, 2024.

In a letter addressed to Haaland and Touton, Daines highlighted the critical role of the St. Mary Canal and Conveyance Works in augmenting the Milk River Basin water supply for over a century. "For over 100 years, the St. Mary Canal and Conveyance Works has augmented the Milk River Basin water supply," reads part of the letter. The canal was initially built by the Bureau of Reclamation to provide irrigation water but has since evolved into a multi-use project supporting municipalities, recreation, and wildlife habitats.

The letter emphasizes that "the St. Mary Canal provides over 60% of the water supply for the Milk River Project in an average year and more than 80% during dry years." This water is essential for irrigating over 120,000 acres of farmland in the region, which significantly contributes to agricultural productivity.

Furthermore, approximately 18,000 municipal users rely on this canal for their water needs. The delegation warned that without immediate remediation and replacement of the siphons, "the region faces severe economic and environmental impacts." These impacts include significant agricultural losses that would negatively affect farm incomes and employment within agriculture-related industries.

"The local economy, heavily dependent on a stable water supply, will suffer," they noted in their plea for swift action to mitigate potential disruptions to businesses and overall economic stability.