Water Supply

Lake Sherburne and St. Mary Canal Operations

June 18, 2024
Diversion Failure

At 9:00am on Monday June 17, 2024, a catastrophic failure occurred at the St Mary Syphon over the St Mary River near Babb, Montana. USBR crews were inspecting a crack at the time of the failure and thankfully no one…

Milk River Basin Approved Water Management Plan

June 14, 2024
Approved, Water

The Province of Alberta released the Approved Water Management Plan for the Milk River Basin (Alberta) – Phase One on June 5, 2024. Alberta’s new water management plan for the Milk River basin is one of three approved water management…

St Mary/Milk Diversion operations update

April 15, 2024

April 15, 2024 Diversions from the St Mary’s to the North Fork Milk River are restarting for the season, flows have started to ramp up this past weekend and will increase to 600cfs Tuesday April 16th, 2024, we will see…

Diversion Start Date

March 19, 2024
River Conditions, Water Security

Releases from Lake Sherburne and diversions to the St. Mary Canal are expected to start for the year on March 25, 2024. As in the past, St. Mary Canal diversions will start near 100 cfs and ramp up as ice…

Diversion operations and projected shutdown/return to natural flow

August 25, 2023
River Conditions

A quick note regarding diversion operations and the projected shutdown/return to natural flow only on the Milk River: Thank you for following our water updates during the 2023 season, we will share any additional changes as we are made aware.…

Releases from Lake Sherburne and St. Mary Canal diversions are being increased

June 28, 2023
River Conditions

There was an increased release from Lake Sherburne to 450 cfs and an increased diversion to the St. Mary Canal to 600 cfs.

Releases from Lake Sherburne and St. Mary Canal diversions are being decreased

June 23, 2023
River Conditions

Diversion from the St Mary to the Milk River is being decreased to 450cfs today. With the addition of some natural flow, we should see stable flow on the Milk River around 15m/3.

Diversion Flows to the Milk River have increased

May 18, 2023
River Conditions

The Cold spring and heavy low elevation snow in the headwaters and St Mary Diversion near Babb MT had delayed the diversion start up to the North Fork Montana. USBR crews spent nearly 2 weeks digging out miles of canal system for the anticipated season startup. From April 5th to April 11th the USBR was able to trickle approximately 50cfs into the system, but a turnout gate was damaged by ice above drop structure 5 requiring dewatering and repair. Repairs are now nearing completion.