GREAT FALLS — The Milk River Project announced on Monday morning (June 17, 2024) that the St. Mary siphon on the St. Mary Canal north of the community of Babb experienced a “catastrophic failure.”
The incident occurred while U.S. Bureau of Reclamation personnel were monitoring a crack. Fortunately, there were no injuries, but the extent of the damage is significant.
Milk River Project
The canal had been closed before the failure occurred; however, the hillside and nearby Hook’s Hide-Away bar, hotel, and roping arena have all been significantly impacted by the water.
The Blackfeet Tribal Business Council issued a notice on Facebook advising that the area is closed for all river activities for the week due to safety concerns.
THE ST.MARY CANAL/MILK RIVER IN BABB, MT – IS CLOSED TO ALL RIVER ACTIVITIES, NO FLOATING, BOATING/RAFTING, SWIMMING, ETC. FOR THE WEEK OF MONDAY JUNE 17, 2024 TO MONDAY JUNE 24, 2024. FOR YOUR SAFETY, PLEASE STAY OUT OF THE AREA. ROAD CLOSURE TO CAMP 9 ROAD (HOOKS HIDEAWAY) ALL ROADS ARE CLOSED IN THESE AREAS. EMERCENGY PERSONNEL ONLY.
Individuals are urged to avoid the area while the damage assessment is ongoing.
The Bureau of Reclamation stated in a press release that the breach resulted in local flooding and erosion, causing washout areas estimated to be 30 to 50 feet deep in some locations.
The diversions from the canal were at 600 cubic feet per second (cfs) at the time of the incident; although the diversions have ceased, flows are expected to continue for up to 24 to 36 hours until the canal drains entirely.
The breach has had direct or indirect impacts on residents and neighboring communities. Response teams and law enforcement are actively involved in managing the situation.
“Emergency response teams have been dispatched to contain and assess the damage,” said Ryan Newman, Reclamation’s Montana Area Office Manager. “Water flows were naturally redirected back to the St. Mary River, helping to reduce the risk of further flooding in the vicinity.”
MTN News
The flooding has resulted in property damage near the breach, infrastructure impacts, and potential public safety hazards. Roads are closed, and utilities in the affected areas may experience disruptions. Safety precautions have been implemented to restrict access to hazardous zones.
For more information from the Bureau of Reclamation, visit their website.
The St. Mary Diversion Dam and Canal were constructed in 1915 as part of the Milk River Project in north-central Montana. The dam is situated near Babb, MT, about 0.75 miles downstream from Lower St. Mary Lake. It diverts water from the St. Mary River into the St. Mary Canal through a gated headworks structure for use in the Milk River Project.
We will provide updates as more information becomes available.
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