Beacon of Hope for the Hi-Line

 Sletten Construction Company completes the bridge superstructure on the St Mary Siphon project. From a March 28 Facebook post from The Milk River Project.

— April 8, 2025 —

I’ve worked tirelessly to elevate the issue of updating and repairing the Milk River Project—an irrigation lifeline for Montana’s Hi-Line and our agricultural economy.

The progress we’re seeing today on the Milk River Project did not happen by accident—it happened because everyday Montanans stood up, did the work, lobbied their representatives, and demanded action when 18,000 Montanans faced stark uncertainty about the future water supply of their agricultural communities.

The sudden freeze of essential funds and firing of key federal staff nearly derailed the most urgent water project in Montana. It took a $35 million loan from the State of Montana—an emergency measure that local taxpayers shouldn’t have had to cover—to keep construction moving.

The goal of restoring water flow by August 2025 is a matter of survival for Montana’s ag producers and communities and for food security across the nation. Every welded pipe, every installed siphon, is a step closer to securing our future.

Legislative Action, Community Pressure

In December 2024, Senator Jon Tester helped secure millions in funds through the continuing resolution that were targeted for immediate repairs to the St. Mary siphon via the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, and disaster relief channels. This funding was intended to complete repairs on the siphon and prevent another dry summer like the one Montana suffered in 2024 after the siphon failure, costing the area tens of millions in revenue and lost production.

In early 2025, potential access to the water was suddenly cut off.

Under President Donald Trump’s “Unleashing American Energy” executive order, federal infrastructure funding was frozen, including key Milk River allocations. Simultaneously, more than 1,300 probationary federal employees were terminated—including critical staff working on the Milk River Project.

Without immediate intervention, repairs would have stalled and water would not return to the Hi-Line by August.

From citizens and project leaders to advocates like myself, Montanans made the issue impossible to ignore and demanded accountability. That outcry eventually led to federal funding being unfrozen, contractors getting paid, and some essential workers being rehired.

Senator Steve Daines has since announced he helped resolve the funding freeze, but he acted only after intense pressure and widespread outcry. If the water flows this summer, Montanans on the ground fought to make it happen.

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A Crucial Winter for Infrastructure and Hope

The Milk River Project saw significant repairs and upgrades during the winter of 2024–2025. This century-old system, which supplies water to more than 120,000 acres of farmland and 700 irrigators, is being rebuilt under harsh conditions in order to complete construction by late summer's irrigation season.

Crews have pressed on through subzero temperatures and snowstorms, their determination a testament to how vital this project is to the Hi-Line—and to Montana’s future. A major milestone came in March with the completion of the new bridge superstructure on the St. Mary Siphon, keeping the project on schedule for a critical restart of water delivery in August 2025.

Long Term Solutions

Senator Daines introduced the Fort Belknap Water Rights Settlement Act (S.241) in January 2025.

This bipartisan bill would allocate roughly $275 million for long-term upgrades to the Milk River system and fulfill long-overdue commitments to the Fort Belknap Community. While this legislation is vital for future resilience, it's not the mechanism that will bring immediate relief to Hi-Line agriculture by August 2025. Present-day allocations of funding from federal agencies continue to be crucial to this repair work.

There is general consensus that any water rights agreement must include clear, enforceable commitments from state and federal governments—and that the tribes must be equipped with the resources and infrastructure to manage their share of the solution. That’s not just fair—it’s essential for the success of the water compact.

A Cross-Border Commitment

Because the Milk River originates in Montana, flows to Alberta, and returns to the U.S., binational cooperation is essential. The 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty and the International Joint Commission (IJC) govern the shared management of the river, and both nations are legally obligated to uphold fair and coordinated flows.

Although U.S.-Canada relations have been strained by Trump-era tariffs and rhetoric, technical collaboration on the Milk River Project remains steady due to experienced staff and established cross-border communication channels.

Continuing good relations requires leadership willing to listen to our international neighbors and tribal voices and address inequities by pushing federal agencies to deliver on their promises. Going forward, safeguarding these binational partnerships and relationships with tribal nations will require steady leadership and a clear commitment to science, water equity, and environmental stewardship.

A United Effort for Survival

None of this progress would be possible without strong collaboration among local landowners, tribal governments, engineers, state agencies, and federal partners. This shared commitment reflects one truth: water is life. Without it, our communities cannot survive.

The chaos in the scramble for funding in early 2025 revealed just how vulnerable rural infrastructure projects are to partisan interference. We need leadership that’s consistent, transparent, and willing to act before disaster strikes—not political theatre.

After speaking directly with farmers, irrigators, tribal leaders, and engineers on the ground, I understand just how critical irrigation systems are to this region’s survival. I will continue holding federal agencies and our congressional delegation accountable to ensure this kind of disruption never happens again.

This winter’s progress is not just about infrastructure, it’s about resilience.

In a time of economic uncertainty and climate unpredictability, the Milk River Project offers something our communities desperately need: hope—and proof that when we work together, we can get things done.

For updates, visit milkriverproject.com or follow the Milk River Project on Facebook.