One of the concrete drop structures in the St. Mary Canal following its collapse in May 2020. (U.S. Bureau of Reclamation)

By David Opinko

St. Mary Canal repairs complete, water flows to return to normal in Milk River

Oct 11, 2020 | 11:05 AM

MILK RIVER, AB – Residents of Milk River can look forward to water service returning to normal.

Back in May, there was a critical failure on a concrete drop structure on the St. Mary Canal. It diverts water from the St. Mary River to Milk River, which not only gives water to the community of Milk River, but much of Southern Alberta.

READ MORE: Crews working to repair structural failures on St. Mary Canal

Repairs are now complete and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation began diverting water on Thursday, October 8.

“The resumption of water diversions to the Milk River is a welcome sight for people living in the area. I’d like to thank residents in the Milk River area for their patience, irrigators for their flexibility and cooperation, our American counterparts for their work to repair the canal. I also want to recognize Environment and Parks staff for working hard to ensure irrigators and other stakeholders were kept informed and had access to as much water as possible,” says Environment and Parks Minister Jason Nixon.

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“This is great news for my constituents and for all those who have been affected by this structure failure,” adds Taber-Warner MLA Grant Hunter. “These repairs took a coordinated effort from those on both sides of the border. I was so impressed to see the engagement and active participation of the local mayors and reeves, Environment and Parks, and the federal government as they removed barriers on the Canadian side to help repair the diversionary canal in Montana. The team in the United States worked miracles to get the repairs done so quickly. It just goes to show what can be done when we all work together.”

Flows on the Milk River will increase early this week.

The canal is expected to operate for the remainder of October then undergo its normal shutdown for the winter.