Irrigation district happy spillway ‘did its job’ in diverting water from Oldman

This past week’s rain was a welcome sight for farmers and ranchers, but also a good test for the Horsefly Regional Emergency Spillway. 

For the first time since the project’s inception in 2020, the St. Mary River Irrigation District says the spillway was able to successfully divert water from the Oldman River.

District general manager David Westwood calls it an important milestone, protecting communities, reducing risk to stakeholders and taxpayers, and helping to prevent and mitigate the costly consequences of flooding.

Westwood added it was the first time the Horsefly Spillway was called upon to do its job, and it worked exactly as intended.