Work Begins on St. Mary Diversion Dam, a Direct Result of Tester’s Efforts

In June, Senator delivered $88 million from his bipartisan infrastructure law to Montana-based contractor to replace the St. Mary Diversion Dam

As a direct result of U.S. Senator Jon Tester’s efforts, Montana-based contractor, NW Construction, today broke ground on the replacement of the St. Mary Diversion Dam. Earlier this summer, Tester announced that an $88 million contract for the project was awarded to NW Construction as part of the up to $100 million he secured for the Milk River Project through his bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Tester negotiated the bill and helped pass into law, and was the only member of Montana’s Congressional delegation to support the legislation.

“Montanans have made clear for years that replacing the St. Mary dam is long overdue, so I’m proud to have secured federal dollars from my bipartisan infrastructure law to finally get this project off the ground,” said Tester. “These upgrades are critically important for all the small businesses, families, and irrigators of north central Montana, and it’s great to see a Montana contractor putting shovels to the dirt. This new dam is going to provide certainty for folks along the Milk by ensuring they have access to the water they need for decades to come.” 

In addition to securing resources to rehabilitate the St. Mary Diversion Dam, Tester’s efforts continue to address a major siphon burst on the Milk River Project near Babb, Montana earlier this summer. The failure resulted in thousands of gallons of water flooding the surrounding area, causing extensive damage to local businesses, and impacting vital irrigation to farmland in the surrounding area.

Earlier this month, as a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Tester secured federal funding for the Milk River Project in the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies bill. This funding is non-reimbursable, and would come at no cost to local communities.

Last month, in direct response to pressure from Tester, the Biden Administration announced they would immediately begin rehabilitation work along the Milk River Project. The Bureau of Reclamation agreed to fund the repairs through existing emergency authorities under Public Law 111-11. Tester also successfully pushed President Biden to include the Milk River Project in his Administration’s domestic supplemental package, which would make federal funding available to pay for the reconstruction of the St. Mary Canal.

In addition, Tester took to the Senate floor to successfully pass his bipartisan Fort Belknap Indian Community (FBIC) Water Rights Settlement Act which would provide critical funding for repairs on the Milk River Project. Tester’s FBIC Water Rights Settlement Act will provide $1.3 billion to improve infrastructure and economic development for the Fort Belknap Indian Community and improve the efficiency of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Milk River Project, which furnishes water for the irrigation of about 121,000 acres of Tribal and non-Tribal land. The bill specifically includes $275 million to rehabilitate the St. Mary Canal, and will restore Tribal management to 38,462 acres of state and federal land for the FBIC. 

Tester previously successfully passed the FBIC Water Compact through the Senate earlier this Congress as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), but Speaker Mike Johnson and House Republicans stripped it from the final package.