Tester Secures $435,000 for Lower Willow Creek Dam Improvements

Funding provided by the Water Resources Development Act to bolster water infrastructure in Lewis and Clark County

U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that the Lower Willow Creek Irrigation District will receive a grant of $435,000 in Water Resources Development Act funds for improvements to their dam and reservoir, which provide water to 15 landowners to irrigate 5,400 acres of agricultural land.

“Water infrastructure across Montana is in critical need of improvements, and the Willow Creek Dam is no exception,” said Tester. “I’m proud to have secured this investment that will ensure that the dam remains stable, protecting the communities and ecosystems surrounding Lower Willow Creek.”

The Lower Willow Creek Irrigation District will receive funding through the Water Resources Development Act to repair the Lower Willow Creek Dam’s right toe drain after a 2016 inspection revealed it was damaged. If the toe drainpipe collapses and fails, the stability of the dam could be compromised, substantially reducing the volume of water available to existing users, reducing flows to Lower Willow Creek, and impacting recreational users, wildlife and habitat associated with the reservoir and Lower Willow Creek.

Tester has worked diligently to maintain Montana’s water quality and to provide vital public infrastructure projects with the funding needed to stay up-to-date. He recently secured $7 million for Hardin to make improvements to their wastewater system, and $335,000 for Wolf Point and $533,000 for Scobey to update outdated water mains. He secured nearly $3 million for Whitehall, Sweet Grass County, Whitefish, Cascade County, Seeley Lake, Sanders County, and Toole County. Additionally, he secured an additional $2 million to make upgrades to Geraldine’s water system.