Montana Area Office

2900 4th Avenue N., Ste. 501
Billings, MT 59101
Phone(406) 247-7296
Fax (406) 247-7338

Area Manager: Ryan Newman

Yellowtail Dam, Montana
Yellowtail Dam and the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area,
view recreation information.


Current News & Upcoming Events

  • Severe weather forces closure of Riverside Campground

    The Riverside Campground and boat ramp located at Canyon Ferry Reservoir has been closed for the foreseeable future following extensive damage caused by recent severe weather. Strong wind and rains on the night of Sept. 11 caused flooding that was exacerbated by the burn scar from the Horse Gulch Fire earlier this summer. The site sustained significant impacts including damaged infrastructure, pooling water, debris, and unsafe conditions throughout the campground and boat ramp. Read More →

  • Groundbreaking ceremony held for the St. Mary Diversion Dam Project

    The Bureau of Reclamation, in partnership with the Blackfeet Tribe and the Milk River Joint Board of Control, broke ground today for the St. Mary Diversion Dam Rehabilitation Project. This crucial project, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, marks a significant milestone in ensuring the sustainability and efficiency of water resources in the region. Read More →

  • St. Mary Canal Siphon response update and next steps

    The Bureau of Reclamation continues to work closely with the Milk River Joint Board of Control, the Blackfeet Tribe, and the state of Montana to rebuild the St. Mary Canal Siphon following the catastrophic failure on June 17. Reclamation has authorized an emergency extraordinary maintenance determination and is working with partners to identify the next steps that are cost-effective and ensure a timely solution. Read More →

  • St. Mary Canal Siphons Failure Updated Information

    On June 17, 2024, both St. Mary River siphons experienced structural failures outside Babb, Montana. The breach caused substantial water discharge, affecting the surrounding areas. The breach led to severe erosion, resulting in washout areas at the breach site, impacting the hill and concrete footings holding the pipes. Water flows are expected to continue throughout the day. They are anticipated to subside sometime this afternoon as the canal drains. Read More →

  • St. Mary Canal Siphon Failure outside Babb Montana

    The St. Mary Canal Siphon breached just outside Babb, Montana, at approximately 8:45 a.m. today, resulting in isolated flooding in the surrounding area. The breach caused local flooding and erosion, with some areas resulting in washout areas estimated to be 30 to 50 feet deep. Diversions to the canal were 600 cubic feet per second (cfs) at the time of failure, diversions have been stopped however flows are expected to continue for as long as 24 to 36 hours while the canal drains. Read More →

  • Reclamation awards $88 million from Investing in America Agenda to St. Mary Diversion Dam Replacement Project

    The Bureau of Reclamation today announced more than $88 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to the St. Mary Diversion Dam Replacement project. The project, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will bring reliable irrigation and municipal water from the St. Mary River to rural customers in Montana along the Milk River. Read More →

Montana Area Office Overview

Some of Reclamation's earliest projects were built in Montana. Work began on the Lower Yellowstone Project in 1905 just three years after the agency was created. Today there are 13 projects east of the Continental Divide - the portion of the state managed by the GP Region. There are 13 dams and reservoirs, 9 diversion dams, 10 pumping plants and 2 power plants which provide a variety of benefits and meet multiple needs, including recreation. The Montana Area Office (MTAO) in Billings manages Reclamation's projects and programs in this part of the state and spends $7.5 million annually for operation and maintenance.

Most of the Montana development occurred under the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program, including the large Yellowtail and Canyon Ferry units. Both provide considerable storage for irrigation and power generation and are popular recreation areas. Yellowtail and Canyon Ferry power plants produce about 43 percent of the GP Region's annual power generation, resulting in about $15 million in revenue each year. The Montana projects provide water to 352,915 acres of land which produced $78.5 million worth of crops in 1990. Principal crops are sugar beets, hay, corn, wheat and barley. Over 1 million visitor days are spent at Reclamation facilities in Montana each year.

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Last Updated: 9/12/24