Proposed Dams Impacted Water Infrastructure Costs
The study suggests new infrastructure that would alter irrigation water supply for U.S. and Canadian operators.
Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Utilities
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Published in July 2026, the International St. Mary and Milk Rivers Study proposed installing inflatable dams to improve water retention. The plan aims to address infrastructure constraints following a 2024 canal failure that threatened regional irrigation.
Why it matters
Operators face risks from aging infrastructure and climate change, which threaten the consistency of water entitlements. The proposed upgrades seek to stabilize water delivery for irrigation over the next century despite conflicting regional economic outcomes.
The study targets an increase in canal capacity to 850 cubic feet per second from the current 600 cubic feet per second. Proposed dams would provide 16,800 acre-feet of storage, or 5.4 billion gallons, to support irrigation.
The players
International Joint Commission
A binational organization that regulates water usage and manages shared water resources between the U.S. and Canada.
St. Mary Canal
A critical 1915-era piece of transboundary water infrastructure that transports water between river basins for irrigation.
The details
Inflatable dams would capture spring freshet water, holding it back for use later in the irrigation season to manage supply volatility. The proposal also recommends expanding the capacity of the 1915-era St. Mary Canal, which relies on a complex network of siphons and control structures. This follows a major June 2024 failure that required $100 million in replacement costs for siphon components.
Timeline
1915: The St. Mary Canal was originally built.
June 2024: A major failure occurred at the St. Mary Canal.
July 2026: The International St. Mary and Milk Rivers Study was published.
August 31, 2026: The public comment period for the study concluded.
Market Landscape
The 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty governs shared water rights between the U.S. and Canada, providing the legal framework under which these proposed infrastructure modifications would be adjudicated. This study follows the established pattern of joint water management efforts between the two nations.
Irrigation-dependent operators should monitor the project's funding phase for potential shifts in water availability costs. Businesses should also factor in the risk of aging water infrastructure, which may necessitate long-term contingency planning for supply disruptions.
The takeaway
The study suggests that infrastructure modernization is required to maintain 100 percent water entitlement security over the next century. Operators should track the formal approval process and potential changes to seasonal irrigation access thresholds.
Further reading
For more on the operational challenges of maintaining transboundary resources, see the Utilities section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Daily Inter Lake.
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