HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte recently sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton requesting federal assistance in response to the St. Mary siphon failure.

“The failure of the siphons not only flooded and damaged property in the immediate area but also jeopardizes drinking water for 14,000 Montanans and irrigation for over 18,000 water users,” Gov. Gianforte wrote. “The loss of over 121,000 acres of irrigatable land will be disastrous for Montana’s farmers and ranchers as well as Montana’s economy.”

In the letter, the governor specifically requested the federal government act under existing federal law to authorize federal funds to replace the siphons. The governor noted that the Montana Legislature has previously authorized $32 million in financial assistance to replace siphons and restore water to Montanans who rely upon the Milk River.

The governor concluded, “Immediate federal response is critical to restore the lands damaged by the blowout and return water to the Milk River. Again, I encourage you to take swift action to authorize funds and engage the project beneficiaries to replace the siphons as quickly as possible.”

Read the full letter from Governor Gianforte here.