Anniversaries usually come with cake and celebration—not a reminder of a failed siphon. But hey, not all look-backs are warm and fuzzy.
The Drop 5 situation is….well. It was one of those “wish-we-could-hit-rewind” moments. Of course, some would’ve liked to secure funding earlier and dodge the St. Mary siphon emergency altogether. But real life doesn’t come with a pause button—or a perfect budget forecast.
Fast forward to now, and they are just weeks away from turning on the new St. Mary siphon. The Diversion Dam is buzzing with activity, and thanks to some rock-solid partnerships, we’re charging full speed ahead with the Milk River Project’s rehabilitation.
The Drop 5 debacle wasn’t ideal. But it forced them to rethink how we approach large-scale construction. It gave us better systems, better communication, and frankly, better hustle.
Looking back isn’t about reliving the mess. It’s about recognizing the progress—the collaboration, and the lessons that are shaping a stronger future for one of Montana’s most critical water systems.
They’ve come a long way. And this time, the flow is going in the right direction.
Check out the latest update and more pictures here.
