Bureau of Reclamation's Lower Yellowstone Project is located in eastern Montana and western North Dakota. Intake Diversion Dam is located approximately 70 miles upstream of the confluence of the Yellowstone and Missouri rivers near Glendive, Montana. The Lower Yellowstone Project was authorized by the Secretary of the Interior on May 10, 1904. Construction of the Lower Yellowstone Project began in 1905 and included Intake Diversion Dam (also known as Yellowstone River Diversion Dam) - a 12-foot high wood and stone diversion dam that spans the Yellowstone River and diverts water into the Main Canal for irrigation. The Lower Yellowstone Project was authorized to provide a dependable water supply sufficient to irrigate approximately 52,000 acres of land on the benches above the west bank of the Yellowstone River. Water is also supplied to irrigate approximately 830 acres in the Intake Irrigation Project and 2,200 acres in the Savage Unit. Both of the smaller irrigation projects pump water from the Main Canal. The average annual volume of water diverted for these projects is 327,046 acre-feet.

Reclamation and the U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers propose to jointly prepare an Environmental Impact Statement that analyzes and discloses effects associated with potential modifications to Intake Diversion Dam. The proposed Federal action is to modify Intake Diversion Dam and canal headworks, features of Reclamation's Lower Yellowstone Project, to improve passage and reduce entrainment for endangered pallid sturgeon and other native fish in the lower Yellowstone River and continue the effective operation of the Lower Yellowstone Project.

For more information, please contact Paula Holwegner, MTAO's Public Involvement Specialist

Public Involvement - National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Process:

• NEPA Documents (On-going)
• Submit Written Comments (For comments to be fully considered, they need to be received by November 14, 2008)

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Frequently Asked Questions (October 2008)

Intake Diversion Dam Modification Project History Reports:

• Project History Reports (November 1993 to Pesent)