Normal snowpack ensures irrigation water for farmers and ranchers
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
The Mission Valley’s unique ecosystem and fertile soils are some of the best in Montana, but without a steady supply of water, many would struggle to survive. Almost all irrigated waters used in local agriculture come from winter snowpack in the Mission Mountains. Once spring temperatures rise, runoff from mountain snowpack fills 17 reservoirs throughout the Valley.
Little snow early in the winter left higher elevations with significantly less snowpack than average. According to Flathead Indian Irrigation Project assistant manager Peter Plant, as active La Niña storm patterns continue to sweep across western Montana, the snow eventually began to pile up in January. The Mission Valley is now back on track for an average winter.
The FIIP works closely with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes during winter months to measuring snowpack at different Snotel sites scattered throughout the Missions. These sites have standard sensors include snow water equivalent, precipitation and temperature.
“From those we can predict a runoff for the whole Mission Valley,” FIIP assistant manager Peter Plant said. “We can use all that info to anticipate water coming out of the mountains.”
Gathered data is compared to how much water currently sits in reservoir storage, and how much water is coming out of the streams. Plant says the Reservation’s reservoirs are critical in providing water to farmers and ranchers all summer.
“The Reservation has no way to capture water (without reservoirs),” Plant said. “It’s very valuable for farmers and ranchers to have stored water.”
The FIIP delivers water to more than 10,000 structures and culverts on 1,300 miles of canals.
“We have around 3,500 to 4,000 water users that own land and pay for water,” Plant said.
The intricate process gives the FIIP the ability to send water anywhere they want throughout their system.
Plant says he expects the La Niña season will continue into spring and early summer, and it is very possible canals could overflow.
Last spring heavy rainfall was added to an above average snowpack runoff, causing minor flooding throughout the Mission Valley.
“The snow comes down fast, we can only take so much down the canal,” he explained. “The rest goes in the drainage and homes can flood.”
Plant says so far the snowpack is right on average, meaning water shortage isn’t likely to be a problem for farmers and ranchers this summer.
Valley View farmer Steve Hughes relies on canal water out of Pablo Reservoir to supply his beef cattle operation, stating production would be considerably less without the help of irrigation water.
“If we didn’t have irrigation we wouldn’t have the economic security or raise crops,” Hughes said. “It makes a huge difference with productivity.”
Depending on rain, Hughes needs around one foot of water per acre for his cattle for the entire irrigation season, which runs from spring to fall.
He uses multiple pivots that save time and money when irrigating his ranch.
Hughes can set a control board to pump out the exact water needed, with each pivot irrigating roughly 135 acres.
Hughes added that local farmers wouldn’t be able to produce as much hay for winter-feed and market, along with grain, barley and potatoes without the current system of reservoir irrigation.
“We’re at the total mercy of the rain without irrigation,” he said. “It is critically important.”
