(Above) Aerial View of Canyon Ferry Reservoir. The Bureau of Reclamation proposes to renew three long-term contracts, which are due to expire in 2004.

Welcome to the homepage for the proposed Canyon Ferry Contract Renewals. This Web page, and the associated links, are maintained by the Bureau of Reclamation as a method to keep the public informed about issues and activities related to the proposed contract renewals, and to foster public involvement throughout the decision-making process.

To identify any potentially-significant environmental impacts related to the proposed contract renewals, Reclamation has prepared a Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA), in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Information about scheduled meetings, comment periods, and all other related events will be updated daily on this site. Initial public scoping meetings were held in Townsend on March 16 and in Helena on March 17 and March 30.

Reclamation also hosted a public meeting about the DEA on October 19 at the Helena Civic Center, 240 Neill Avenue, from 4 to 8 p.m. This meeting was held in an open-house format, and there was also a court reporter present to record public comments from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Written comments will be accepted both electronically and through the mail, and may be submitted through this Web site. The electronic comment form also has contact information for submitting comments through the postal service. Written comments may also be emailed directly to comments@usbr.gov. Please include your name and address on all written comments. Deadline for comments is October 29.

For questions, please use our electronic inquiry form to ask about any aspect of the proposed Canyon Ferry contract renewals. You may also use this form to be included on the mailing list, and receive periodic information through the postal service. Questions and mailing list requests may also be emailed directly to questions@usbr.gov.

Background <back to top>:
Reclamation is proposing to renew long-term water service contracts with the Helena Valley Irrigation District ( Helena Valley), Toston Irrigation District (Toston), and City of Helena (City). These contractors have requested that Reclamation renew their long-term water service contracts.

All three contracts expire December 31, 2004, and represent most of the total volume of water contracted by Reclamation from Canyon Ferry Reservoir. A minor amount of water is made available through temporary contracts for contractors adjacent to Helena Valley and Toston. The majority of the reservoir's yield is released to produce hydropower by Reclamation, and to comply with the Coordination of Electric Operations Agreement with PPL Montana. Helena Valley and Toston have the right to request conversion of their long-term water service contracts to repayment contracts.

Helena Valley and Toston contract with Reclamation for water for agricultural irrigation, while the City of Helena contracts water for municipal and industrial (M&I) uses. Helena Valley and the City receive water directly from Canyon Ferry Reservoir, through the Helena Valley Pumping Plant, tunnel, and feeder canal. Water is stored in the Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir and made available to meet the demands of the Helena Valley Irrigation District.

Helena Valley irrigates approximately 16,000 acres of land northwest of Canyon Ferry Dam and contracts with Reclamation for a quantity of water not to exceed the amount that can be beneficially used within the irrigation district. On average, approximately 87,000 acre-feet (af) of water are pumped into the regulating reservoir for use by Helena Valley and the City of Helena. The City withdraws water from the regulating reservoir and conveys the water to the municipality by pipeline. The City of Helena's current contract provides for up to 5,680 af of water per year for M&I uses.

On average, Toston annually diverts approximately 16,800 af of water to irrigate 6,248 acres of land southwest of Canyon Ferry Reservoir. Like Helena Valley, it contracts with Reclamation for a quantity of water not to exceed the amount that can be beneficially used within the irrigation district. Toston pumps water directly from the Missouri River at a site about 1.5 miles upstream of the Toston Dam through the Crow Creek Pumping Plant and into series of canals where it is made available for distribution to water users. Toston contracts with Reclamation to release water from Canyon Ferry Reservoir to satisfy downstream senior water rights in the Missouri River.

To determine whether renewal or conversion of these contracts will result in significant environmental impacts, Reclamation will prepare an environmental assessment (EA), in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).