The Tongue and Yellowstone River Irrigation District is a district located in Custer County, Montana. The T&Y became a public irrigation district in 1911 and purchased the canal and water rights from the Miles City Canal and Irrigating Company in 1915. The Miles City Canal and Irrigating Company was established in 1885. The T&Y provides water for irrigation on about 9,789 acres from 12 miles to the south of Miles City to 13 miles from Miles City to the northeast.
History
The Tongue and Yellowstone River Irrigation District (T&YID) was established as a public irrigation district in 1911, purchasing the canal and water rights from the Miles City Canal and Irrigating Company in 1915.
The Miles City Canal and Irrigation Company was established in 1885 and obtained rights to use water diverted from the Tongue River by a wood crib and rock dam in 1886. In 1914, the District Court allocated a water right of 7,500 miner’s inches (187.5 cfs) to the Miles City Canal and Irrigating Company with a priority date of August 9, 1886 for the purpose of irrigating 9,789.6 acres. These rights are now held by the Tongue and Yellowstone River Irrigation District.
From the diversion point at Twelve Mile Dam located 12 miles upstream (south) of the confluence of the Tongue River and Yellowstone River, an earthen canal carries water downhill for 27 miles to the east of the Tongue River and through Miles City into the Yellowstone River valley, draining into the Yellowstone River to the northeast of Miles City. Major structures crossing drainages and allowing the discharge of water are the Pumpkin Creek Syphon Spill, North Woman Creek Flume, Mill Creek Flume, Log Creek Flume and discharge pipe, Cowles Creek Flume, Cemetery Spillway, Kircher Creek Flume and Spillway, Bensley Creek Flume and
Spill, Jones Creek Flume and Spill, and Kelly Creek Flume and Spill.
The T&Y includes a service area of approximately 11,000 acres and provides water to approximately 9,700 irrigated acres. The average elevation is 2,600 feet and the average annual precipitation is 14 inches. The growing season is approximately 120 – 125 days (source NRCS Web Soil Survey). Soils are generally silty to sandy loam with some heavy clay areas. Throughout the history of the district, alfalfa, beans, small grains, corn, and sugar beets have been important crops. In recent years sugar beets are no longer produced and corn is grown to a lesser extent. Livestock also plays an important part in the economic activities of the district, as related to forage production.
Management
The T&Y is divided into three Districts with one commissioner from each District who form the Board of Commissioners. The Board meets the second Wednesday of each month and oversees the operations and management of the District pursuant to Title 85. Water Use of the Montana Code Annotated.
Board of Commissioners:
District One – Mike Blum, President
District Two – George Luther, Jr.
District Three – Vince Muggli
Secretary – Jana R. Mueller
Contact Information:
Tongue and Yellowstone River Irrigation District
P.O. Box 853
Miles City MT 59301
Email: tandy@midrivers.com
Mike Blum
406.951.2800
George Luther, Jr.
406.853.1915
Vince Muggli
406.951.1172
Jana R. Mueller
406.234.6627
Vision, Mission and Goals
T&Y’s Vision is to have a well-managed irrigation system that efficiently and effectively
delivers dependable water at a reasonable cost, meeting the needs of the District, individual irrigators and the public, now and into the foreseeable future.
T&Y’s Mission is to manage, maintain and improve the resources and assets of the District to ensure dependable delivery of irrigation water to the approximately 9,789 acres served.
- Goal 1 – Business Operation – Strengthen Current Business and Administrative Abilities of the District
- Goal 2 – System Operations and Infrastructure – Assess current system and determine future needs and challenges.
- Goal 3 – Upgrade System infrastructure: Enhance capacity for upgrades and project completion
- Goal 4 – Improve on-farm Irrigation Water Use Efficiency and Management