Crow Pump Diversion Reconstruction

Crow Pump Diversion Reconstruction

The Crow Pump Diversion is part of the Flathead Indian Irrigation Project and is within the Charlo Irrigation Service Area. The Crow Pump Diversion was originally constructed to allow FIIP to supplement water in the Charlo Irrigation Service Area with water from Crow Creek. The diversion is used to divert water from Crow Creek into a pumping plant that lifts it to the Crow Pump Canal. In September 2026, minimum instream flows within Post Creek will become enforceable and will set a firm threshold for the amount of water that the Charlo Irrigation Service Area can rely on from Post Creek. The Crow Pump Diversion system, however, is currently inoperable. The configuration and location of the existing Crow Pump Diversion result in sediment deposition downstream of the diversion structure and in the Crow Pump Canal. There are currently 12-inches of silty sediment in the existing pump intake. The plan is to improve the diversion and irrigation infrastructure through reconstruction in a manner that accommodates fish passage, habitat restoration, and improved pump efficiency and operation.

*Improve operational flexibility, add redundancy, increase the facility’s capacity to divert and pump water,

*Improve passage for a wide variety of fish species and life stages in Crow Creek

*Accommodate aquatic and terrestrial habitat restoration and enhancements in the diversion area.

*Reduce sediment deposition at the diversion structure

*Accommodate for upstream fish passage

*Decrease the loss of diverted water from the Crow Pump Canal