Overview

The Lower Yellowstone Diversion Dam is a 700-feet long timber and stone-filled structure that spans the Yellowstone River and diverts water into the headworks of the Lower Yellowstone Project’s Main Canal. The crest of the wooden crib structure is approximate elevation of 1,989 feet, and an additional 1-2 feet of rock are periodically placed on top to an elevation of 1,991. The weir creates adequate water surface elevation to facilitate irrigation water diversions. A cableway system is used to replace rock at the weir as needed to maintain sufficient elevation for diversion into the Main Canal headworks.

Water is diverted from the Yellowstone River into the Main Canal by the Lower Yellowstone Diversion Dam near Intake, Montana. It is carried by gravity to the greater portion of the project lands. About 2,300 acres of bench-land are irrigated by water pumped from the canal by the Thomas Point Pumping Plant.

There are three pumping plants on the project; one at Thomas Point on the Main Canal, one at Crane on the Main Canal, and one on Drain 27. The Thomas Point Pumping Plant is on the Main Canal about 19 miles below the headworks. The plant has two units directly connected to hydraulic turbines and one motor-driven unit. The energy derived from 80 cubic feet per second of water falling 28 feet from the Main Canal to Lateral KK is utilized by the two hydraulic turbine driven centrifugal pumps to lift 45 cubic feet per second of water 31 feet to Lateral LL for irrigation of 2,300 acres of benchland north of Savage, Montana. The motor driven unit pumps 20 cubic feet per second of water from the Main Canal into Lateral LL. The Crane Pumping Plant has two motor-driven units, each of which pumps 5 cubic feet per second of water from the Main Canal into Lateral BP-1. The pumping plant at Drain 27 has one motor-driven unit which pumps 15 cubic feet per second of water from the drain into Lateral N.

Main Canal and Distribution System

The Main Canal diverts to the west side of the Yellowstone River at Intake and extends down the valley to the confluence of the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers. The canal is 71.6 miles long and has an initial capacity of 1,200 cubic feet per second. A lateral system of 225 miles serves the project lands. A total of 118 miles of drains have been constructed.

The project is operated by the Board of Control of the Lower Yellowstone Project.

General

Dimensions

Hydraulics & Hydrology