(Listening Area) US Senator Steve Daines spoke with US Department of Interior official Shannon Estenoz during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources hearing to get a commitment from the federal level to help the St. Mary Diversion project.
Daines: “Just wanted to get your commitment that you would work with us and use all available resources at your disposal to replace these siphons and ensure the work is done as quickly as possible.”
Estenoz: “I appreciate the question and I’m sorry to hear that we have a water management infrastructure failure. No one knows how serious those are better than I do, and if I am confirmed I absolutely will work with you and with BOR to ensure that we’re addressing this issue adequately”
Daines of course referring to the failure of the St. Mary Siphon from earlier this summer which will result in irrigation struggles for the next two season, the Bureau of Reclamation currently has a tentative project end date of August 2025.
