J the St. Mary and Milk Rivers J 2010 J
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1 J J Report to THE INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION J On J THE DIVISION OF THE WATERS OF J THE ST. MARY AND MILK RIVERS J 2010 J J J J J J 1 J J J J Cover Photos: Left Side: Norm Midtlyng (USGS) conducting streamflow measurement Milk River at Eastern Crossing using conventional mechanical current meter. Photograph by Aroscott Whiteman, USGS, Montana Water Science Center, Helena, Montana Right Side: Aroscott Whiteman (USGS) conducting streamflow measurement Milk River at Milk River (Town) using hydro-acoustic equipment, acoustic doppler current profiler (ADCP) . Photograph by Don Bischoff, USGS, Montana Water Science Center, Helena, Montana J J REPORT TO THE INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION ON THE DIVISION OF THE WATERS OF THE ST. MARY AND MILK RIVERS FOR THE YEAR 2010 J Submitted By Russell G. Boals Representing Canada And Dr. Randall G. Updike Representing the United States J J November 2011 International Joint Commission Ottawa, Ontario, and Washington, D.C. Commissioners: In compliance with the provisions of Article VI of the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 and Clause VIII( c) of your Order of October 4, .1921; directing the division of the waters of the St. Mary and Milk Rivers between the United States and Canada, we are transmitting herewith a report on the 1 operations during the irrigation season ended October 31, 2010. J Respectfully submitted, J J Russell G. Boals Field Representative for the Accredited Officer of Her Majesty 1 J rA-..t,~ 1 Dr. Randall G. Updike Accredited Officer of the United States J j J J 1 1 l 1 J J 1 1 J J This page intentionally left blank J 1 J 1 j J J SYNOPSIS During the 2010 irrigation season, the natural flow of the St. Mary River was 102 percent of the long-term average. The natural flow of the St. Mary River at the International Boundary during the irrigation season, 3 April 1 to October 31 , 2010, was 725 000 cubic decametres (dam ) (588,000 acre-feet). Under the terms of the Boundary Waters Treaty, the Canadian allotment was 438 000 dam3 (355,000 acre-feet). The total flow recorded at the International Boundary during the irrigation season was 133 percent of the Canadian allotment. The natural flow of the Milk River during the 2010 irrigation season was 207 percent of the long term average. The natural flow of the Milk River at the Eastern Crossing of the International Boundary from j March 1 to October 31, 2010, was 278 000 dam3 (225,000 acre-feet). Under terms of the Treaty, the United States' allotment was 187 000 dam3 (152,000 acre-feet). The United States received 146 percent of its allotment at Eastern Crossing, in addition to its share of St. Mary River water 1 diverted into the Milk River through the St. Mary Canal. The March to October natural flows of the three apportioned tributaries of the Milk River were 149 percent of the long-term average for Lodge Creek at the International Boundary, 227 percent for Battle Creek at the International Boundary, and 94 percent for Frenchman River at the 1 International Boundary. The total flow recorded at the International Boundary during the irrigation season for Lodge Creek, Battle Creek, and Frenchman River was 111 percent, 82 percent, and 1 106 percent, respectively, of the United States allotment. Deficits incurred by Canada due to late season diversions in the Battle Creek and Frenchman River basins necessitated the addition of 1 an extra division period this year in order to determine the final flow apportionment in each basin. j The annual meeting of the Field Representatives was held at Medicine Hat, Alberta on February 17, 2011 . Mutual problems, future plans, and changes in computational procedures were discussed and a schedule of field operations for 2011 was adopted. 1 J j 1 j J J J This page intentionally left blank J J J J J J ii TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 I SYNOPSIS .. .... ... ........ ..... ............ .... .. .... ...... ............... ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ..... .. ..... ..... .. ..... ... .. ... ... ...... .. ....... i TABLE OF CONTENTS ........ .............. ............. ... .. ... ...... ........................... ... ............. ........... ....... ..... iii INTRODUCTION .. ..... .. ... ... .. ... ... ...... ..... .. ... .. ... ...... ...... .. ..... .... ..... .... ... .. ......... .. .... .... ... .. ....... ... .... ...... 1 ST. MARY RIVER ..... ... .. .... ... ... ........... .. ... .. ... ................. .... .... ...... .... .......... .. .. .... .......... ... ...... ....... .... .3 1 MILK RIVER .. .. ..... ....... ... ... .... .... ...... .. .. ... .... ... ... ..... ....... ...... .... ..... .. ....... ... .... .... .... ........ .. ... ........... ..... 9 1 SOUTHERN TRIBUTARIES OF THE MILK RIVER ................ ... ..... ....... .................... ...... .. ... ...... .. 15 EASTERN TRIBUTARIES OF THE MILK RIVER ..... ...... ... ......... ... ... ..... .. .. .... .... ... ...... ... .... ... .. ...... 17 LODGE CREEK ... .............. ..... ... ... .... ......... ....... ........ .... ............ ......... ..... .... ... .. ..... .... ...... .... ....... 26 J BATTLE CREEK ......... .... ... ..... .... .. .. ....... .... ......... .. ....... .. ..... ...... ........ .. ......... ............ ............. ..... 30 FRENCHMAN RIVER ...... ... ... .... ...... ... ...... .. ..... .. ...... .. ....... .......... ................. ..... ..... ...... ... ..... .. ... 35 J LIST OF TABLES J Table 1: Summary of St. Mary River Division for 2010 ... ..... .. .... .................. .. .... ... .... .. .... ..... .. .... 5 Table 2: Summary of Milk River Division for 2010 .. ...... ...... .. ...... ..... ... ... ....... ... .... ..... ... .... .. .. ... .. 11 Table 3: Summary of Lodge Creek Division for 2010 .. ... ... .. ....... .................. ... ... .. ... .... ...... .. ... .. 27 J Table 4: Summary of Battle Creek Division for 2010 .. .... ..... .... ..... ......... .. ........ .. ...... ... ....... ... .... 32 J Table 5: Summary of Frenchman River Division for 2010 .......... ...... ... ... .. .. ..... .. ... ... ...... ............ 36 1 iii 1 1 1 1 1 J J l This page intentionally left blank J 1 J J 1 J iv TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) 1 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. St. Mary River Division, 2010 ... ... ....... .... ... ............ .... ...... .. ... ..... ...... ..... .... ... ... .... ... ..... .7 J Figure 2. Milk River Division, 2010 .... ... ...... ..... .... .... .... .... .. ..... ... ... ... ..... ...... ..... ...... ... ... ... ......... 13 1 Figure 3. Reservoirs in Lodge Creek, Battle Creek, and Frenchman River Basins 1 Month-End Contents: 2009,2010, and 2000-2009 Mean ... .... ......... ..... .. .. .... ....... .... 21 Figure 4. Lodge Creek Division, 2010 ... ... ... .......... ...... .. .. .. ... ... ..... ..... ... ............. ...... .... ... .. ... .. .. 29 1 1 Figure 5. Battle Creek Division, 201 0 ... .. .. .......... ........ .. ... ...... .. ....... ... .. ... ... ......... ... ........... .. .. .. 34 j Figure 6. Frenchman River Division, 2010 ...... ..... ... ... ... .... ...... ........ ..... .. .. .... ..... .. .... .. .... ... ..... .. 38 ANNEX 1 A. 1921 Order of the International Joint Commission Respecting the St. Mary-Milk Rivers ... .. .... 39 B. Letter of Intent Respecting the St. Mary- Milk Rivers Streamflow Transfers .... .. .. ................... 47 1 C. Letter of Intent Respecting the Eastern Tributaries of the Milk River Streamflow Transfers .... 53 J D. Correspondence Respecting Flow Apportionment of Battle Creek Waters .... .. .... .... .... .. .. .. .. .. .. 59 j E. Conversion Factors .... ... ......... .. ... ........ ... ... .... ..... ............ ..... .. ..... .... ... .. ...... ................. ..... .... .... .. 67 F. List of Gauging Stations .... ..... .... .. ............ .. .. .. .. .. .................. ......................... ........ .. .. .. .. .. .... .. .... 71 1 MAP l Map of St. Mary and Milk River Drainage Basins 1 v J J J j J J 1 This page intentionally left blank J J J J J J vi J J INTRODUCTION The apportionment of the waters of the St. Mary and Milk Rivers is governed by Article VI of the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 between Great Britain and the United States. The terms of the 1 Treaty were further clarified by the 1921 Order of the International Joint Commission. A copy of the 1921 Order, including Article VI, is contained in Annex A of this report. 1 To comply with this Treaty, staff of the United States Geological Survey and Environment Canada, Water Survey Division collected, compiled, verified, and tabulated hydrometric data at 35 international gauging stations on a cooperative basis, under the direction of the Field Representatives of the United States and Canada. An additional 72 gauging stations were 1 operated independently by the United States and Canada in the St. Mary and Milk River basins. Several of these stations were operated to obtain data on diversions, reservoir contents, return J flows and index runoff which was used to improve the accuracy of natural-flow computations. j This report summarizes the year 2010 natural-flow computations, apportionment of the natural flow, unusual occurrences during the year, and procedural modifications designed to increase the accuracy of the natural-flow computations. Summary natural-flow tables are included. Detailed 1 natural-flow computations are included in Appendix A. Daily discharge and other related data are included in Appendix B. Appendices A and B are submitted with this report under separate cover. J In accordance with the International System of Units {SI) conversion schedule