Procedures for the Division of the Waters of the St. Mary and Milk Rivers

PROCEDURES FOR THE DIVISION OF THE WATERS OF THE ST. MARY AND MILK RIVERS

prepared by

United States Geological Survey, Department of the Interior, Helena, Montana

and

Water Survey Division, Meteorological Service of Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Calgary, Alberta and Regina, Saskatchewan

2017 Edition

(supersedes the 1975, 1979, 1991, and 2003 edition)

2017 Revisions Log

Section(s) Page(s) Description of Change Table of Contents --- Updated section 5.2.4 page number Revisions Log --- Added 2017 revisions log Definitions 2.1 Updated recent agency name/acronym changes 4.6 4.21, 4.23 Updated position title, contact information 5.2.3 5.4-5.9 Updated to reflect current use of Penman equation in ET determinations 5.5.1 5.13 Updated to reflect current computation procedures 5.6.3 5.27 Updated contact information 6.2.3 6.12 Updated agency (AEP) acronym 6.7 6.45 Change in Middle Cr Reservoir Special comp procedure 6.8 6.51 Change in form to reflect Middle Cr Reservoir comp update 6.9.3 6.77 Updated contact list for interim reports

Appendix B B.10 Updated contact list Appendix C C.26-C.32 Added MILKNAT2010 user manual Appendix D All Added recent forms, removed field personnel birth date information Appendix E All Updated list of water management contacts Appendix H All Updated annual IJC report distribution list Appendix I All Updated Procedures Manual distribution list Appendix M All Updated with signed memoranda

Revision Dated: 2/23/2017 2013 Revisions Log

Section(s) Page(s) Description of Change Revisions Log --- Added 2013 revisions log Table of Contents Updated to reflect page number/section heading changes Definitions 2.1 Updated with new agency names and acronyms 4.2 4.4 Updated equation to show application of a 1-day lag to Lake Sherburne contents change 4.4 4.7 Removed “U.S. Border Patrol” 4.6 4.21-4.23 Added (new) sections 4.6.1 and 4.6.2, updated contact list and page numbers 5.1 5.2 Updated last paragraph 5.4 5.12 Removed “U.S. Border Patrol” 5.5 5.13 Updated to reflect change in interim MILKNAT computational procedures, removed section 5.5.2 (IJC MILKNAT Spreadsheet Application), renumbered pages 5.6 5.25-5.27 Added (new) sections 5.6.1 and 5.6.2, updated contact list and page numbers 5.7 5.28 Page number 6.2 6.7 Updated to clarify determination of Net Reservoir Evaporation Loss 6.3 6.22 Updated agency name changes 6.4 6.24 Updated agency name changes 6.5 6.25-6.33 Updated agency name changes, added index-velocity method to section 6.5.7 (Huff Pumping Canal) 6.6 6.36 Updated agency name changes 6.7 6.45 Updated agency name changes 6.9 6.75-6.77 Added (new) sections 6.9.1 and 6.9.2, updated contact list and page numbers

Appendix A All Updated station list Appendix B B.10 Updated contact list Appendix C C.26 Added MILKNAT2010 User Manual as replacement for section 5.5.2 Appendix D All Added recent forms, removed field personnel birth date information Appendix E All Updated Water-Management contact list Revision Dated: 2/12/2013 2013 Revisions Log

Section(s) Page(s) Description of Change Appendix F All Updated to reflect current procedures and station assignments Appendix G All Updated agency name and rounding rule changes Appendix H All Updated annual IJC report distribution list Appendix I All Updated Procedures Manual distribution list Appendix J All Updated to reflect current publication specifications Appendix M All Updated with signed memoranda

Revision Dated: 2/12/2013 2012 Revisions Log

Section(s) Page(s) Description of Change Revisions Log --- Added 2012 revisions log Table of Contents Updated to reflect page number/section heading changes 4.5 4.9 Updated computer pathname to directories and files 4.6 4.21-4.22 Contact list and page numbers updated 5.2 5.9 Updated Section 5.2.6.1 5.5 5.13-5.27 Updated to reflect change in interim MILKNAT computational procedures 5.6 5.28 Contact list and page numbers updated 6.9 6.75-6.76 Updated Eastern Tributaries of the Milk River interim report mailing list Appendix E All Updated Water-Management contact list Appendix H All Updated annual IJC report distribution list Appendix I All Updated Procedures Manual distribution list

Revision Dated: 2/16/2012 2010 Revisions Log

Section(s) Page(s) Description of Change Revisions Log --- Added 2010 revisions log Table of Contents Updated to reflect page number/section heading changes 3.0 3.3 Added 2007 Letter of Intent for the Eastern Tributaries of Milk 4.3.3 4.6 Added Letter of Intent conference call paragraph 4.5.4 4.20 NEW SECTION, St Mary R summary table used to track cumulative Letter of Intent deficits 4.6 4.21-4.22 Mailing list and page numbers updated 5.3 5.11 Added Letter of Intent conference call paragraph 5.5.4 5.23 NEW SECTION, Milk R summary table used to track cumulative Letter of Intent deficits 5.6 5.24 Mailing list and page numbers updated 5.7 5.25 Page number updated 6.2 6.5-6.21 Updated section 6.2.2.2 and subsequent page numbers 6.3 6.22-6.23 Page numbers updated 6.4 6.24 Page numbers updated 6.5 6.25-6.32 Page numbers updated 6.5.8 6.33-6.35 Index-velocity computations method added, page numbers updated 6.6 6.36-6.44 Page numbers updated 6.7 6.45-6.47 Page numbers updated 6.8 6.48-6.74 Page numbers updated, added section 3.8.4 (Penman’s Equation) 6.9 6.75-6.76 Updated Eastern Tributaries of the Milk River interim report mailing list 6.10 6.77-6.78 Added Hyde/Woodward report (2006) 6.11 6.79 Page numbers updated Appendix E All Updated Water-Management contact list Appendix H All Updated annual IJC report distribution list Appendix I All Updated Procedures Manual distribution list

Revision Dated: 2/18/2010 2009 Revisions Log

Section(s) Page(s) Description of Change Revisions Log --- Added 2009 revisions log. 4.6 4.20-4.21 Mailing list updated 5.6 5.23 Mailing list updated 6.9 6.73 Updated Eastern Tributaries of the Milk River interim report mailing list. Appendix E All Updated Water-Management contact list Appendix H All Updated annual IJC report distribution list. Appendix I All Updated Procedures Manual distribution list. Appendix L Map 1 Updated St. Mary and Milk River Drainage Basins map.

Revision Dated: 2/17/2009 2008 Revisions Log

Section(s) Page(s) Description of Change Revisions Log --- Added 2008 revisions log. Table of Contents All Updated to reflect inclusion of 2007 Eastern Tributaries of the Milk River Letter of Intent 4.6 4.20-4.21 Mailing list and example letter updated 5.6 5.23 Mailing list updated 6.2 6.6-6.7 Description of Reesor Reservoir net reservoir computations updated 6.3 6.21-6.22 Updated to include 2007 Eastern Tributaries of the Milk River Letter of Intent 6.9 6.73 Updated Eastern Tributaries of the Milk River interim report mailing list. Appendix B All Updated to include Eastern Tributaries Letter of Intent section. Appendix E All Updated Water-Management contact list Appendix H All Updated annual IJC report distribution list. Appendix I All Updated Procedures Manual distribution list. Appendix L Map 1 Updated St. Mary and Milk River Drainage Basins map

Revision Dated: 2/21/2008 2006-2007 Revisions Log

Section(s) Page(s) Description of Change Revisions Log --- Added 2006-2007 revisions log. Table of Contents --- Updated Section 6.0 page numbers 5.0 All All page numbers were revised to reflect new page created in section 5.1. 5.1 5.1, 5.2 Added two paragraphs of historical background information. 5.2.3 5.3, 5.4 Added paragraph and Figure 5.1 to describe change in evapotranspiration applications. 5.2.4.3 5.7 Added historical reference and recent decision to remove Verdigris Coulee from computations. 5.2.5 5.8 Revised to accurately describe history of West-East travel time applications. 5.2.6 5.9 Revised year in last sentence to 2006. 5.3 5.10-5.11 Minor editorial changes in each sub-section. 5.4.2 5.12 Agency name change, “U.S. Customs” is now “U.S. Customs and Border Protection”. 5.5.1 5.13-5.14, Updated pathnames, filenames and menu displays (eliminated 4-day option). 5.18-5.22 Updated examples with year 2004 5-day lag computations. 5.6 5.23 Updated personnel changes (Rich Moy replaced by Larry Dolan). 6.2-6.11 All All page numbers were revised after adding reservoirs background section. 6.2.2 6.4-6.8 Added historical background, other minor revisions scattered throughout text. 6.3 6.21 Agency name change, “Sask Water” is now “Saskatchewan Watershed Authority (SWA)” 6.4 6.23 Agency name change, “U.S. Customs” is now “U.S. Customs and Border Protection”. 6.5 6.24, 6.28 Agency name change, “Sask Water” is now “Saskatchewan Watershed Authority (SWA)” 6.8 All Updated examples of Tables 10 and 14. 6.9 6.72 Updated Eastern Tributaries of the Milk River interim report mailing list. Appendix H All Updated annual IJC report distribution list. Appendix I All Updated Procedures Manual distribution list.

Revision Dated: 2/22/2007

Revisions Log

REVISION DATED: 02/24/2005

Section Page(s) Description of Change Revisions Log --- New section. Table of Contents --- Added Section 6.2.2.6 and Appendix M (Memoranda). 2.0 2.1 Updated agency name changes (Alberta Environment, Saskatchewan Watershed Authority). 4.3.3 4.6 Corrected erroneous date in second paragraph (i.e., between March 1 and May 31). 4.6 4.20, 4.21 Updated St. Mary interim report mailing list. 5.6 5.20 Updated Milk River interim report mailing list. 6.2.2.3 6.6, 6.7 Updated explanatory notes and form to reflect change in reservoir evaporation calculations. 6.2.2.6 6.8 Added new “Stage-Capacity Tables” section. 6.2.3 6.9 Added new paragraph describing change in Lodge Creek basin minor diversions application. 6.4 6.21 Revised PFRA pasture access paragraph. 6.9 6.69, 6.70 Updated Eastern Tributaries of the Milk River interim report mailing list. 6.10 6.71, 6.72 Added reports by R. Hopkinson (1999) and M. Seneka (2002) to bibliography. Appendix E All Updated mailing list for interim reports. Appendix H All Updated annual IJC report distribution list. Appendix I All Updated Procedures Manual distribution list. Appendix M M.1, M.2 New appendix.

02/24/2005 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1.0 INTRODUCTION...... 1.1 2.0 DEFINITIONS ...... 2.1 3.0 BACKGROUND ...... 3.1 4.0 ST. MARY RIVER ...... 4.1 4.1 Introduction ...... 4.1 4.2 Procedure for the Division of Natural Flow ...... 4.2 4.2.1 Division Periods ...... 4.2 4.2.2 Lake Sherburne ...... 4.2 4.2.2.1 Storage changes ...... 4.2 4.2.2.2 Reservoir evaporation ...... 4.2 4.2.2.3 Reservoir contents computation ...... 4.3 4.2.3 St. Mary Canal ...... 4.3 4.2.4 St. Mary River at International Boundary ...... 4.3 4.2.5 Natural-Flow Computations ...... 4.4 4.2.5.1 Provisional Computations ...... 4.4 4.2.5.2 Final Computations ...... 4.4 4.3 Water Division ...... 4.5 4.3.1 Shares ...... 4.5 4.3.2 Surplus and Deficit Deliveries ...... 4.5 4.3.3 Letters of Intent ...... 4.6 4.4 Field Procedures ...... 4.7 4.4.1 Field Schedules ...... 4.7 4.4.2 Border-Crossing Privileges ...... 4.7 4.5 Computation Procedures and Forms...... 4.8 4.5.1 USGS Computer Programs ...... 4.8 4.5.2 WSD Spreadsheet ...... 4.10 4.5.3 Manual Computations and Forms ...... 4.11 4.5.4 St. Mary Division Letter of Intent Summary Form ...... 4.20 4.6 Information Exchange of Interim ...... 4.21 4.6.1 Hydrometric Data ...... 4.21 4.6.2 Interim Reports ...... 4.22 4.6.3 Contact List for Interim Reports ...... 4.23 5.0 MILK RIVER ...... 5.1 5.1 Introduction ...... 5.1 5.2 Procedure for the Division of Natural Flow ...... 5.3

2/12/2013 5.2.1 Division Periods ...... 5.3 5.2.2 Hydrologic Factors ...... 5.3 5.2.3 Evaporation/Evapotranspiration ...... 5.3 5.2.4 Consumptive Uses ...... 5.6 5.2.4.1 Irrigated Agriculture ...... 5.6 5.2.4.2 Municipal and Domestic Consumption ...... 5.8 5.2.4.3 Verdigris Coulee ...... 5.8 5.2.5 West-East Travel Time ...... 5.8 5.2.6 Natural-Flow Computations ...... 5.10 5.2.6.1 Provisional Computations ...... 5.10 5.2.6.2 Final Computations ...... 5.10 5.3 Water Division ...... 5.11 5.3.1 Shares ...... 5.11 5.3.2 Surplus and Deficit Deliveries ...... 5.11 5.3.3 Letters of Intent ...... 5.12 5.4 Field Procedures ...... 5.13 5.4.1 Field Schedules ...... 5.13 5.4.2 Border-Crossing Privileges ...... 5.13 5.5 Computation Procedures and Forms...... 5.14 5.5.1 Computational Procedures ...... 5.14 5.5.2 Forms ...... 5.16 5.5.3 Milk River Letter of Intent Summary Form ...... 5.26 5.6 Information Exchange of Interim Reports ...... 5.27 5.6.1 Hydrometric Data ...... 5.27 5.6.2 Interim Reports ...... 5.28 5.6.3 Contact List for Interim Reports ...... 5.29 5.7 References ...... 5.31 6.0 EASTERN TRIBUTARIES OF THE MILK RIVER ...... 6.1 6.1 Introduction ...... 6.1 6.2 Procedure for the Division of Natural Flow ...... 6.3 6.2.1 Division Periods ...... 6.3 6.2.1.1 Flows from March 1 to October 31 ...... 6.3 6.2.1.2 Flows Outside the March 1 to October 31 Period ...... 6.3 6.2.2 Reservoirs ...... 6.4 6.2.2.1 Storage Changes ...... 6.5 6.2.2.2 Evaporative Losses ...... 6.5 6.2.2.3 Net Reservoir Depletions ...... 6.9 6.2.2.4 Reservoir Contents ...... 6.10 2/12/2013

6.2.2.5 Monthend Contents Table ...... 6.10 6.2.2.6 Stage-Capacity Tables ...... 6.11 6.2.3 Minor Diversions ...... 6.12 6.2.4 Domestic Projects ...... 6.13 6.2.5 Channel Losses ...... 6.15 6.2.5.1 Frenchman River Basin Channel-Loss Factors ...... 6.16 6.2.5.2 Battle Creek Basin Channel-Loss Factors ...... 6.17 6.2.5.3 Lodge Creek Basin Channel-Loss Factors ...... 6.17 6.2.6 Return Flows ...... 6.20 6.2.6.1 Frenchman River Basin Return Flows ...... 6.20 6.2.6.2 Battle Creek Basin Return Flows ...... 6.20 6.2.6.3 Lodge Creek Basin Return Flows ...... 6.21 6.3 Water Division ...... 6.22 6.3.1 Shares ...... 6.22 6.3.2 Surplus and Deficit Deliveries ...... 6.22 6.3.3 Artificial Deficits ...... 6.23 6.3.4 Letter of Intent ...... 6.23 6.4 Field Procedures ...... 6.24 6.4.1 Field Schedules ...... 6.24 6.4.2 Border-Crossing Privileges ...... 6.24 6.4.3 AESB Pasture Access ...... 6.24 6.5 Frenchman River Basin Special Computation and Field Procedures ...... 6.25 6.5.1 Cypress Lake – 11AC037 ...... 6.25 6.5.2 Belanger Creek Diversion to Cypress Lake – 11AC064 ...... 6.25 6.5.3 Cypress Lake East Outflow Canal – 11AC060 ...... 6.25 6.5.4 Eastend Canal near Eastend – 11AC052 ...... 6.29 6.5.5 Val Marie Pump No. 1 – 11AC068 ...... 6.29 6.5.6 Val Marie Pump No. 2 ...... 6.29 6.5.7 Huff Lake Pumping Canal – 11AC066 ...... 6.30 6.5.8 Huff Lake Gravity Canal – 11AC065 and Newton Lake Main Canal – 11AC054 ...... 6.33 6.6 Battle Creek Basin Special Computation and Field Procedures ...... 6.36 6.6.1 Shepherd Ditch near Consul – 11AB020 ...... 6.36 6.6.2 McKinnon Ditch near Consul – 11AB044 ...... 6.36 6.6.3 Return Flow from Consul and Nashlyn Projects ...... 6.36 6.7 Lodge Creek Basin Special Computation and Field Procedures ...... 6.45 6.7.1 Middle Creek Reservoir – 11AB080 ...... 6.45 6.7.1.1 Middle Creek Reservoir Bedford Outlet – 11AB114 ...... 6.45 6.7.1.2 Middle Creek Reservoir Flood Spillway – 11AB115 ...... 6.46 2/12/2013

6.7.1.3 Walburger Coulee below Diversions – 11AB086 ...... 6.46 6.7.2 Stokke – Buchanan Irrigation Projects Usage ...... 6.46 6.7.3 Squaw Coulee near Willow Creek – 11AB103 ...... 6.47 6.8 Other Computation Procedures and Forms...... 6.48 6.8.1 Lodge Creek Basin ...... 6.48 6.8.1.1 Lodge Creek Natural Flow Computation Spreadsheets ...... 6.48 6.8.2 Battle Creek Basin ...... 6.55 6.8.2.1 Battle Creek Natural Flow Computation Spreadsheets ...... 6.55 6.8.2.2 Example of 2001 Return Flow Analysis ...... 6.61 6.8.3 Frenchman River Basin ...... 6.63 6.8.3.1 Frenchman River Natural Flow Computation Spreadsheets ...... 6.63 6.8.3.2 CANAL Program Documentation ...... 6.68 6.8.4 Penman’s Equation ...... 6.73 6.9 Information Exchange of Interim Reports ...... 6.75 6.9.1 Hydrometric Data ...... 6.75 6.9.2 Interim Reports ...... 6.76 6.9.3 Contact List for Interim Reports ...... 6.77 6.10 References......