The St. Mary River Irrigation District has three licenses that divert water from the St. Mary, Waterton, and Belly rivers. Our licenses not only allow water for irrigation but for other uses (newest license) such as municipal, industrial, agricultural, recreational, and environmental.
Almost all the reservoirs within the SMRID system are used for recreational purposes, including boating and fishing. These include Stafford, Chin, Forty Mile, and Sauder (Rattlesnake) reservoirs that are popular recreation sites and have both public camping and boat launch facilities. Other District reservoirs allow fishing as well.
It is important to note the following before accessing any of our canals.
- The water in the canal can be very cold and fast-moving. This means that if someone or a pet was to fall in the canal., they would be recovered quite a distance from the point where they fell in. Do not jump in the canals to rescue pets or retrieve toys. Call 911 for help.
- Canals can have deep waters, strong undercurrents, and turbulence that could be a challenge and prove fatal even for the strongest swimmer.
- Canal banks can be slick and steep making it difficult for someone to climb out.
- Swimming, tubing, canoeing, kayaking, and jumping from bridges is prohibited.
- Infrastructure in the canals such as gates, and culverts can cause injury or fatalities if someone fell in the canal and came into contact with them. There is also debris in the canals, some of which could cause injury.
- It is trespassing if any form of infrastructure is on SMRID Right of Way without written approval from SMRID.
- The draw from the pipeline and lateral outlets could pull someone in.
- Canals are periodically treated with chemicals. Swimming in freshly treated waters poses a number of health risks.
- Driving along canal banks is not allowed.
- Walking/jogging along our canal banks is allowed.