Clark Canyon getting a refill

By Nick Gevock of The Montana Standard - 04/18/2006

Clark Canyon Reservoir south of Dillon, pictured recently above, is finally recovering from a five-year-long drought. By Nick Gevock / The Montana Standard

DILLON — For the first time in more than five years, Steve Cottom has something to smile about while overlooking Clark Canyon Reservoir, south of Dillon.

The farmer has been cut off from the bulk of his irrigation water the past few years because the reservoir, reflecting the deep drought, hasn’t had the water to give.

But this year, the reservoir is holding nearly twice the water of last year.

And with ample snow in the mountains being kept there by cool temperatures, the situation for area farmers and ranchers should only improve, Cottom said.

“It’s looking a lot better this year,” Cottom, who grows grain, hay and seed potatoes on the East Bench near Dillon, said. “We’re going to get pretty much a full allotment of water.” As of Friday the reservoir was holding 113,000 acre feet of water. Last year at the same time, the reservoir held around 60,000 acre feet, said Dennis Miotke, manager of the East Bench Irrigation District that has water in Clark Canyon.

As bad as last year seemed, it was far from the low point for area irrigators. The reservoir bottomed out in August 2003 when it dipped down to 10,000 acre feet.

The reservoir holds 178,000 acre feet when it’s full. It’s uncertain whether it will completely fill, but the reservoir should continue to rise because flows from its tributaries are stronger than past years, Miotke said. The Lima Reservoir is filling and that water will add to Clark Canyon.

Snowpack is above average in every basin throughout the region. And even the mid-elevations are still blanketed in snow that as of yet hasn’t begun to melt because of nighttime temperatures that continue to drop below freezing.

Still, Cottom said the drought won’t be cured overnight or with one strong season of precipitation. Groundwater levels are still low and the soils in much of southwest Montana are depleted of moisture.

“There’s a lot of sponge to fill up,” he said.

The drought has also taken a toll on fish populations because the low stream flows and warm temperatures have forced trout to bunch up in deep holes.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologist Dick Oswald said a year of average runoff could dramatically help trout that spawn in spring. This year looks promising because of the amount of water in the reservoir, and because a cool, rainy weather pattern has settled into the area.

“It’s boding well for the future,” Oswald said.

Reporter Nick Gevock may be reached via email at nick.gevock@mtstandard.com.