Collapse of drop 5 structure of the St. Mary Diversion causes water transfers to cease

On Sunday May 17, the Drop 5 structure collapsed due to its significant age of 104 years old. Since being organized in 2003 by then Lt. Governor Karl Ohs, the 16-citizen member of the St. Mary Rehabilitation Working Group have been regularly meeting to engage congressional and state leaders to start repairing the system before it suffered catastrophic failure. The US irrigation project irrigates 140,000 acres, serves as a water source for 18,000 people and produces enough food for 1 million people annually.

Recently, members of the Working Group had been in discussion with congressional staff...