DEWR (406) 675-2700

Project

Falls Creek Diversion Replacement

River or area

North Fork Jocko and the Tabor Feeder Canal

Tabor Feeder Canal

Status

Scheduled to finish summer 2025

Now

Construction to be completed summer 2025.

Updated July 2025

Contact

Mark Simpson

Irrigation Infrastructure Program Manager
(406) 675-2700 ext. 1283

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
Natural Resources Department
Division of Engineering & Water Resources

Project Overview

Falls Creek is a natural and ungauged stream along the Mission Mountain divide and is a major tributary to the North Fork of the Jocko River. The diversion is a reinforced concrete irrigation structure collecting and conveying surface water flows at its intersection within a concrete lined portion of the Tabor Feeder Canal. The diversion, made of a debris screen/rack, rectangular flume, check structure, and radial gates, is highly degraded and needs full replacement. As part of a Modernization Plan, recommendations include a new trash rack, radial gates, flap gates, and flow measurement structures. Debris management is expected to be a significant design parameter for the diversion structure. A modern system will include minimal maintenance requirements, improved operational flexibility, and long-term durability.

By year

Phases

  1. 2023

    Design

    Done

  2. 2024

    Bid

    Done

  3. Fall 2024 to summer 2025

    Construction

    Done

Before replacement

The Old Structure

The old Falls Creek diversion: water pours past a weathered timber deck and a gate wheel on cracked concrete walls.
Falls Creek Diversion The old structure and its gate
A rusted trash rack and gate lift on the old diversion's concrete walls, the water swirling below.
Falls Creek Diversion The old rack and gate lift
Timber decking laid over the old concrete flume, the creek rushing white beside it.
Falls Creek Diversion The old flume under its timber deck
Falls Creek spilling through the old diversion among dense green brush.
Falls Creek Diversion The creek through the old diversion