Area water supply looks good for summer

While the possibility of slipping back into drought is far from over, water should not be in short supply for towns and irrigators in the Milk River Valley this summer.

"We're in a lot better shape than we were last year at this time. We got relief from that big storm that moved through (north-central Montana) last June," said Tim Felchle, hydraulic engineer with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

Felchle said the reservoirs in the Milk River Irrigation Project should be able to supply enough water to meet the needs in the Milk River Valley through the summer.

A deluge in early June filled Fre...