USGS Water-Year Summary 2023

06172310 MILK RIVER AT TAMPICO, MT

LOCATION - Lat 48°18'28.46", long 106°49'20.34" referenced to North American Datum of 1983, in SW 1/4 SW 1/4 SW 1/4 sec.32, T.30 N., R.38 E., Valley County, MT, Hydrologic Unit 10050012, on right bank, at county bridge 0.8 miles downstream from Buggy Creek and 0.3 miles northeast of Tampico, and at river mile 98.7.

DRAINAGE AREA - 21,341 mi² of which 2,199 mi² probably is noncontributing.

SURFACE-WATER RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - October 1973 to September 1977, May 1987 to current year. Seasonal record beginning 1995 water year.

GAGE - Water-stage recorder. Elevation of gage is 2,110 ft, referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988.

REMARKS - Flow increased during irrigation season by water from St. Mary Canal which diverts from the St. Mary River near Babb. Flow is regulated by Fresno and Nelson Reservoirs, five reservoirs in Lodge Creek basin in Saskatchewan, and four reservoirs in Frenchman River basin in Saskatchewan. Many small dams for the diversion of irrigation canals occur upstream, the closest being Vandalia Dam 19 mi upstream. Numerous diversions occur upstream from station for irrigation.

EXTREMES OUTSIDE PERIOD OF RECORD - Flood of Apr. 17, 1952 reached an observed stage of 38.67 ft at gage 200 ft downstream from Vandalia Dam furnished by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; discharge about 45,000 ft³/s.