Location and Description: Miles
City is located at the confluence of the
Tongue and Yellowstone Rivers in eastern
Montana. The city is protected by an
existing non-federal levee that was
constructed by the federal government in
the 1930s and subsequently reinforced and
extended by local interests in the years
following. The levee failed an initial
eligibility inspection under the P.L. 84-99
program in the late 1990s due to many
deficiencies. The Tongue and Yellowstone
Rivers at Miles City experience significant
ice jams about once every two to three
years.
Problem and Need: The updated Flood Insurance Rate Map developed by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency indicates that the city’s existing private levee is
structurally deficient and has significant maintenance problems. There are approximately
3,200 structures behind the levee that are in the 100-year flood plain; many are also in the
floodway. The city of Miles City has the highest occurrence of ice jams of any city on the
Yellowstone River, with approximately 7 out of 8 major floods and 13 out of 16 significant
floods occurring since 1882 resulting from ice jams.
Activities for 2015: Pending new start approval and an allocation of funds, initiate the
feasibility study by preparing the Federal Interest Determination.
Proposed Activities for 2016: Upon approval, negotiate the Project
Management Plan and execute the Feasibility Cost Share Agreement; continue
feasibility study; conduct scoping with public involvement, without-project conditions,
and initial measures and evaluation; formulate plans; evaluate, compare, and tentatively
select a plan.
Issues and Other Information: The city of Miles City has requested a Section 205
project to investigate flood risks along the Tongue River as a standalone project due to
significant flood plain and flood risk identified should the existing non-accredited levee
system fail. The city is preparing plans to address flood risks along the Yellowstone River
on its own. Environmental concerns along the Yellowstone River are always an issue due
to endangered species (especially pallid sturgeon) and the local, regional, and national
significance of the resource.