BILLINGS – June 2022 will long be remembered for catastrophic flooding on the Yellowstone River and its tributaries. Many communities in southern Montana suffered significant damage, and several continue to repair infrastructure.
When such disasters strike, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks strives to safely maintain access at its sites. Occasionally, this requires major construction. At Cooney State Park south of Billings, sustained high water and destructive wave action from the flood caused severe erosion and washouts at multiple sites along the shoreline, limiting access to the park's abundant recreational resources.
This spring, FWP will complete a shoreline restoration project to preserve the park's infrastructure and ensure quality, safe experiences for current and future park visitors. Visitors can still enjoy all Cooney has to offer during the construction, which is scheduled to run from April 6 to May 13, but visitors should expect increased equipment and truck traffic.
"No one likes construction traffic and noise, especially when trying to relax at the lake," said Ryder Paggen, Region 5 recreation manager. "However, sometimes a project of this nature and scope is necessary to maintain and protect our sites."
Created in 1937, Cooney is a 733-acre irrigation reservoir that sits on Red Lodge Creek, a tributary of Rock Creek. Although the primary purpose of the reservoir's stored water is irrigation, Cooney boasts abundant recreational opportunities. The area became a state park in 1969 and, today, consistently ranks among one of the busiest in Montana.
In 2024, 186,672 visitors came through Cooney State Park. Visitors to the park enjoy a variety of recreational opportunities, most notably walleye and rainbow trout fishing, boating and camping. Currently, the park manages and maintains 82 campsites, three boat ramps, several day-use areas with vault latrines, a comfort station and a fish-cleaning station. Facilities are typically full every weekend between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Since the 2022 flood, erosion and damage has accelerated along Cooney's shoreline, encroaching on the park's infrastructure and at times limiting recreational opportunities at this popular park. Due to the soil composition of the area and significant wave energy during high winds, Cooney's shores are especially susceptible to erosion.
The construction project this spring will re-establish and stabilize eroded shoreline at Marshall Cove and Red Lodge campgrounds and along Lake Shore Road near Fisherman's Point Campground. Rock riprap and gravel will be used to maintain and protect the campgrounds and county road, improve environmental conditions at the lake and plan for future flood control. In Marshall Cove Campground, there will be additional construction to raise the height of the shoreline road and boat ramp and a new access road into the day-use area will also be constructed.
Construction will take place when the water level in the reservoir is low to allow crew access to the project sites without causing significant water turbidity. Restrictions will be in place at 17 campsites within Marshall Cove and Red Lodge campgrounds, and the Marshall Cove boat ramp will be closed for the duration of the project. Otherwise, the park will remain open to visitors and all use.