Moses Lake requests dredging funds

Lake dredging needed due to added sediment

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake City Council requested the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation contribute funding to dredging the city lake.

The request was made while bureau representatives presented the alternative water route to council.

Bureau did not have an answer prepared for the dredging request.

The bureau's proposed route involves releasing water from the Billy Clapp Reservoir to Brooke Lake, down Crab Creek and into the Potholes Reservoir, Bureau Deputy Area Manager Bill Gray said.

Sediment is expected to be released into the lake with emphasis on Parker Horn.

During the presentation, Gray and Blanchard provided statistics involving how fast the water moves, how much is moving and how much sedimentation is expected to increase.

More than 200,000 cubic feet of sediment has built up around Parker Horn, a portion is ash, Bureau Special Projects Manager Jim Blanchard said. He estimates the alternative route to add 2,000 cubic feet of sediment to the Parker Horn area annually.

Mayor Ron Covey said although the annual amount seems small, it can add up to a large number after several years.

Councilmember Bill Ecret asked about property damages to those living along the route.

Ten sites were surveyed along Crab Creek, Blanchard said. Some areas along the creek had a large sediment buildup, he said.

The bureau will work with individual residents to resolve sediment buildup issues, he said.

Covey explained council is concerned with the sedimentation because the lake is being revitalized into a tourist attraction. He said the lake quality has to be good and the sedimentation needs to be removed to go forth with the plan.

"Moses Lake is going to become a catch basin for all of this," Councilmember James Liebrecht said.

The mayor accused the bureau of manipulating the presented statistics.

"You can make figures say what you'd like them to say in any given instance," he said.

He did not clarify what statistics he was referring to.

During the last council meeting, the city sent a letter to the bureau protesting the alternative route due to lack of notification and lack of information.