Hydraulic oil spill halted near Potholes Reservoir

OTHELLO - A spill of about 15 gallons of hydraulic oil into Potholes East Canal was halted and contained during the weekend.

Fish and wildlife were not harmed, according to officials with the state Department of Ecology and Grant County PUD.

The canal provides water to farmland and is not used as drinking water.

The spill happened when Grant PUD workers were completing routine maintenance at a canal lift station. It controls the water flow from Potholes Reservoir to the canal. 

A 30-foot long hydraulic cylinder controlling the gate's opening and closing did not work properly, resulting in the oil reaching the canal.

PUD workers put an absorbent boom in the canal and stopped work at the canal lift, according to an Ecology spill responder.

The oil container holds about 250 gallons of oil. It is believed only about 15 gallons of oil reached the canal.