Banks Lake lowering progresses

COULEE CITY - A receding shoreline at the Coulee City park's swimming area is one sign the 30-foot lowering of Banks Lake is progressing.

The buoys used to separate the shallow end from the deep end are now at the shoreline.

But adults and children were still swimming and enjoying the water this week.

"The bureau believes we will lose our boat ramps by the 15th," Coulee City Mayor Rick Heiberg said.

The lowering is being done to complete maintenance projects at Dry Falls Dam and North Dam.

He is hoping the lowering won't have a big impact on businesses and park attendance.

Ever since the tourist season started, he has encouraged people to return to Coulee City during the drawdown to see a different view of the lake.

Once a dry coulee, Banks Lake is now a 27-mile long reservoir for the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project. Water was first released for the project in the 1950s.

"The water will be out almost a half a mile in some areas," he said. "People will be able to walk out there and see where the old roads and highways used to go."

People will be able to see old housing foundations exposed for the first time in years, he said.

"On one hand, we may lose campers," he said. "On the other hand, we may do OK. They probably won't be able to launch boats from the city launch, unless they have a small boat, like a hand kayak. It's going to be very interesting."

The lake was drawn down in 1994, but not 30 feet like this year, he said.

"By the end of the month, it will be pretty dramatic," Heiberg said.

Gordon Steinmetz, a former Coulee City fishing guide owner, said there are plans to have launches at Coulee Playland Resort and Electric City open through the drawdown.

It's expected boaters won't be able to use launches at Coulee City, the Million Dollar Mile, Steamboat Rock State Park and Northrup Boat Launch, he said.

"They're using a lot of water to irrigate in the Basin," Steinmetz said. "It's going down really fast. But it's one of those deals you have to put up with."

He estimated the lake was going down about 2 feet per day.

"Reclamation wants to remind people mooring boats on the reservoir to take steps now to remove them since it will be increasingly difficult to do so as the reservoir is lowered for maintenance," stated Stephanie Utter, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Ephrata field office manager. "People recreating on Banks Lake should use caution as lower water levels are likely to expose hazards."

It is estimated the lake is brought down by 13 feet by the end of August, 26 feet by the end of September and 30 feet by the end of October.

Barker Canyon stays closed to vehicles from Aug. 17 through March 1, but is open to walkers along Barker Canyon Road.

For more information, contact Jonathon Brooks, at 509-754-0208 or by email at jwbrooks@usbr.gov.