Crack causes temporary reduction of Columbia Basin's irrigation water

EPHRATA - Water deliveries to irrigation districts in the Columbia Basin Project will be temporarily reduced after a crack along the Main Canal was reported earlier this week.

Water flows in the canal must be reduced so crews can assess damage to the Main Canal just below Pinto Dam in eastern Grant County, according to a Tuesday Bureau of Reclamation news release.

Flows were at 7,000 cubic-feet-per-second when a canal ditch rider reported the crack on Monday.

Stephanie Utter, Reclamation's Ephrata field office manager, said flows in the Main Canal are expected to be at its lowest level by Wednesday evening.

"While repairs are taking place there will be some disruption in water deliveries directly from the West and East Low Canals later this week," she said.

There is no immediate threat to public safety while crews work on repairing the crack.

Water deliveries are also expected to be reduced or interrupted through early next week for people receiving water from the Quincy-Columbia, East Columbia and the South Columbia Basin Irrigation Districts.

Water flows are expected to be restored by early next week. Irrigators should contact their respective water master offices if they have questions.

- Staff report