Grant County PUD raises water level at Wanapum Dam

This sailboat was docked on the Columbia River until the Grant PUD lowered water levels by 20 feet, leaving it stranded.

Grant County PUD raised water levels on Wanapum Reservoir over the past two weeks. The shore is still closed to the public.

by Contributing Writer & Justin Brimer
| December 12, 2014 5:00 AM

Grant County PUD raised water levels on Wanapum Reservoir over the past two weeks. The shore is still closed to the public.

VANTAGE - The Wanapum Reservoir shoreline remains closed to the public after Grant County PUD officials raised the water levels about 20 feet.

If the utility opens parts of the shoreline for recreation, officials will announce it later this month, Grant PUD spokesman Chuck Allen said.

On Nov. 25, the utility began raising the water levels to an "intermediary level" to see how the exposed shoreline would react.

The reservoir level has been at an all-time low since February when it was lowered 26 feet and the reservoir was closed to the public after divers found a large crack in the dam's spillway monolith.

Grand County deputies, along with state wildlife officials, are still monitoring the shoreline to enforce the closure.

The PUD has not announced when it will raise the pool to its full capacity that could allow recreation like fishing and boating.

Last month, Grant PUD General Manager Tony Webb said the efforts to repair the crack and keep people off the shoreline have cost the utility $69 million.