Grant PUD closes exposed shoreline
Many boat launches like this were closed after Grant PUD lowered water levels on the Columbia River.
BEVERLY - The Grant PUD announced Wednesday it closed the shoreline exposed by the drawdown of the reservoir behind Wanapum Dam because of extremely unstable conditions.
The district posted signs in the area notifying the public of the closure and is patrolling the shoreline. State and local law enforcement agencies will be notified whenever anyone is found trespassing on PUD lands.
The sheriff's office reported firefighters rescued a woman Wednesday night who sank up to her waist in the wet sand. The woman was not injured in the incident.
"Sections of the shoreline, including the riverbank and mud flats are extremely unstable and pose a serious safety hazard," PUD spokesman Thomas Stredwick said.
Lowering the reservoir exposed shoreline that was covered with water for 50 years.
Along with the exposed shoreline areas, boat launches on the Wanapum and Priest Rapids dam reservoirs are all closed to the public. The Wanapum Dam Overlook, which is operated by the PUD, remains open.
A 2-inch wide crack was found Feb. 27 by divers inspecting the spillway. To take the pressure off the damaged spillway pier, the PUD began to draw down the reservoir behind the dam by about 26 feet, according to Stredwick.
"The utility continues to work with experts and regulators to determine the best course of action to repair the fractured spillway monolith at the dam," he said.