Shoreline at Columbia River to remain closed

BEVERLY - Boaters and fishermen will have to find a different Memorial Day hangout as Grant PUD reminds people that some shoreline and boat launches on the Columbia River will remain closed through the holiday.

The affected recreation sites include Crescent Bar launch and shoreline area, Sand Hollow, The Cove and Grant County's Columbia Basin Wildlife Area.

"Grant PUD and WDFW acknowledge that the temporary shoreline closure creates a hardship for those who planned to recreate on Wanapum Reservoir section of the Columbia River. Both the utility and WDFW appreciate the public's patience and understanding," Grant PUD spokesman Thomas Stredwick said in a release.

Sheriffs' deputies and state fish and wildlife will patrol the closed shoreline during the weekend, and will issue warnings to recreation users and tickets to repeat offenders.

In February, Grant PUD lowered water levels on the Columbia River after divers found a 65-foot crack in a spillway monolith.

"The low-water situation on the Wanapum reservoir, including Priest Rapids Recreation Area makes boat launches inoperable, has created hazardous conditions and has also exposed culturally-sensitive locations," Stredwick wrote.

Some of the closed recreation areas include:

• Vantage Recreation Area
• Kittitas County Boat Launch
• Rocky Coulee
• Sand Hollow
• Crescent Bar
• Apricot Orchard
• Crescent Bar Boat Launch and shoreline area
• Wanapum Upper Boat launch
• Wanapum Heritage Center
• Yo Yo Rock
• Old Vantage Highway
• Sunland Estates Boat Launch
• Frenchman Coulee/Climbing Rock water access sites
• Colokum and L.T. Murray wildlife areas
• Columbia Basin Wildlife Area (Grant County)

The shoreline remains closed until at least after the July 4 holiday. A complete list of closures can be viewed by visiting http://grantpud.org/community/rec-area-maps.