Flash floods reported in 1979

E-mail from Cheryl

Facts from the past gleaned from the Moses Lake Herald, Columbia Basin Herald and The Neppel Record by Cheryl (Driggs) Elkins:

From the CBH on Sept. 4, 1979:

Anybody step in a rainy poodle?

It rained cats-and-dogs, pitchforks-and-hammerheads, buckets-and-barrels, this weekend in the Basin.

At times it seemed the entire sky was falling, with rain pouring down in literal sheets.

However, the rain only fell for moments at a time, with long overcast but dry spells in-between.

The weather service listed Moses Lake as having .35 inches precipitation during the four-day Labor Day weekend. .08 fell Saturday, .16 Sunday and .11 Monday.

Ephrata received .20 inches total, with .02 Friday; .07 Sunday and .11 Monday. Othello received. 48 inches total, with no daily breakdowns.

The rain poured so hard that several flash floods were reported and culverts on U.S. 2 between Grant and Lincoln counties were washed out.

The state highway department reported that U.S. 2 between Hartline and Almira had been closed to traffic Monday evening, with an 18-mile detour established over state highways 155 and 174,

The washouts were attributed to debris from the run-off plugging culverts under the highway. A spokesman expected U.S. 2 to be re-opened to traffic later today.

Traffic was also hindered by water flowing on the roadway of Highway 17 at Coulee City Sunday evening. A sheriff’s report said cars were backed up south of Dry Falls Museum and north of the U.S. 2-S. R. 17 intersection near the Hut Café.

From the CBH on June 19, 1975:

USBR slates bid opening

Bids are to be opened July 17 for a Bureau of Reclamation dike construction and repair project in Grant and Franklin counties southwest of Othello. The work, estimated at between $50,000 and $100.00, involves repair and construction work at the WB10WW1 Wasteway, construction at the Saddle Mountain Wasteway and developing access roads at both sites.