Canal breach fixed in record-breaking time

MOSES LAKE — A breach in the East Low Canal was fixed within five days and back to delivering water by Saturday.  

Last Monday, there was a canal breach on the East Low Canal near Roads N and 4 Northeast. The East Columbia Basin Irrigation District began the dewatering process, removing water from the canal, immediately, said Jennifer Korfiatis, the public relations specialist at the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District, which maintains the canal. 

“It’s hard to know what the cause is, because the evidence essentially washes away,” Korfiatis said.  

On Tuesday the teams continued the dewatering process, then built a dike on the downstream side, she said. They also began construction of the upstream dike. A dike is a wall-like structure that runs along a canal to regulate the water level. 

Canals are constructed waterways with a controlled water level that often cross different landscapes and are upright. On Tuesday there was a team of 18 working 24 hours around the clock to repair the damage. The teams had two long stick excavators, two dozers, 35T excavator, a loader, six dump trucks and a water truck. 

Later Tuesday, the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District released a breach update to the public, saying that the crews had determined that the breach was not severe due to limited flow through the undershot draining the break. The undershot is a weir that allows water to flow under it. 

The update also said that dewatering was slow, but crews were continuing to work on the process. 

“We had two full crews working 24 hours a day to fix this. They were two 12-hour shifts ensuring that the water got back to people as soon as possible,” Korfiatis said.

Wednesday the crews finished the dewatering process and began a more intensive inspection and evaluation. The teams also began the excavation of clay and dirt to rebuild the bank.  

By Thursday afternoon, the crews had stabilized the surrounding soil and removed the remaining saturated soil. The crews began working on compacting materials to rebuild the canal embankment.  

“We expect to begin fully refilling the East Low Canal on Saturday, with deliveries beginning the following day once canal elevation is reestablished in each canal reach,” said the Thursday press release from the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District.  

According to Korfiatis, deliveries resumed on Saturday and by Sunday the canal was fully operational.  

“The canal was fixed in record-breaking time,” Korfiatis said.  

    On Aug. 5 the East Low Canal had a breach near mile marker 26. The breach resulted in a lack of irrigation for farmers and the dewatering process began immediately.