A partially covered section of the Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District’s main canal. Located at the base of a hillside that sustained significant damage from the Rimrock Retreat Fire, the area has been deemed a high risk for landslides and debris flow.
July 23, 2025
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Irrigation canal critical to Yakima Valley is at risk of failure after wildfire damage
A 115-year-old canal in the Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District that was severely damaged during the Rimrock Retreat Fire last year is now at imminent risk of failure. Fixing the 12-mile waterway will cost an estimated $229 million and involve work spread over more than a decade. But if the canal suddenly goes out of service, officials say it could cause up to $3 billion in losses over three years for 35,000 acres of farms and 28,000 acres of orchards in the Yakima Valley that are part of the irrigation district. Surrounding communities also rely on the canal to deliver water to fire hydrants and other municipal fire suppression systems.