Serving Franklin County, WA
Serving Franklin County, WA
EPHRATA — A leak in an irrigation canal below Pinto Dam may delay delivery of water to farmers downstream of the West Canal.
According to the federal Department of Reclamation, routine monitoring showed a higher-than-normal rate of flow in the irrigation canal, officials said Tuesday, March 12.
"This situation has prompted the Bureau of Reclamation to dewater the Main Canal prior to irrigation startup to better understand the source of the seepage water and develop a plan to address it," the agency reported. "As a result of this activity, the filling of the West Canal will not occur as planned on March 13."
The dam is functioning as designed, Reclamation officials said.
The agency began dewatering the canal on March 11.
Once empty, Reclamation and the Columbia Basin Project Irrigation Districts will assess the affected area, develop a plan to address the canal seepage issues, and mobilize personnel and equipment to make needed repairs, officials said.
After repairs are made, the Main Canal will be filled, and a revised West Canal filling date will be established, officials said.
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