Hastings On Wanapum Dam

Hastings On Wanapum Dam

Hastings On the Wanapum Dam. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report.

The crack in the Wanapum Dam is currently being investigated to determine the extent of the damage or if it even poses a threat. So far the investigation has not turned up a cause. Congressman Doc Hastings has been keeping up to date of the progress of the issue.

HASTINGS: The dam is 8000 feet long as you know. It's a huge dam and this is a very small part of it. I know that the Grant County PUD are working very quickly, as quickly as they can to repair that so we can get back to normal.

The crack which is about 2 inches wide and 65 feet long was discovered by divers back at the end of February and by the looks of it has been there for some time. The crack transverses one of the dam's concrete support piers. The big question right now is if this crack has been there for a considerable amount of time already, will it cause a problem down the road. The water level of the river has been lowered on the upstream side so that workers can access the damage. But that drop in water level has irrigators wondering if there will be enough water for their needs and as well their are questions about the expected record salmon runs on the Columbia this year. Plans are underway to assist the salmon over the ladders and some may even be captured and trucked downstream past the dam. We'll keep you undated.

That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.

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