County to send Naches into new channel, close detour

Nile landslide
By DAVID LESTER
Yakima Herald-Republic

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NACHES, Wash. -- Prompted by rapidly rising water in the Naches River, Yakima County was preparing to divert the river to a new channel around the Nile landslide Monday evening.

Workers also plan to close State Route 410's existing detour on the Nile Road -- which has been used as an emergency route since late October -- and send traffic to a sturdier road designed to survive winter weather.

Yakima County Public Services Director Vern Redifer said county and state officials had initially planned to open the new channel and road Wednesday.

But the Northwest River Forecast Center in Portland projected that warm temperatures could send the Naches River rising dramatically over the next 24 hours -- as much as half a foot. The forecast level would place the Naches River at 90 percent of its capacity.

Flows at that level likely would send the river out of its temporary channel and cover the Nile Road, the existing emergency road and the only current access for motorists.

"This is the first curve ball the river has thrown at us," Redifer said Monday.

The Oct. 11 landslide on SR 410, about 10 miles west of Naches, covered the highway and diverted the river. Since then, the county has been developing the new channel while trying to keep the river at bay long enough for the state Department of Transportation to build the new road.

"The major work components have been completed on the channel and the roadway," county Commissioner Mike Leita said Monday. "We are coming to the final moment of transition."

Once the new channel is open, a small amount of water will continue into the old channel where the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to coordinate efforts to rescue stranded fish this morning.

 



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