Central Washington’s East Low Canal Repaired

Growers in Central Washington are breathing a sigh of relief after crews were able to repair damage to a breached irrigation canal.  On Monday August 5th, the East Low Canal breached, cutting water to Columbia Basin irrigators.

"You know going five, six, seven, 10-14 days without water and a potato crop would be very detrimental and once you fall behind an irrigation you just can't catch back up again," said Chris Voigt Executive Director of the Washington State Potato Commission..  We'll see what the what the damage is, but I'm just so thankful and happy that the irrigation district worked around the clock, you know 24 hours a day, to fix that and secure.”

Voigt added while there is no good time of year to have water cut from the crop, during the heat of summer, water is even more important.

"This is the time of the year where plants start sending nutrients not just to the roots but to the tubers and that's where the tubers start bulking up and getting bigger.  So if you cut off the water during tuber bulking, you're just not going to have a potato crop.  I mean the tubers will be just half the size of that they normally would be.”

Crews completed the needed backfill to repair the canal, allowing the East Low to be refilled, allowing water deliveries to resume.  The cause of the breach has not been announced.

For additional phots, visit the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District Facebook Page.

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