Terry Thomas
06-12-2006, 08:19 AM
A levee has broken on Klamath lake and lower the the lake to a point where there are concerns that they may have difficulty supplying enough water for the salmon this Fall. Seems like the Klamath just can't get a "good break."
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Klamath Lake Levee Break
Highway Closed, Millions Of Gallons Spill
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. -- A big levee failed in Southern Oregon, spilling Klamath Lake over farmland, prairie, and Highway 140.
levee breakPacific Power workers were doing maintenance work in the area Wednesday afternoon when they noticed a crack in the Gary Dike on the southwestern edge of the lake.
That crack grew quickly, then a 60-foot section of the levee gave way, spilling the lake over the main highway connecting Klamath Falls and Medford. The gushing water kept eroding the earthen levee, so the breach kept growing... up to 300 feet, leaving more than 300 acres of farmland and part of the Running Y Ranch Resort under water.
Excavation crews are on the scene, but there's not much they can do to mapstop it until the lake's water level lowers and the gushing flow stabilizes. They can, however, build and reinforce smaller, temporary dikes around the area -- including one they're putting around the affected area of Highway 140. Once they get the water off the road, they'll repair it. Meanwhile, drivers are forced to take time-consuming detours.
Another immediate focus is reinforcement of a shorter dike which protects the Wocus Marsh Agricultural Area -- which is immediately south of Highway 140. There are up to 3,500 head of cattle and a working ranch with seed crops and other equipment in the water-logged area. Other small dikes protect individual areas within the watery mess.
The spill also raises the question of whether there will be enough water left in Klamath Lake to support the irrigation needs of the greater Klamath Basin -- and whether there will be enough water to support the Klamath River and its salmon runs. Five years ago, farmers clashed with conservationists over Klamath River water. Water was diverted from the river for use by those farmers. So the river level dropped, then thousands of salmon died. Now, one salmon life-cycle later, there's a shortage of fish in the ocean, along with severe coastal salmon fishing restrictions all the way from Manzanita, west of Portland, down to Monterey, California.
Klamath Lake is the main water source for the Klamath River. The biggest salmon runs in the river occur in the fall, so the levels could rise sufficiently by then. However, there are also demands on that water all
•
Klamath Lake Levee Break
Highway Closed, Millions Of Gallons Spill
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. -- A big levee failed in Southern Oregon, spilling Klamath Lake over farmland, prairie, and Highway 140.
levee breakPacific Power workers were doing maintenance work in the area Wednesday afternoon when they noticed a crack in the Gary Dike on the southwestern edge of the lake.
That crack grew quickly, then a 60-foot section of the levee gave way, spilling the lake over the main highway connecting Klamath Falls and Medford. The gushing water kept eroding the earthen levee, so the breach kept growing... up to 300 feet, leaving more than 300 acres of farmland and part of the Running Y Ranch Resort under water.
Excavation crews are on the scene, but there's not much they can do to mapstop it until the lake's water level lowers and the gushing flow stabilizes. They can, however, build and reinforce smaller, temporary dikes around the area -- including one they're putting around the affected area of Highway 140. Once they get the water off the road, they'll repair it. Meanwhile, drivers are forced to take time-consuming detours.
Another immediate focus is reinforcement of a shorter dike which protects the Wocus Marsh Agricultural Area -- which is immediately south of Highway 140. There are up to 3,500 head of cattle and a working ranch with seed crops and other equipment in the water-logged area. Other small dikes protect individual areas within the watery mess.
The spill also raises the question of whether there will be enough water left in Klamath Lake to support the irrigation needs of the greater Klamath Basin -- and whether there will be enough water to support the Klamath River and its salmon runs. Five years ago, farmers clashed with conservationists over Klamath River water. Water was diverted from the river for use by those farmers. So the river level dropped, then thousands of salmon died. Now, one salmon life-cycle later, there's a shortage of fish in the ocean, along with severe coastal salmon fishing restrictions all the way from Manzanita, west of Portland, down to Monterey, California.
Klamath Lake is the main water source for the Klamath River. The biggest salmon runs in the river occur in the fall, so the levels could rise sufficiently by then. However, there are also demands on that water all