Friday, Jan. 09, 2009

Yakima River rising, but limited flooding expected

By Dori O'Neal, Herald staff writer

As the winds calmed Thursday in the Tri-Cities, a larger problem loomed with the possibility of flooding from the Yakima River in Benton County.

Steve Sautter with Benton County Emergency Services said the river is expected to crest about noon today at 14 feet, which is one foot above flood stage.

"We're not anticipating any evacuations at this point," Sautter said. "There will most likely be water in pastures, and perhaps along the side of Van Giesen between West Richland and the bypass highway."

The agency does advise residents to stay away from the rising river because the rapid flow and amount of debris in the water makes it extremely dangerous. Livestock also are vulnerable.

"Livestock can be very vulnerable to the effects of localized flooding," Sautter said. "Several instances have occurred in the past in which horses and cattle have been stranded due to water running through a pasture. Livestock owners should always have plans in place to move their herds to higher ground if needed."

Those who live along the river also are encouraged to either remove their boats from the river or make sure they are securely tied up.

"The last time the river flooded a canoe got loose and floated down into the Yakima delta, and we had to have divers brought in to make sure there were no bodies with the boat," Sautter said.

In Yakima County, commissioners Thursday declared a state of emergency to allow for emergency help to protect urban levees.

The Yakima and Naches rivers began to rise, even as small streams are beginning to show signs of receding.

The Yakima River at Parker was expected to reach about 12 feet, two feet above flood stage. The Naches River will be a foot above flood stage at about 18 feet before declining.

Precipitation from the past few weeks also has caused problems on area roads.

Traffic will be limited to one eastbound lane through this morning on a stretch of Highway 224 between Richland and West Richland because of emergency repairs caused by erosion, the state Department of Transportation said.

Franklin County also has closed several roads that are impassable. The water resulted from melting snow and saturated ground and, in the northeast part of the county, from runoff coming from Adams County, said Public Works Director Tim Fife.

For updates on Franklin County road closures, go to www.co.franklin.wa.us/ public_works.

Closures include:

* Basin Hill Road between Columbia and Wahluke roads

* Buehler Road between Coyan and Paradise roads

* Paradise Road between Warehouse and Buehler roads

* Coyan Road between Muse Drive and Hatton Road

* Horseshoe Lane to Scootney Road

* Myers Road from Klause Road to the west

* Miller Road between Curry and Copp roads

* Hoover Road between Copp and Struthers roads.

The roads are ones the county typically has to close when they are covered with water, Fife said. They'll be closed until further notice, but wind could play a hand in reopening them.

"One benefit to the wind is it tends to dry things out pretty fast," Fife said.

The weather should cooperate. There's a chance of patchy fog in the early morning today but should burn off by afternoon with a high of 41 degrees and winds at about 8 mph, the National Weather Service in Pendleton reports.

The weekend outlook will be mostly cloudy Saturday with early morning fog and highs near 40. Light winds at 14 to 17 mph will continue throughout the day with gusts up to 28 mph.

Residents can keep an eye on the flooding situation by going to www.bces.wa.gov/Floodinformation.htm.

* Reporter Joe Chapman and Herald news services contributed to this report