Naches remains flood threat
Officials fear rising river at site of landslide
NACHES, Wash. – Yakima County officials fear a temporary local road at the Naches landslide will be washed out this winter by a rising Naches River, isolating residents in the Nile Valley.
The Yakima Herald-Republic reports the county is asking the Army Corps of Engineers for advice on creating a new river channel.
The river was forced out of its channel by Sunday’s slide, which also blocked Highway 410.
The Seattle Times reports the Department of Natural Resources warned a gravel pit operator in 2005 that digging was creating a hazard at a site near where the slide occurred.
The owner of Simmons and Son Hauling and Rock Crushing, Robin Simmons, said a geological study conducted for the company in 2007 found no reason for concern.
On Wednesday, state Transportation Department crews completed raising 1,000 feet of the Nile Loop Road with six new culverts to handle water. Officials estimate the emergency road will last six weeks at most.
But if higher river flows breach the road, building a permanent road will be more difficult.
County Public Service Director Vern Redifer said the county is negotiating with three property owners to create a wider river channel.