In brief: Repairs at Wanapum Dam help reopen boat launches

With about $69 million in repairs to a cracked spillway completed at Wanapum Dam, water levels on the Columbia River reservoir are being brought up to normal levels and boat ramps are being readied to use for the first time in more than a year.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife reopened two boat launches and nearly 20 miles of the remaining shoreline above the Wanapum reservoir to public use on Wednesday.

Sunland Estates and Yo Yo Rock boat ramps near Vantage were among dozens of recreational sites that were closed to public access in March 2014 as the Grant County Public Utility District lowered water levels 26 feet for spillway repairs.

The crack was detected in February 2014 and the reservoir was lowered 26 feet about the time salmon and steelhead were beginning to stage for upstream spawning runs. The state and Public Utility District worked to minimize any impact the dam repairs had on salmon migrations.

Since stabilizing the dam, the utility has been raising water levels and restoring public access to areas of the 37-mile-long reservoir since January.

However, only this week has the water risen high enough to open the shoreline farther north.

WDFW made major improvements to the Sunland Estates and Yo Yo boat launches while water levels were low, installing armor matting at the end of those ramps to provide a smooth launch surface.

River vendors gather

Groups and businesses associated with river running will gather for the Northwest Whitewater Association’s annual Vendor Night meeting, April 8 at Jack and Dan’s Bar and Grill.

Northwest River Supply’s Dan Lingo will be the main presenter along with others.

The public is invited but must RSVP to spokanerafterguy@comcast.net or text/phone to (509) 220-8018 by April 7.

Social-meal time starts at 6 p.m., program at 7 p.m.

North Cascades opening

The North Cascades Highway – SR20 for 37 miles between Mazama and Marblemount – is scheduled to be cleared of winter snow drifts and open for the season Friday at 10 a.m.

Washington Department of Transportation said Wednesday that a snow blower rig was chewing through a 5-foot deep snow pile near Washington Pass en route to one of the earliest and fastest openings in the highway’s 42-year history.

Crews have worked three weeks to clear the route during this season of extraordinarily low snow pack compared with nearly six weeks of work last year when the highway opened May 8.