Crews Hope Riprap Keeps River From Flooding

As the Big Wood River reached flood stage earlier this week, crews in Hailey worked to divert its water from a new-found channel.

If the attempt proves unsuccessful, the Big Wood could swiftly claim tennis courts, a park, the sewer treatment plant and a number of homes within the floodplain in the Della View Subdivision.

“All we have done is postpone the inevitable flooding,” said Hailey City Administrator Daryle James.

James and the city used riprap - large rocks and boulders - to build two jetties into the river.

These arrow-shaped rock piles hopefully will serve to redirect the water away from the bank and out into the main river channel where its velocity will be slowed, James said.