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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Floodwaters Creep Close To State Highway Snowmelt Above Newman Lake Saturates Moab Junction Area

Floodwaters that had already washed over part of a county road near Newman Lake on Friday were creeping closer to a state highway.

But Department of Transportation spokesman Al Gilson was optimistic that water would not reach Trent Avenue near Starr, the county road that is under water.

“We are monitoring the water, but it doesn’t look like it is going to reach the highway,” Gilson said.

County engineer Bill Johns said silt washing down with the massive spring runoff has overwhelmed the flood-control system and is clogging pits where water is allowed to seep into the ground.

“The sump is being plugged so it’s progressively losing ground,” Johns said.

Freezing temperatures the past couple of nights have slowed the day-time runoff, but the floodwater is running out of places to pool, Johns said.

Snow melting above Newman Lake for nearly two weeks has saturated Moab Junction and fields west of Starr Road. Friday night, water ran swiftly across a portion of Starr, which has been closed near Trent for the past several days.

Meanwhile, residents of Sunnyvista Trailer Court continued to stack sandbags on makeshift walls that channel a river of water - 2 feet deep in some places - past their homes.

“We’ve been told it’s going to get worse before it gets better,” said Tom Contos, during a break from filling sandbags near his trailer.

A rowboat that Contos and other residents have used to haul sandbags downstream sat idle for the moment.

Two rows of sandbags diverted water through Contos’ yard and past the trailer he has lived in for the past 10 years. The massive runoff has set Contos’ two sheds afloat and filled his cellar, he said.

“It’s just outrageous,” he said. “I’ve never seen it like this before.”

Hard work by residents has prevented the floodwaters from doing serious damage to the half-dozen houses, handful of businesses and several trailers in its path.

Wet sweat shirts and pants dangled from clothes lines throughout the trailer park. Soggy boots lined porches.

“My washing machine and dryer goes non-stop,” said Gail Sandahl, trailer park manager.

Despite the fatigue from battling the flooding, most residents have kept their sense of humor.

“It must be a fish story, I don’t know, but I heard somebody caught a perch over here,” Contos said, pointing to a deep pool of water behind his trailer.

, DataTimes