The City of Yakima’s Public Works Department is taking precautions regarding potential flooding along Cowiche Creek and Wide Hollow Creek for this coming weekend.
The Northwest River Forecast Center is reporting that the Naches River and the Yakima River may reach bank full this weekend. It appears the majority of the expected rainfall will come Saturday along with a warming front. Snow levels are expected to drop from 6,000 to 8000 feet to as low as 4,000 feet by Sunday. As a result, some of the smaller streams may also experience increased flows.
The National Weather Service’s office in Pendleton, Ore. at this time anticipates the Naches River and Yakima River will not reach flood stage, but minor flooding and ponding of water may occur along small streams, creeks, and ditches.
Public Works crews will be monitoring the activities of both Cowiche Creek and Wide Hollow Creek throughout the weekend.
Over the past year, the City has collaborated its efforts with Yakima County, the Yakima County Flood Control Zone District, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) in mitigating the threat of future flooding.
Efforts of the various entities have included Yakima County and WSDOT dredging underneath the SR-12 bridges at Cowiche Creek.
Other efforts have included clearing out accumulated vegetation from the top of the privately-owned Cowiche Creek levee and fortifying the privately-owned levee in a few key areas. In addition, the removal of a significant amount of debris from within Wide Hollow Creek near 80th, 48th, and 24th Avenues has occurred.
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