Drought contributed to leaks, cracks in irrigation canals in Yakima County, Washington
11/17/2025 4:39:50 PM
CATEGORIES:
Agriculture
Business & Industry
Water Supply & Quality
AFFECTED AREAS:
Yakima County, WA
Naches, WA
Start Date: 1/1/2025
- End Date: 11/16/2025
Irrigation canals were leaking and crumbling as the region endured years of drought. The Yakima Tieton Irrigation District has about a dozen miles of century old canal that carries water to the 35,000-acre district. The concrete canal, or flume, was leaking in more than 2,000 spots and needed to be replaced. A wildfire in 2024 burned the entire length of the canal, damaging soils and killing trees. Landslides and debris flows may be the bigger worry and could ruin the flume.
The Seattle Times (Wash.), Nov 16, 2025
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