As of Tuesday engineers say the Wanapum Dam’s major crack is stabilizing with the drawdown of the pool behind it.
The crack has decreased from two inches, down to about an inch. And it’s also shifted back into place a bit.
Dozens of engineers are working on Wanapum Dam’s underwater crack in the spillway portion of the structure. The most recent measurements show that the structure is righting a bit as the water level is lowered and pressure behind the dam is eased.
The dam continues to generate electricity, although at a lower level than usual for this time of year.
Because of the drawdown there is more exposed shoreline than has been seen since 1964. So now, state and local law enforcement are patrolling the newly exposed areas to deter archaeological looters or recreational vehicle damage.
Grant County owns and operates the dam under a federal license. Spokespeople say in a worst-case scenario, if one of the spillway sections failed, the remainder of the spillways and the main dam structure would remain intact.
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