By SUE RYAN
News staff writer
December 7, 2007

Heavy rainfall and windstorms in Oregon created multiple problems for the coast but very few in Hood River County.

Thursday afternoon, the reports came in that all was well for the southern part of the county on the flanks of Mount Hood.

Oregon Department of Transportation Maintenance Manager Jim McNamee said Highway 35 was fine although earlier in the week the agency had to make emergency repairs to the stretch.

High water flowing down Polallie Creek washed out an 8-10 foot section of the highway near Milepost 74 on Tuesday afternoon, which crews repaired overnight.

The site was 12 miles north of where the highway was washed out in the White River Canyon more than a year ago.

“Basically it created a sinkhole underneath both the north and south lanes,” McNamee said.

He said it wasn’t so much a matter of high water that caused the damage as the fact that the culvert is old and in poor condition. He said plans are to replace it next summer.

Water was high in the creek after a foot and a half of new snow had turned to rain by Sunday night, raising water levels.

Middle Fork Irrigation District Director Dave Compton said they were keeping a close eye on the situation Monday night.

According to the USGS gauge on the Tucker Road Bridge, water in the Hood River had risen from 4 feet to 9 feet between Sunday and Monday night but had dropped back down by Tuesday morning.

Compton and workers checked on the situation Tuesday morning and by Wednesday began spilling water out of Laurance Lake, which was full.

“We’re in good shape especially with the temperatures cooling back down,” he said.

Laurance Lake’s spillover feeds into the Middle Fork of the Hood River. McNamee and Compton both reported temperatures in the mid-30s with snow falling off and on.

Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort Marketing Manager Dave Tragethon praised ODOT’s efforts in a press release Wednesday.

“Our thanks to the hard-working crews for their quick responsiveness,” he said.

The ski resort is operating as normal from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For an up-to-date snow report and operations schedule, visit www.skihood.com.