Sheriff looks at flood response
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, June 1st, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
UMATILLA COUNTY – Umatilla County Sheriff Terry Rowan said his deputies and other first responders answered numerous flooding calls, mainly in the Pendleton area. The flash flood that sent Tutuilla Creek over its banks was the primary event.
“That was the first time that I actually saw Tutuilla Creek flood the way it did,” Rowan said. “I was a little surprised by that.”
He was also concerned when it looked like lower McKay Creek would flood the residential area it meanders through due to releases from the reservoir combined with the rain. That area remains a concern.
“They’ll continue to draw down McKay over the next few days just to give that buffer for any potential flooding in the coming days,” he said. “Be prepared for that.” At last report, the McKay Dam was releasing almost 1,300 cubic feet per second of water and the reservoir was 94 percent full. It can be monitored at https://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/umatilla/umatea.html.
We are awaiting a response from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation regarding any flooding on the reservation.
