The Yakima River’s Winter Rampage
Ice jams cause the Yakima River to rise eight feet in hours, devastating local sheep flocks and prompting emergency concern.
Friday afternoon and evening the Yakima river went on a rampage, rising over eight feet in a few hours. This phenomenal rise was due to the breaking up of the ice which jammed up and caused the trouble. Water inundated the flat and caused the sheep owners to lose many valuable animals. Among those who suffered considerable loss to their flocks were William Rennie and Rosencrans and Bernhardt. The water began to recede about seven o’clock and by midnight all danger was passed.
“Friday afternoon and evening the Yakima river went on a rampage, rising over eight feet in a few hours.”
The Yakima River remains a dynamic force in the Tri-Cities region; the hazard of 'ice-jam flooding' is a documented historical phenomenon that shaped land-use patterns along the river banks for early settlers.
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