Upgrade project fails: Flood runoff hits Colfax after highway ditch clogs

City and state crews were called out Dec. 23 when runoff water jumped the drainage ditch along the Palouse Highway grade descending into Colfax.

Melting snow and rain led to an overflow down the drainage ditch which was plugged at one of the newly installed culverts for private entry roads that intersect with the highway on the grade.

The water flow went over the top of the entry road and onto the highway. The flow also displaced tons of gravel fill which had been placed on top of a new culvert segment which had been part of this fall’s state Department of Transportation project to clean and upgrade the drainage channel.

DOT crews the next day returned to clear the debris. Highway 272 was restricted to alternating one-way traffic so crews could work along the ditch.

The high runoff also left a pile of debris at the grates before the large drain culvert area next to the back of the United Methodist Church.

Water diverted out of the channel Monday, descended down the highway to Mill Street, rounded the corner and continued down Mill. Mud and rock debris from the flood was deposited near the Mill and Spring Street intersection.

Construction crews this fall cleared out the channel where some of the rock barriers had deteriorated and installed a length of culvert pipe.

The flood also left a deposit of rock and debris in the flood channel of the S. Palouse River. The rocks came out of the large culvert drain which carries water and debris from the large entry grates next to the Methodist Church.

Almota Elevator Co. Manager Dan Hart said employees in the Almota office could hear the rocks rumbling in the culvert which passes beneath the office building. Water also entered the basement of the building. They believe the water came into the basement as a result of pressure from a backup in the culvert.

Hart said they believe an undetermined amount of debris remains in the large culvert which runs beneath Canyon Street from the channel grates next to the church to the river channel.

Property owners along the Palouse Highway grade last fall objected to the culvert installations which were done on the drainage channel work along the highway. Flooding on the grade hit Monday when runoff from the fields above the drainage ditch was blocked at the culvert beneath one of the entry roads to a residence on the lower part of the grade.

The residence is owned by Mark and Cindy Ziegler who formerly resided at the residence and now rent it to tenants. Cindy Ziegler said they became concerned about the smaller size of the culvert which was being installed as part of the project to upgrade the channel last fall. She said she pointed out her objections to the DOT engineer on the scene of the project. Work on the culvert installation was already underway when she voiced their objections.

The Zieglers now reside in Pullman. She said she was told at the time sizing of the culvert was based on 100-year flood specifications.

Other property owners along the highway grade have also said they believe the culvert installation was too small.

Work on the channel this fall also included removing rock and debris and restoring rock barriers which were made out of cages of rock.

HLR Construction of Ephrata was contractor on the project which also included work on a highway culvert near Blair Road about 12 miles east of Colfax on Highway 272. Cost estimate for the job was $205,000.

The north side of the Palouse Highway grade out of Colfax also includes crossings for entry roads to the former Ackerman house which was built on the point of the hill above the Methodist Church and the entry to Hauser Addition.