Going to miss our little falls

Published 7:37 am Thursday, February 12, 2015

For a few days water from Tonasket Creek, really a combination of rainfall and highland snowmelt, created a miniature falls at the newly carved creek channel flowed into the Okanogan near the Cherry Street Bridge. Gary DeVon/staff photo.

I’m just going to start off by saying I know they had to put Tonasket Creek back where it belongs, but for a few days I was able to enjoy the view of a miniature falls cascading into the Okanogan River from my riverside cabin. The noisy rush of the water as it flowed out of its channel and through the ditches along Chesaw, Sawtell and East Oroville roads and made it’s way across the river from me was better than having my phone set to white noise this weekend.

I know that it wasn’t good for the fish, nor for anyone that had to drive through it to get home last Friday night, however, it made for some excitement and of course, lit up Facebook about the unplanned event. The county did their job and was quick to put the creek back into the creek and no one was hurt.

Flash floods or water over the road can be dangerous and shouldn’t be taken lightly. If you’re unsure of the road you should find a way to go around or just not drive unless it’s an emergency. Fortunately the water wasn’t that deep or too fast. But it was just 12 years ago we lost Charlotte when she tried to drive through a flash flood and was swept away. Fortunately she was able save her grandchild by pushing her out car window.

The Oroville police should be thanked for warning drivers at the start of the flood and the county crews for their quick attention to the problem. It made for some exciting moments and I hope no one suffered too much damage from the flooding