August 30, 1999
The need for repairs to the Davis Weber canal was obvious to some people long before the disaster of July 11th.
In fact, a water official tried to sound the alarm, using a home-video camera, more than eight years ago. But little was done about it, as Environment Specialist John Hollenhorst reports.
When the canal broke disastrously July 11th, it wasn't a big surprise to the folks at the Roy Water Subdistrict.
ROY WATTS/ROY WATER CONSERVANCY SUBDISTRICT: "ANYBODY GOING UP AND LOOKING AT IT CAN SEE, IT'S FALLING APART."
Roy Watts took a walking tour of the canal with a video camera way back in 1991.
"THIS IS DANGEROUS. VERY DANGEROUS."
ROY WATTS/ROY WATER CONSERVANCY SUBDISTRICT: "JUST TO HAVE EVIDENCE THAT IT WAS DETERIORATING. WE'D BEEN SAYING THAT IT NEEDED TO HAVE SOME WORK DONE ON IT FOR A LONG TIME. AND WE WANTED SOME RECORD SAYING THERE'S PROOF OF THAT."
The canal was built by hand in the 1880's. For years, it had no lining at all. Beginning in 1910, they mixed concrete in wagons and gave the canal a theoretical leak-proofing. By 1991, time had taken a toll.
"IT'S JUST A MATTER OF YEARS BEFORE THESE WALLS CAVE RIGHT IN, TOO."
"THEY'LL END UP PAYING FOR IT. ALL YOU DO IS HAVE A FAILURE ON THIS CANAL, AND THEY'LL INHERIT THE LIABILITY OF IT TOO."
Watts says he raised his concerns repeatedly, but only minor repairs were done.
ROY WATTS/ROY WATER CONSERVANCY SUBDISTRICT: " THE CANAL COMPANY, BY STATUTE, WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR BRINGING THE CANAL BACK IN A SAFE OPERABLE CONDITION. THEY HAVEN'T DONE IT."
JOHN HOLLENHORST REPORTING: "MOST OF THE CANAL IS STILL IN OPERATION. THEY'RE BYPASSING THE BROKEN PART AND CARRYING ABOUT HALF THE USUAL AMOUNT OF WATER. AND THEY'RE ASKING THE STATE FOR PERMISSION, RIGHT NOW, TO DO JUST A QUICK FIX."
Realigning and rebuilding the canal might take five years. Temporarily, they want to patch it up in place, above homes in Riverdale, where flooded residents are skeptical.
DON FARR/FLOODED RESIDENT: " THEY CAN CONTINUE RATIONING. THEY'VE LIVED OFF IT ALL SUMMER THIS YEAR. THEY CAN DO IT ALL SUMMER NEXT YEAR.
BEN JONES/MAYOR OF RIVERDALE: "IF A SHORT-TERM FIX GOES INTO PLACE, AND THE CANAL BREAKS AGAIN, THEN WHO'S LIABLE?"
But numerous other mayors warned of an economic disaster if the canal isn't carrying its full load by next spring. John Hollenhorst, Eyewitness News.
Some have suggested running the water through a pipeline, but canal officials told the Governor that's not feasible.
