Leaking pond makes big waves

ANATONE - A ruptured pond on Rattlesnake Ridge is causing major ripples at the state and federal levels.

Officials believe a man-made pond on private property that is 800 feet by 400 feet sprang a leak last week, causing about $1.5 million in damage to State Route 129, killing endangered steelhead in Rattlesnake Creek and wiping out a bridge to a family ranch.

According to Asotin County records, the pond was constructed without a permit on land that belongs to Bonasa Breaks Ranch, based in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. However, the site is probably best known for its ties to Ernest Hemingway's heirs.

The late Jack Hemingway, son of the famed writer, used to own a cabin on Rattlesnake Ridge near Anatone, but county officials don't have any documentation on when the large pond was constructed on the acreage.

Aerial footage of the region alerted officials to the probable cause of a slide that blocked the highway early Thursday morning near the Oregon state line. The road is open now, though it's down to one lane where most of the damage occurred.

A spokesman for the Washington State Department of Transportation said a declaration of emergency was signed Tuesday to help secure funding to repair the highway at the bottom of Rattlesnake Grade.

The Federal Highway Administration is expected to review the paperwork today, said Brian White of Yakima, the state's assistant regional administrator for construction and development.

Larry Batterton, who works in the Walla Walla office of WSDOT, was on his way to Olympia on Tuesday to help with the process. He said a contractor is in place to begin work as soon as funding is approved.

Madonna Luers, spokeswoman for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in Spokane, said she expects the Department of Ecology to lead an investigation into the pond's possible failure because it involves dam safety issues.

Based on the aerial photos, it appears the water flowed downhill for several miles, gaining traction on the steep terrain.

Late last week, a huge pile of uprooted trees was tangled at the bottom of the grade and a jagged edge had been ripped into the asphalt. The primary bridge near Boggan's Oasis was still standing, but another nearby span didn't fare as well.

A metal bridge over Rattlesnake Creek was destroyed, taking out access to Kevin Botts' ranch. The cost to repair the span is estimated at $100,000 and will take three to four weeks, Luers said.

"We own the bridge that was blown out and we are trying to figure out ways to help the Botts family," Luers said. "The bridge was the only access to their property."

The washout on Rattlesnake Creek also wiped out the area's steelhead, a threatened species of fish. Officials said the loss likely will prompt the involvement of the Environmental Protection Agency and National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration.

A culvert under a hairpin corner of the highway had minor damage from the log jam, and fish habitat areas were significantly affected during the incident, said Megan Stewart of the Asotin County Conservation District.

"We've met with two state agencies to evaluate some of the damages," Stewart said. "We anticipate the investigation will be lengthy and involve the state's risk management team. Everyone is in the process of figuring out the next steps."

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Sandaine may be contacted at kerris@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2264. Follow her on Twitter @newsfromkerri.