River closed from The Dalles to Rowena

[CGW2]

Hi Windsurfers-

We have heard from OMI, the company that runs The Dalles wastewater treatment plant, that as a result of an upset event that caused an excess of e coli to be released, the river is closed from The Dalles to Rowena.

What happened?
According to a press release sent out by the City of The Dalles, an equipment installation took longer than expected, causing a back up of fluids. This event caused higher than usual levels of e coli to be released into the river.

What are they doing now?
At this point they are required to do water samples every 4 hours. When they get 5 consecutive "clean" samples, the river will reopen through this stretch.

How long will the river be closed for?
They anticipate that they will reopen this stretch around Monday, May 3rd. We will let you know as soon as we hear that it's reopened.

Good thing it's windy out east today! Sounds like a weekend to spend at the Wall.

-Katie

Katie Crafts
Executive Director
Columbia Gorge Windsurfing Association
www.CGWA.net

[elliot]

Do you know when this happened? Was in the water there yesterday.

[spryish]

cgwa kindly avoids stepping in it by not elaborating on the more salient points...

1 - " This event caused higher than usual levels of e coli to be released into the river."

a) Egad. What is the normal level?

b) Is "e coli" a synonym for sh*t?


2 - "At this point they are required to do water samples every 4 hours. When they get 5 consecutive "clean" samples, the river will reopen through this stretch."

4 x 5 = a "clean" 20 hour window. Since this event occurred yesterday and now "They anticipate that they will reopen this stretch around Monday, May 3rd", this means the sh*t is failing tests there for 3 days. I find this really surprising given that it is a river and not standing water + it is cold water which should cap any new growth of bacteria.


3 - Ya'll know which way the sh*t flows... and the river doesn't stop at Rowena. But that's ok, cause it will only be the occasional chunk downstream after that

[CGW2]

Here's the latest Press Release with more information: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dc4ftd7z_14ffqxgjd2

[spryish]

Does this mean Obama won't be sailing here this weekend?

[GarryW]

I just came back from Doug's and saw no warning signs.

[CGW2]

Hi Garry- thanks for the heads up. We have notified the City of The Dalles public works department. Please feel free to share your concerns with them as well, at (541) 296-5401.

[GarryW]

Luckily I didn't jump in, too windy for first day, but there was another guy there going out on a 3.2

[gmclean]

Did this just start today (4/30)? Sailed Doug's yesterday and fell in a lot

[Divo]

Stopped by this morning and there is a warning sign posted, it's on the west end of the ramp down to the rigging area. I was surprised how small it is considering what has taking place. I called the number posted on the sign and found out that this started Wednesday afternoon and they did not get the warning out until Thursday night. I sailed Doug's on Thursday.