Canal repairs close to completion

By ERNEST C. SCHANK, TCID PRESIDENT
Provided by: rgj.com
Posted: 2/8/2008

The Truckee Canal over the years has quietly moved water from the Truckee River to the Newlands Project and most people do not pay any attention to what it does.

However, month ago it was suddenly thrust into open view of more than just our community with the breech of the Truckee Canal in Fernley. As I have said in many interviews the past few weeks, the Truckee Canal is the "lifeblood" of everyone within the Newlands Project boundaries. It brings, as it has done for over 100 years, economic vitality to the Fernley and Fallon areas.

The repair of the canal is proceeding although a little slower than was originally planned. The area where the breech occurred had to be completely cleaned down to the original soil base. Water coming into the area from both directions when the breech happened caused a swirling action that created a deep hole where silts and sands were deposited. All this material had to be removed before any new material could be placed.

For entire article and pictures of construction, please visit website.