Two thirds of the community of Lingle, Wyoming in Goshen County is under evacuation on Friday after a break in the north side of the Interstate Canal.
A flash flood emergency has been insured by the National Weather Service in Cheyenne. Goshen County Emergency Management says the flooding was worsening around 10:00 am Friday morning at the site of the breach just one mile west of Lingle.
According to the Wyoming Division of the Bureau of Land Management, more than 90,000 irrigated acres will experience a temporary discontinuation of water service. Preliminary inspections estimated the canal can be returned to service in a matter of days. Meanwhile, Pathfinder Irrigation District is on site working to place rip-rap in the breach to minimize flooding and retain as much water in the canal as possible.
The canal is over 100 years old and was constructed during 1905-1915. It follows the contour of the land for 95 miles from Whalen Diversion Dam to Lake Alice and Lake Minatare Reservoirs northeast of Scotts Bluff, Nebraska.
Damage estimates from the flood are not known at this time.
ORIGINAL STORY
Two thirds of the community of Lingle, Wyoming in Goshen County is under evacuation on Friday after a break in the north side of the Interstate Canal.
A flash flood emergency has been insured by the National Weather Service in Cheyenne. Goshen County Emergency Management says the flooding was worsening around 10:00 am Friday morning at the site of the breach just one mile west of Lingle.
According to a Whalen Dam operator, flow through the canal should begin receding around 2:00 pm on Friday afternoon.
Damage estimates from the flood are not known at this time.