Contacts: Dave Andrew, Cowlitz PUD (360) 225-441

Sandy Howard, Department of Ecology (360) 407-6239, Pager 360-786-3136

SWIFT POWER CANAL

UNIFIED COMMAND SYSTEM – MEDIA UPDATE

Due to planned heavy construction, media access will be restricted in the vicinity of Cowlitz County PUD’s Swift No. 2 Power Canal collapse, all day on Tuesday, April 23. No access will be allowed east of the Washington State Patrol checkpoint located near Cougar, Wash. on State Route 503-Spur.

The Washington Department of Transportation will begin moving construction equipment, culvert, rock and other materials into the area early Tuesday. Additional heavy truck traffic in the area, as part of the effort for environmental remediation in Yale Reservoir, would add to the unsafe conditions for those not involved in the construction process.

Final plans for a media briefing and scheduled guided access to the site on Wednesday or Thursday will be announced by Tuesday evening. The Unified Command Center will once again be setup at the Merwin Headquarters Tuesday morning, but will move to the Cougar Campground, near Cougar, Wash. late Tuesday.

RESERVOIR FISHING UPDATE

Swift Reservoir will be accessible for boating and fishing on opening day, Saturday, April 27. Highway access on SR 503-Spur is dependent on completion of the temporary road repairs at the washed-out area adjacent to the PUD’s Swift No. 2 Powerhouse. DOT expects to have the temporary road completed on Friday.

Day use and boat access to Yale Reservoir are expected to remain closed until May 6, due to environmental cleanup in association with the power canal breach. Fishing and boating access will remain open in Merwin Reservoir. Boats can continue to be launched at Speelyai Bay.

Traveler information is available by calling DOT’s hotline at (800) 695-ROAD or accessing www.wsdot.wa.gov/ on the Internet.