WINNEMUCCA — Few who lived through last year’s flash flood, which sent water and mud rushing off the mountains and into neighboring communities, will forget the impact – especially the muddy clean up. Even though flash flooding of that magnitude is rare, the Winnemucca City Council has been working to mitigate the situation.

Previously, when flood waters came pouring out of the three canyons directly above the city, the water flowed to a natural drainage channel, which emptied into a natural low point at the Stuart St. and Kirkway Dr. intersection where flood waters were diverted into pipes that run under the city and various housing developments to the Humboldt River.

The situation was complicated when a family purchased a 40-acre parcel above Stuart St.  During development of the property, the natural drainage point was blocked off, so the ensuing flood waters were diverted away from the natural collection point and away from the city’s storm-water pipes.  Instead of flowing under the city to the Humboldt River, the flood waters and mud flowed over streets and neighborhoods. It was a mess.

The city has attempted to obtain an easement from the property owners in order to lay a 36-inch collection pipe on the property, which would direct flood waters to the city’s pipe system, but the property owners declined.

The situation was up for discussion at Monday’s regular meeting of the Winnemucca City Council.  City Manager Steve West said the city could take the property owners to court, since he felt it was their actions that contributed to the problem, but that could take  years to resolve.  In the meantime, the properties below Stuart St. would be unprotected from flash flooding.

Ultimately, the council had no choice but to agree to the only option available to them:  lay the pipe around the property in an effort to direct flood waters to the city’s pipe system. This option was considered the least effective and would cost upwards of $100,000 with the purchase of pipes and construction.

Councilman Paige Brooks commented, “It’s the easiest solution, but it’s not solving the problem.”  Brooks agreed that action had to be taken and noted as a life-long resident she had seen this situation before; she just hated to see the city spend so much money for the least effective option. She also spoke of her regret that the situation could not be better mitigated between the city and the property owners.

However, there appeared to be no avenue of compromise open where the property owners were concerned.  Councilman Joyce Sheen asked the property owner directly if she and her husband were open to compromise.  In the audience was Connie O’Brien who said, “The problem can be solved as well as it can be solved by just going around.”

Mayor Di An Putnam suggested the property owners were reluctant to give the city the easement because they want to leave open their ability to subdivide the property in the future.

In the end, the council voted unanimously to make what attempt they could to divert flood waters around the private property.