Diversion ditch fix zooms up

A city-owned diversion ditch from the Cedar Creek Reservoir will cost about three times as much to fix as expected.

Columbia Falls budgeted $20,000 to fix leaks in the ditch this year.

The ditch takes water overflow from the Cedar Creek Reservoir and runs it along the base of Teakettle Mountain and dumps it into the Flathead River.

A recent analysis showed the work will likely cost closer to $70,000, because a portion of the ditch needs a new liner, city manager Susan Nicosia said.

The ditch only holds water during high water flows, but left unchecked, it could flood CFAC property, or even the city itself.

Before the diversion, the water used to flow underground and then flood the lower end of the city near South Nucleus and where the softball fields are now.

The city is hoping to secure some grant funding to help pay for the fixes of the ditch.