Sunnyside Canal Diversion and Gate Keeper House
by Charles Robinson
Title
Sunnyside Canal Diversion and Gate Keeper House
Artist
Charles Robinson
Medium
Photograph - Landscape Photograph
Description
The house for the Beat 1 Ditch Rider and Gate Keeper of the Sunnyside Canal is at the diversion dam for the irrigation canal system, operated and maintained by Sunnyside Valley Irrigation District. The dam is located on the Yakima River at Parker, just west of Yakima, Washington. I understand that the walls of the house are reinforced three-foot thick concrete to hold up against the forces of the river. I remember that in 1996 the Yakima River flooded forcing the canal to close the gates. The flood waters rose above the dam and were about two feet high on the outside walls of the house. The flood waters were carrying large logs and debris that were striking the house like battering rams. The ditch rider and gate keeper at the time remained safely in the house throughout the duration of the flood.
The historical marker at the site reads, The site is a historical fishing site used by Native Americans to harvest salmon. It is one of the few remaining sites from which the Native Americans can dip-net steelhead in the early spring and salmon in the early spring and fall runs. In 1879, the Konewock Ditch Company constructed a small irrigation diversion to serve 3000 acres of land on the north side of the Yakima River reaching nearly to Zillah, Washington. During the same time period, the Piety Flat Ditch Company was formed and constructed a small canal to serve 600 acres near the present of Donald (north of Wapato, Washington). In 1891 the Northern Pacific and Yakima Canal Company began construction of the Sunnyside Canal utilizing portions of the existing Konewock Ditch.
In 1905 the Sunnyside Canal system became a division of the Yakima Reclamation Project. In 1946, the Sunnyside Valley Irrigation District took over the operation and maintenance of the Sunnyside Canal and related works. Today the Sunnyside Canal conveys irrigation water to nearly 100,000 acres of land serving the communities of Zillah, Granger, Sunnyside, Mabton, Grandview, Prosser, and Benton City.�
Uploaded
May 13th, 2015
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