Woodfords irrigation ditches burst

Heavy Sierra snowmelt burst two irrigation canals behind the Woodfords Inn on Monday morning.

The canals divert water from the Carson River's West Fork to fields in Diamond Valley.

Alpine County authorities received the first call at about 6:30 a.m., according to Sgt. Ron Mitchitarian, when the upper canal broke.

A waterfall flowed from the upper canal to the lower one until the diversion was closed.

Shortly after emergency personnel cleared the scene, the lower canal broke, sending rock and mud into the parking lot of the inn, located near the intersection of highways 88 and 89. That occurred at about 7:45 a.m.

"There was a major breach in the lower canal," Mitchitarian said "The mud and rock ran down beehind and in front of the hotel all the way to Highway 89 and then back into the West Fork."

The Woodfords Inn is still closed for the winter and there appeared to be water damage to the lower rooms.

There was some additional flooding in the Barber Lane area below Highway 89.

According to U.S. Geological Survey flood gauges, the West Fork peaked at 11.92 feet Monday morning. Flood stage on the West Fork is 14 feet. Forecasters expect the river to crest Thursday morning at 12.3 feet before cooler temperatures return and melting slows.