MALHEUR COUNTY, ORE. — The Owyhee Lake Road from Over Street to the Lake Owyhee Dam is closed due to mud slides which are blocking travel, according Malheur County Sheriff Brian Wolfe.
Early Wednesday morning, Malheur County dispatchers received reports of several mud slides across the Owyhee Lake Road near the Dam.
“One vehicle was caught in one of the slides. The occupants of the vehicle were able to escape injury,” the Sheriff said.
“The road is the only road to Lake Owyhee. The travel is mainly by those recreating at the Lake so, at this time of year, traffic is fairly heavy,” the Sheriff explained.
The State of Oregon and Owyhee Irrigation crews who manage the park and the dam use the road for their operations as well.
Crews and equipment from the Nyssa Road District, the Malheur County Road Department, and Owyhee Irrigation worked through the night to clear the road, but travel on the road is still not possible.
“Crews will continue to work on clearing (the road) until the area acceptable for safe passage,” Wolfe stated.
“There were strong thunderstorms that produced a large amount of rain that went through the area around 6:30 pm (Wednesday), which contributed to the slides,” he added.
The closure does not affect local traffic to any homes or farms in the area.
(photo courtesy: Malheur County Sheriff's Office)
