Mudhole delays prompt 'Sprints' cancellation
Members of Pend Oreille River Paddlers Association take part at a past sprint race at the Priest River Recreation Area. The group has announced that unforeseen delays in an U.S. Army Corps of Engineers paving project at the site, commonly known as The Mudhole, have prompted them to cancel this year's event.
File photo/CAROLINE LOBSINGER
Uncertainty over when the "Mudhole" will be reopened has prompted the Pend Oreille Rowing and Paddling Association to cancel its annual PORPA Sprints event for this summer.
"We are sad to announce that because of unforeseen delays in the construction activities at the Priest River Recreation Area (Mudhole) this summer, PORPA needs to cancel our Aug. 3 event," PORPA officials said in a press release.
While they considered other venues, PORPA officials said no other location offered the safety needed to hold water race events for the community's youth.
"Without the ability to provide an extremely safe event for the little ones, we decided to cancel this year's non-motorized fun races," PORPA officials said. "It is unfortunate but safety needs to be the highest priority."
News of the event's cancelation follows an announcement by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that an extensive paving project at the Mudhole campground was taking longer than anticipated.
USACE officials originally expected to open the recreation area for the summer season in mid-July. However, the discovery of a poor base layer under the pavement that was set to be replaced meant Army Corps officials had to remove more material than originally expected.
However, once that material is removed, USACE officials hope the new pavement will last much longer.
While there is a small chance the recreation area could open sometime in August, there is currently no date targeted for that to happen, USACE officials said.