Dangerous river levels cancel unlimited hydro racing 1st day of Tri-Cities Water Follies

The Mid-Columbia’s recent heat wave was reportedly being blamed for putting a damper on the start of unlimited hydroplane racing in the Tri-Cities.

Friday was the day the field of H1 Unlimited boats hit the Columbia River to test their engines and do some preliminary racing on the course before more qualifying races Saturday and Sunday’s Apollo Columbia Cup final.

But Friday the river was too low.

Officials said in a social media post that the river on the Northwest turn on the Pasco side wasn’t high enough for safe racing.

After meetings with H1 unlimited rescue crews and water operations officials the testing and qualifying was postponed until Saturday.

“It has been determined that the river levels near the up river turn are at an unsafe level,” said a social media post.

An initial report was that the river was low because the recent heat wave of 100+ degree days required more hydroelectic power from the dams to cool the region.

The Herald contacted the Army Corps of Engineers, the federal Bureau of Reclamation, the Grant County PUD and Grand Coulee Dam officials but no information on the issue was immediately available Friday.

The H1 Unlimited group posted that the race course would be adjusted Friday afternoon so the boats could race Saturday. The unlimiteds race at speeds of 140-150 mph.

Race officials want the water to be at least 10 feet deep to ensure that rescue divers can reach a driver underwater if a hydroplane flips.

Officials told the herald that more water was expected to be released upriver to increase the level of the Lake Wallula pool, including the river area along Kennewick and Pasco near the Highway 395 blue bridge.

Also, the course was to be moved 350 feet closer to the blue bridge to ensure the sufficient depths, they said.

The decision did not affect the vintage boats taking to the water, and the STCU Over-the-River Air Show also continued on schedule.

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