RENO (AP) - Water is again flowing in a century-old irrigation canal for the first time since a breach caused hundreds of homes to be flooded in Fernley in January.

The Truckee-Carson Irrigation District opened the gates at noon today to the 31-mile canal that takes water from the Truckee River near Fernley to Fallon-area farmers about 60 miles east of Reno.

The flow in the canal was allowed to resume a day after a federal report concluded burrowing rodents were to blame for the canal failure.

Some Fernley residents criticized the decision to allow water to flow again in the canal, saying it shows the bureau and district seem more interested in delivering water to farmers than the safety of residents.

Water burst through a 50-foot breach in the weakened structure on Jan. 5 and more than 500 homes were damaged by floodwater in
Fernley, about 30 miles east of Reno.

The bureau authorized the irrigation district to initially restrict flows to 150 cubic feet per second, about one-fifth of the maximum level.
The district must take additional steps before flows can exceed
that.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-03-21-08 1637EDT