Debris From High Water Strands Wheatland Ferry

Wheatland Ferry Photo By: Tim King

(Keizer AP) - Record winter rains have caused a debris pile-up in the Willamette River that has stranded the Wheatland Ferry, Yamhill County's shortcut to Marion County.

The little ferry normally carries about 600 vehicles a day but record rains in December and Januuary washed enough gravel and debris downstream to ground it. The ferry can't get to the landing on the Yamhill County side.

The area got more than 18 inches of rain over 31 days.

Officials say the only solution is dredging, but that that is allowed only in the summer.

So Yamhill County will have to get special permits from the U-S Army Corps of Engineers and Oregon State Lands.

Meanwhile commuters who depend on the ferry are faced with a lengthy detour.