"Divers Find 65-Foot Crack In Columbia River Dam"

"A large dam in Washington state has a 65-foot-long crack below its waterline, say officials who are planning repairs at the Wanapum Dam, which is owned by a county utility. Divers found the 2-inch-wide crack that runs sideways after an engineer noticed an odd curve in a conduit near the dam's roadway."

"Officials have said the public is not at risk.

To assess the damage, the water behind the dam on the Columbia River is being drawn down to the shallowest levels since its reservoir filled some 50 years ago, according to the Grant County Public Utility District. At 7 a.m. PST Tuesday, the reports, the water level stood at 545 feet — more than 24 feet lower than its recent high recorded a week ago."

Bill Chappell reports for NPR March 4, 2014.