Logan City plans to begin pumping water Tuesday into the canal breached by a mudslide 10 days ago so farmers to the north will get water desperately needed for silage corn, grain and alfalfa.

Utah State University extension agent Clark Israelsen said farmers who rely on water from the Logan North Canal have been helped by other water users -- farmers and homeowners -- who have reduced their own water use to help out growers dependent on the canal.

"We're doing better than we thought we would. Everyone is being careful to help each other out," said Israelsen.

Logan City will begin pumping Tuesday from one of its wells about 200 feet west (downstream) of where a landslide destroyed a home - killing a mother and her two children - on July 11.

It took recovery crews days to find the bodies of Jacqueline Leavey and her two children, Victor and Abbey Alanis. Their funeral is today.

Mayor Randy Watts was on vacation and unavailable to talk Monday about the city's plan to put water in the canal.

Logan Public Works Director Mark Nielson, speaking through the mayor's assistant, Teresa Harris, said the city put a dam in the canal below the breach and will pump water from a city well into the canal.

The dam - comprised of sandbags - is to prevent water from flowing up the canal to the breached section above canyon road.

"He told me there's going to be somebody up there all the time. They're going to watch it carefully," said Harris.

She said Nielson did not tell her how the city determined the canal, which traverses a steep hillside for about a mile near the mouth of Logan Canyon, was safe to use.

Jon Meikle, president of the canal company, said he knew little about the city's plan.

Residents downhill from where the canal will resume flowing had mixed reactions to the news that it will have water in it again.

"That's crazy! No way!" said Shanna Snarr, who has lived in a rental home below the canal for about a year. "I don't like it."

Cassea Snarr, her daughter, said the family has packed and is looking for a new home in part because of the landslide that has them worried about the safety of their home.

Nick and Irene Eastmond, however, have lived in their home below the canal since the 1960s and are not worried. He uses the path along the canal to walk and bicycle to work at Utah State University.

"We've lived with water in the canal for so many years," said Nick Eastmond. "It doesn't bother me because I think the hill is stable above us."

Neither Snarr nor the Eastmonds were notified that the city planned to put water in the canal this week, they said.

"For the folks up in North Logan (farmers), that will be great," Eastmond said.

Last week, Israelsen wasn't sure if farmers relying on the Logan Northern Canal would get any water this growing season.

They've been able to keep irrigating, to some extent, because other farmers are being stingy with their own crops and homeowners who typically use irrigation water are using more expensive culinary water for their lawns and gardens, Israelsen said.

Farmers also have been helped by the fact that in the Smithfield area, runoff water is still pouring into Summit Creek during a time when the streambed is usually dry.

The additional water will be critical next week when growers begin their second or third alfalfa cutting. After that harvest, farmers will need more irrigation water for the next cutting - particularly since June rains ruined or damaged the first alfalfa crop.

Smithfield dairyman Ralph Meikle appreciates all the neighborly help for his 400 milking cows and the alfalfa fields he relies on for feed.

"At moment we have enough water," he said. "But we don't know beyond this afternoon, and certainly not into next week."

In a postcard dated July 20 and mailed to 900 system subscribers, The Logan Northern Canal Co. trustees said residential users should use culinary water, and when water becomes available to farmers, they may not flood irrigate their crops.