February 18, 1997

To: Lewis County Board of Commissioners

From: Board of Trustees,
Chehalis River Council

We, the members of the Board of Trustees of the Chehalis River Council (CRC), after considerable deliberation, do oppose the recommendations being presented by the Flood Action Council of the Chehalis River Basin (FAC) concerning flood damage mitigation on the Chehalis River at Chehalis and Centralia. These included: (1) raising the Skookumchuck dam, (2) dredging the "hump" out of the Chehalis River, and (3) building one or more dams on the upper Chehalis River.

Our opposition to these proposals stems from several sources:

1. The planning process itself was flawed:

  • a) FAC was self-appointed, and was not acting on behalf of Lewis County.
  • b) The planning group was too narrow. FAC was comprised primarily of businessmen, excluding other points of view.
  • c) FAC said it was planning for the entire Basin, but, only one-third of the Chehalis basin falls in Lewis County.

    2. FAC proposals are flawed scientifically. They do not address:

  • a) Current knowledge about flood control. Experiences on the Mississippi have shown conclusively that damming, diking and dredging do not work in the long run.
  • b) The impact of river modifications on fisheries and other aquatic life.
  • c) The impact of heightened peak flows on the environmentally and economically sensitive estuary at Aberdeen.
  • d) The impact upon local aquifer recharge if the winter lake between Chehalis and Centralia is diminished.

    3. FAC proposals are flawed politically:

  • a) They serve to mitigate flood problems in Lewis County with no consideration for county and tribal jurisdictions downstream.
  • b) They fly in the face of state and national trends toward protecting riparian areas, and buying back and restoring the benefits of wetlands.
  • c) They do not address any actions that local jurisdictions might take other than build dams, etc.

    4. FAC proposals are flawed economically:

  • a) They do not address the economic impact of modifying the river.
  • b) They suggest that a one-time $100 million "fix", will solve our problems for all time. The history of the Mississippi says otherwise. Dams break, levees give way, dredged river bottoms fill up with silt, etc.
  • c) It is doubtful that the mitigation proposed could be done for as little as $100 million, especially when easements, maintenance, inflation and potential lawsuits are considered.

    • In addition to our concerns with the specific flood damage mitigation proposals, we also believe that the formation of a flood control district, with taxing authority, is premature, and we recommend that it not be placed on the ballot. It may be that, at some time in the future, such a taxing district in Lewis County may be needed to raise funds for flood damage mitigation, but we do not know that now.

    While opposing the recommendations of the FAC, the CRC does support true basin wide planning with respect to all aspects of water quantity and quality, including flood damage mitigation. In order to accomplish this, we strongly endorse the concept that some form of intergovernmental planning group be established immediately. The membership of this group should be representative of the political jurisdictions in the Chehalis basin, including all counties and tribes. Members should be appointed by the several governing bodies, and should reflect the broadest possible range of interests and points of view; including, but not limited to, the environmental, cultural, economic, spiritual and recreational.

    Pending recommendations from this intergovernmental planning group, the CRC urges that no further development be permitted in wetlands or floodplain areas. While we are trying to sort out what to do, let us at least not make our problems worse.

    The CRC also supports continuation of the "buy-out" programs currently under way as being consistent with a "no further damage" policy.

    Thank you for the opportunity to testify.

    Dave Palmer, Chairman
    Board of Trustees
    Chehalis River Council
    P.O. Box 586
    Oakville WA 98589
    360-273-6137
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