As I See It
Jim Shouse, The Lewis County News, 11/18/1998
I must admit I'm totally confused over the lack of action to control filling in the flood plain (also floodways) in this area. It appears to be a political football rather than a serious matter to address. Each news report I read creates more confusion in my mind. I've studied this issue for may years, and if I'm confused, I'm certain the average citizen also.
For many years, I've maintained that filling the flood plain --- and even the floodway, which serves as a canal for flood waters, should be banned until we work out a suitable arrangement for preventing the disastrous floods we've experienced over the past 10-15 years.
I don't know exactly where the flood plain actually is in our area, but I identify it as the areas that quickly gather high water during heavy rains and quickly flood. In fact, they sometimes retain water even in dry periods - - one of the wet areas we're supposed to protect.
I once had a couple fellows, who claimed to be the experts, visit me in my office and try to tell me that the water in our flood plain and floodway (the areas that flood regularly and also serve as water storage areas) would not be affected by the fill. "The fill contemplated will only raise the water one inch," I was told. Amazing. I wasn't convinced.
A while back the Lewis County Flood Control Citizens Advisory Committee was formed to study the issue and make recommendations. Lewis County Commissioners rejected the Committee's recommendations last summer. but the commissioners passed a ban last year, and revoked it the next day, learning they had "erred procedurally" - whatever that means.
If they passed the ban once. I've always wondered why they didn't renew the ban the next day, and do it the right way? As usual, I suspect developers and special interests of having their ear. Otherwise, why not renew the ban?
Now, we have an environmental protection specialist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency asking, If we're continuing to try to fight flooding in the valley, why are they continuing to fill flood storage'?" If he's asking the question, doesn't that indicate a ban on filling is an normal course of action at this time?
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