Public forum to showcase work to reduce flooding

A public forum will be held on the second floor of Montesano City Hall on Thursday, (Editors note: Feb 16 is Tuesday, not Thursday) Feb. 16, at 6:30 p.m. to showcase work in progress to reduce flooding throughout the Chehalis River Basin.

Elected officials from surrounding communities and consulting engineers working on the project will present two alternatives that have been developed by the Chehalis River Flood Hazard Reduction Project to reduce flooding in the area. There will be a discussion of the ongoing process for identifying and evaluating additional alternatives and a discussion of the environmental compliance process and opportunities for public involvement as a flooding solution is developed and implemented.

After an hour-long formal presentation, attendees will be able to address comments and questions one-on-one to public officials, consultants, WSDOT and US Army Corps of Engineers representatives at stations set up to answer in-depth questions and to hear concerns and opinions of the public. All interested parties are encouraged to attend.

Flood control reports come out this month

By The Chronicle, The Chronicle, 2/6/99

Consultants for a $1.1 million flood-control study on the Chehalis River will present progress reports to Chehalis residents and Grays Harbor County residents this month.

Feb. 16, consultants and government officials will speak at Montesano City Hall, 112 N. Main St.

Feb. 17, they will make the same presentation to Chehalis-area residents at the W.F. West High School commons, 342 S.W. 16th St., Chehalis.

Pacific International Engineering, Edmonds, has produced a computer model of the Chehalis River Basin for near Chehalis and Centralia to design flood-control options.

PIE continues to develop details on two options, including diverting floodwaters onto farmers' fields north of Highway 6 and west of Interstate 5. Other aspects of the plans include erecting an inflatable rubber weir atop the Skookumchuck Dam in Thurston County.

State transportation and federal engineering officials will be available to answer questions, and to consider public opinions and concerns.

The hours for both meetings are from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.