By Bradley Foster, The Chronicle, 2/17/99
Olympia - Despite an increase in flooding around the state in the past decade - especially in Lewis and Mason counties - the state Legislature has failed to address the issue in recent years, and is not likely to adopt legislation addressing the problem during this legislative session.
Not only is flood legislation improbable, but the state will also be forced to rely on millions of federal flood prevention and Importation dollars to pay for existing projects on the Chehalis River.
Currently, a $60 million project is being developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in cooperation with other state and federal agencies.
WASHINGTON NEEDS the federal money, according to Sen. Dan Swecker, Rochester, because state budgetary restrictions make paying for a flood program impossible.
"For the last 10 years, the Legislature has worked for meaningful flood management legislation," Swecker said. "It's just not doable."
Tim Daaci, of the Washington Department of Ecology, said it is understandable less attention is being paid to flooding because "there is a direct relationship between people's interest in flooding and the last big flood."
Still, Daaci said, "I am surprised that we didn't see legislation, considering the amount of flooding we have seen in past years."
Recently, because the state has taken a limited role, counties have assumed much of the responsibility for developing flood mitigation strategies.
In the past two years, it has been the Washington Association of Counties that has pushed for increased funding for a flood control assistance program, and for tighter restrictions on flood plain development.
The latter is an area in which Daaci believes Lewis County could stand to see improvement.
"What we want to do is stop putting people at risk That is an area that Lewis County hasn't stepped up," Daaci said.
ACCORDING TO DAACI, Lewis County needs to update its flood map which, he said, is based on outdated flood records - and "go to a much more restrictive standard for filling and developing in the flood plain."
However, both Swecker and Rep. Richard DeBolt, R-Chehalis, are wary of placing further restrictions on development in the flood plain.
Swecker said further restrictions on development would bring the area's economy to its knees, and added that he is pleased with Lewis County's efforts toward developing and implementing a flood management plan.
DeBolt said his only complaint is that he "would like to see everyone move faster, because people's livelihood is at stake."
Monday, DeBolt met with U.S Sen. Slade Gorton, R-Wash. He has been working closely with Gorton to ensure Lewis County will benefit from federal flooding and transportation allocations.
DeBolt said 'the groundwork has been laid for the widening of 1-5," and added that money has already been set aside for improvement to freeway interchanges in Lewis County.
Swecker said federal transportation funding, along with the money earmarked for the Chehalis River project would drastically affect how state money is used to address those issues.
Swecker also said he would battle efforts to widen In 5, and instead would like to use the money for other flood mitigation projects.
Because the state would have to contribute money to any federal project in Lewis County, some are uncertain that any of them will reach fruition.
DeBolt said he expects all of the projects, both transportation and flooding, to be completed within eight years, but Rich Daniels of the state Department of Transportation said while those estimates are feasible, it is unlikely the state will be able to pay for both interchange improvements and the widening of the freeway.
Carol Jolly, of Gov. Gary Locke's policy office, said the Seattle Democrat is concerned about flooding, but will not promote flood legislation this year of budget restrictions created by Initiative 601.
'I would imagine eventually there will be enough concern about flooding and its impact on human lives a critical mass will be reached, but it is not this year," Jolly said . I can't say when it will be.
Jolly also said she was aware of the Army Corps of Engineers' Chehalis River project but said it is moving slowly it is such a complex issue.
DeBolt for all his impatience to solve the problems posed by flooding, is grateful - to some degree - for the project's slow pace.
"This is huge," DeBolt said. "There are so many questions that you don't want to move forward until you have all the answers."
To do so, DeBolt said, would be wasteful.
Bradley Foster a University of Washington student, is covering the 1999 Washington Legislature for The Chronicle.
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