Civil Projects & Planning Branch March 5, 1999
Mr. Dave Palmer
7475 State Route 12
Oakville, Washington 98568
Dear Mr. Palmer:
This letter replies your letter of February 22, 1999, regarding the February 16th public meeting in Montesano, that was sent to Commissioners of Thurston, Lewis, and Grays Harbor Counties and myself. Thank you for providing us your concerns regarding the coming studies. I look forward to your continued participation.
In July 1998, at the request of Lewis County (also as lead agency), the Corps resumed work to consider flood damage reduction measures in the Centralia and Chehalis area under the authority provided by the 1986 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). Last year, Lewis County prepared a "Pre-Feasibility" report that documented a plan to significantly reduce flood damages in the Centralia-Chehalis area. This work serves as a preliminary analysis upon which further work can be built. We are currently developing a Project Study Plan (PSP). The PSP will identify the work required to produce a General Reevaluation Report (GRR) and necessary environmental documentation pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to continue and complete the evaluation begun by Lewis County. This work will include the identification of flood problems and possible damage reduction measures throughout the basin, the development of alternatives benefiting primarily the upper basin, and a rigorous analysis of those alternatives that meet the project purpose. We want to work with all interested parties to reduce the adverse impacts of major flooding to the extent practicable without creating other unacceptable impacts.
I agree with you that the people who live along the river in rural areas are just as important as urban residents and their losses are just as real. Unfortunately, Government programs often are structured to best benefit areas of concentrated development. However, that doesn't mean that we shouldn't try to meet rural residents needs as well. I would appreciate your help in identifying specific flood problems in the lower Chehalis River basin and any specific suggestions on how they might be reduced or eliminated. Also of interest would be any ecosystem restoration opportunities that you feel may exist, along with identification of possible non-Federal government sponsors for such measures.
This information will be used not only to evaluate problems and impacts resulting from any project(s) in the upper basin urban area but also as input for scoping a basin-wide flood damage reduction and ecosystem restoration study. Lewis County has agreed to be the local sponsor for such a study (as lead agency under the flood damage reduction interlocal agreement between the
three major counties in the basin and the cities of Centralia and Chehalis). This study would be a follow-on effort to the work currently underway. The Seattle District supports this follow-on study and will be trying to obtain funds in future Corps budgets for this effort. In addition, the Corps has a small project authority for smaller scale ecosystem restoration opportunities. This authority does not require specific Congressional authorization at the project level prior to construction, as long as there is a non-Federal government sponsor willing to share costs. Once identified, such small ecosystem projects could proceed separate from a basin-wide plan. In the meantime, we are using the 1986 authority to coordinate with the established interagency committees and other interested parties, such as yourself, to identify flood problems and possible solutions and ecosystem restoration opportunities throughout the basin.
I understand the need expressed by you and others for us to identify problems and impacts within the entire Chehalis basin for any project(s) that we may ultimately recommend. The concerns of interested parties expressed over the last several years in numerous meetings have been noted and will be considered in developing the PSP. Thank you for the specific comments you provided in your letter. At this point in our process, many of them can not be answered definitively, but the enclosure provides some of my initial thoughts. I would be happy to meet with you and further discuss your concerns and additional suggestions you may have for the scope of detailed studies.
I look forward to your groups participation in these efforts with the Corps of Engineers. If you have any questions on Corps Chehalis River basin work, please contact me at telephone (206) 764-3456.
Sincerely,
Forest Brooks
Project Manager
Enclosure
as stated
.1 Meeting, Attendance: I have attended most meetings scheduled over the past few years since the 1996 flood. I am sorry I was not able to attend the meeting in Montesano. I can assure you that Grays Harbor County is deeply involved in this study effort at both the Commissioner and the staff level to ensure that County residents are not hurt by possible activities elsewhere and hopefully will be helped by projects specifically targeted for them. The Corps is interested in working with the residents and local governments throughout the basin to resolve all identified flooding problems to the extent practicable.
2. Model Content: Since I was not at the meeting, I can not directly address your conversation with Mr. Hosey. However, my understanding of the computer model, as described in the September 1998 report prepared by PIE for Grays Harbor County, is that it includes consideration of flows from all the lower river sub-basins, including Scatter Creek and the Black River. The model considers the flow interactions between the Chehalis River and the Black in the Oakville-Rochester area..
3.Schuber Road Flow Bypass: This measure would include flowage easements and/or land purchase as part of its estimated cost. Although the complete removal of the cities of Centralia and Chehalis from the flood plain does not appear practical, consideration of raising and/or removal of appropriate structures or areas will be included in our study plan.
4.Frequency of 1996 Flood : Based on studies completed to date, the 1996 flood in the Centralia-Chehalis area is approximately equal to the current estimate for a 100-year flood. Thus, 1996 high water marks and flood limits can be used as close approximations for a 100-year event, pending preparation of revised FEMA Floodway/FIRM maps.
5. Skookumchuck Dam: The operation of the dam probably would be similar to that currently employed on Wynoochee Dam on the Wynoochee River, Upper Baker Dam on the Baker River, and Ross Dam on the Skagit River. During flood operations at these projects , the Corps of Engineers directs operation of the dam gates, that are then physically changed by the dam owner's personnel. I agree with you that the operation of flood control reservoirs is an art. Part of the work for the next phase is to identify the risk and uncertainty associated with a number of issues, one of which is the sensitivity of the timing of flood peaks from different parts of the basin to the realization of projected benefits. Generally, as part of the requirements imposed by Congress on a local government for a Corps flood project is one whereby the local sponsor assumes liability for a project under a "hold and save" clause in the project agreement.
6. Aquifer Recharge: Studies of aquifer recharge have not been done as part of our work. Any additional information you may have on suggested extent and necessary scope of such studies would be useful for us to consider as we develop the Project Study Plan (PSP).
.7 Highway Improvements: I am not sure of the question you originally asked. I could understand the answer that the highway improvements are not part of the plan developed to date, since that plan is for flood damage reduction measures. Highway improvements will be developed by different government agencies under different authorities and different schedules. That doesn't mean that the impacts of current and potential future highway improvements can't and/or wouldn't be determined by modifying the model to show a possible flood project both with and without potential highway improvements. If the highway department can define the specific future possible configuration(s) of the highway(s), the computer model will be used to determine effects.
8.Project Name: I will discuss your suggestion on changing the name with Lewis County and the Chehalis Executive Committee.
9. Participation of Local Governments: The 3 major counties and the 2 major upper basin cities have formed an interlocal agreement to work cooperatively on flood damage reduction measures. The initial impetus for the group was the severe flood problem in the Centralia-Chehalis area, but all of them are mindful that other large and small problems are spread throughout the basin. Under the interlocal agreement, they set up an Executive Committee (composed of one elected official and one staff person from each) that meets monthly to discuss progress on the flood problems. The group designated Lewis County as the lead agency for pursuing studies and possible projects. From my experience, the representatives of both Grays Harbor and Thurston Counties actively participate in the group. They want to make sure any upstream projects, at worst, don't hurt their residents and, at best, provide benefits to them. They also want to identify and pursue potential flood damage reduction projects in the lower basin that can directly help their residents. Their intention is to ultimately identify, review, and implement appropriate flood damage reduction measures throughout the basin, although different projects may proceed under different authorities, schedules, and funding arrangements. The Corps will work with all interested local governments to identify and implement appropriate flood damage reduction projects.
CF:
Mr. Richard Graham,
Chairman Lewis County Commissioners
360 NW North St ,
Chehalis, WA 98532
Mr. Kevin O'Sullivan
Thurston County Commissioner
2000 Lakeridge Drive SW
Olympia, WA 98502-1045
Mr. Bob Beerbower
Grays Harbor County Commissioner
100 West Broadway
Montesano, WA 98563
Mr. Harry Hosey
Pacific International Engineering
310 Waterfront Park Building
144 Railroad Avenue
Edmonds, WA 98020'