WET WINTER: A Hickman resident says, "My God, we've got to fight this all over again."
By Jennifer Olson The Olympian, 9/22/99
THURSTON COUNTY With groundwater at higher levels than last year, residents in flood-prone areas once again are bracing for the worst.
A lackluster summer has prevented normal vegetation growth and evaporation from helping to absorb some of the water below ground, said Mark Cook, program manager for the county's storm and surface water program.
But the news comes as no surprise to the county and weary residents who have battled groundwater flooding for two of the past three years.
Last year, flooding left people in several areas of the county without use of their septic systems and wells for weeks. About 250 homes and businesses were damaged by floods and landslides, costing more than $24 million.
Homeowner Mary Ann Veria knew the water table was high this year. Veria, who lives south of Tumwater in one of the worst-hit areas of flooding, said workers replacing her septic tank in June hit water at 7 feet.
"I wouldn't be surprised that with the next heavy rain storm, it's right back at the top again," Veria said.
With high groundwater levels and a National Weather Forecast prediction of a wetter-than-normal winter, the county scrambled to put in at least one temporary project to help residents in the Hickman area.
The Hickman Ditch project - which cost about $100,000 - is not the magic bullet residents want, but it should help move water out of the area sooner.
The ditch improvements should be complete within a week, said Keith Eisner, spokesman for the county's Roads and Transportation Department, which is doing the work.
"It's a temporary solution," he said, "It's not going to get rid of all the groundwater."
Commissioners also enacted a temporary building moratorium in flood-prone areas to give them time to come up with permanent solutions.
Shirley Olson, also a resident in the Hickman area, said she appreciates the county trying to take action. Still, she's skeptical that the ditch will do any good.
"If it works, it will be an act of God," she said.
County officials will have more detailed predictions by the end of the week of how much rain is needed before flooding occurs again.
Although the situation looks dire, the recent warm, dry weather is helping to drop groundwater levels.
"if the weather holds, groundwater levels should continue to fall," Cook said. "We need another month of the same kind of weather to get where we were last year."
In the meantime, Olson will continue to worry about what the winter will bring-
"I'm scared to death," she said. "My God, we've got to fight this all over again."
Jennifer Olson covers Thurston County for The Olympian. She can be reached at 754-5427.
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