Larry Kunzler
In Skagit County, as a member of the Flood Control Zone District Advisory Committee, I can tell you it (removing levees) will go nowhere. I’m all in favor of it but the farmers don’t even want to go to overtopping levees let alone levee removal. There used to be this old timer who would show up for every flood meeting, he’s passed away now, and he would tell the room full of people that they would all be better off without the levees. I got his testimony in some of the public hearing transcripts on my web page (http://www.skagitriverhistory.com). He was absolutely right, but the Ag. people just won’t buy into it. Nothing is going to happen in Skagit County until the:
- Government (namely FEMA Region X) starts enforcing the NFIP local ordinances.
- Corps changes it policies that levees are the answer.
- Congress has to quit funding levee projects unless they include the element of overtopping at less than 100 year event levels.
- The state of Washington has to take back the authority to issue floodplain permits from local governments. Putting local governments in charge is like putting the fox in charge of the hen house.
Harold Smelt, Pierce County Washington.
The Soldier’s Home Setback Levee project restored about 67 acres of Puyallup River floodplain to historic pre-levee conditions. The original levee was removed to the water line and a new levee was built 950 feet back from the river allowing the river to naturally meander within the reclaimed floodplain providing increased flood protection to adjacent property and natural benefits to the greater community.
To ensure flood protection, the setback levee project included the fortification of levees downstream, across, and upstream of the setback levee and involved placing additional rock rip rap to the existing levee face and toe, and raising the levee in places.
The set back levee was built with re-used material that was blended with new material.
Habitat channels were dug to expedite reclamation.
Protecting I-5 and residents occupying the Chehalis River, Washington floodplain may provide an opportunity offer additional benefits.
In Chapter 8 of Floodplain Management we offer a case study concerning protecting Interstate 5 from flood damage.
For those who have not read the chapter during the first week of December 2007, record-setting precipitation dumped on the Pacific Northwest. Torrents of water-gouged hillsides broke levees and overtopped dikes as floods reached record highs. One man was swept away in the deluge. The I-5 freeway in Lewis County, Washington was closed for three days and traffic was rerouted an extra 400 miles. The Department of Transportation estimated the cost of the I-5 closure exceeded $4 million per day.
The Chronicle (Lewis county Washington) editorial board in “OUR VIEWS: Our State Reps Push for Water Retention” (October 30, 2009) stated that water retention deserves a chance if studies bear out its effectiveness. And beyond flood protection, water retention has the possibility of improving water quality in the river, enhanced fisheries, agricultural benefits and expansion of recreation. Currently the Army Corps is only focusing on building 11 miles of levees that might protect Interstate 5 during big flooding events, and perhaps parts of the Twin Cities, but certainly would not help out in other areas along the Chehalis River
Not mentioned were expected impacts from Climate change. The Climate Impact Group (CIG) and the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) project increases in winter rain quantity and intensity leading to greater flooding. And, increasingly, summers will be hotter and dryer contributing to drought. These changes are being notice now.
Retention alternatives could reduce winter discharges while increasing summer ones.
Can flood reduction efforts resulting from the 2007 incident be viewed as an opportunity to address expected climate change impact?
