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.
