Columbia Co. Considers Flood Control District

DAYTON— City of Dayton Mayor Craig George and County Commissioner Merle Jackson are leading efforts to find out how to go about establishing a flood control district in Columbia County.

Guest speaker Kirk Holmes, an engineer with consulting firm PERFEET, spoke to representatives from the city, county, WSDOT, Anderson Perry & Associates, the Army Corp of Engineers, and others at St. Joseph’s Parrish Hall, on April 20, about the steps Kittitas County took to form a Flood Control Zone District, in 2012.

Holmes, who is a former Kittitas county engineer and public works director, said flood frequency and intensity is increasing, causing economic impacts across local regions.

Kittitas County experienced lost roads and bridges in what he described as a “ton of loss” in a 2011 flood event, following on the heels of two other non-declared local floods, he said.

In 2009, a flood control task force was formed by the county Department of Public Works, which met over the course of six months for study and evaluation. The focus was to create a seven-year plan for programmatic and project efforts to get to recovery faster, Holmes said.

“I hate using the term flood control, because that’s impossible, but risk reduction is possible,” Holmes said.

Holmes said the task force made recommendations to the Kittitas BOCC to evaluate the formation of a FCZD, and the BOCC passed a resolution to establish the district in July 2012. A ballot measure for funding was placed before voters in the November 2012 election. The measure passed, creating a $.07 cents per $1,000 assessment to be set aside for flood risk reduction activities.

“The community was very supportive. We did a good job of identifying need,” Holmes said. “Now the flood risk is lower in Kittitas County.”

Some benefits of forming a FCZD are to dedicate a funding source to repair damage, protect other county budgets, and provide flood protection for aged infrastructure through the use of local funds, with local control, and flexibility, Holmes said.

“You can be creative in planning projects,” said Holmes.

Holmes pointed out the importance of partnering with entities such as the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Salmon Recovery Board to accomplish multi-jurisdictional objectives, like flood control and habitat enhancement.

“The city and the county have been talking about this for a few years,” said Mayor George.

He said forming a flood control zone district would provide a steady stream of revenue, and that money would not be taken out of the county’s current expense budget, or out of the city’s budget, to deal with issues around flooding.

Commissioner Jackson agreed that something should be done, particularly in light of recent flooding potential.

Jackson said that one project that worries him is the amount of gravel under the Highway 12 Bridge and in the bar just north of the bridge.

“In 2008 twenty tons of rock was removed, and it is all back now,” Jackson said.

“A district would give you a better chance to go in and dredge that out,” Holmes said.

With regard to the levee, it was learned at last week’s discussion that city and county sponsorship of the levee could potentially be turned over to a FCZD, simplifying responsibilities for both government entities.

Holmes suggested first creating a seven-year plan, with a robust public outreach component.

“The opportunities are enormous. Forming a district will give you some muscle,” Holmes concluded.

If the BOCC chooses to form a FCZD, state law identifies the BOCC as the Board of Supervisors for the FCZD, and the county engineer as the administrator of the District, according to documents provided by Holmes.