Flood control, repair ongoing process for City of Waitsburg

WAITSBURG—Between a major flood event and a global pandemic, repairs, and improvements for the levees surrounding Waitsburg have been slow going.

At the March City Council meeting, City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe shared an in-depth look at some of the issues, like easement rights and costs, that have impacted flood repair.

A significant breach along the Touchet Riverbank, which runs along Preston Avenue, has been a major concern for years, especially after the February 2020 event. Hinchliffe said he and councilmember David Paxton met with representatives from the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to assess the breach and develop a temporary repair plan. Efforts may include pushing earth into a berm for a diversionary levee.

“The bad part is, no matter what you do, there will be ongoing bank erosion,” Hinchliffe said. “The idea is to just delay it long enough so water won’t make it into the city.”

Hinchliffe went on to say that a section of the levee south of the Preston Avenue Bridge, out past the Grange, has been removed from the USACE Levee Inspection Program, leaving all maintenance and repair responsibilities up to the City of Waitsburg. Once the city fixes the levee, the section in question may re-qualify for the Levee Inspection Program.

According to Hinchliffe, necessary repairs will cost between $300,000 and $500,000, based on an estimate received from Anderson Perry & Associates (AP). The repairs will take roughly two years, and Hinchliffe said AP is currently preparing plan details and drafting a contract.

Due to the nature of the area, Hinchliffe said there are many entities involved in approval processes and inspection, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), various fisheries, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the USACE.

The City of Waitsburg is planning to begin repairs to this particular section of the levee in 2022. Part of the cost will be offset by the use of materials already owned by the city, including quarry rock. This inventory helped offset costs for earlier repairs made along the Touchet River at the Willard Street corner, which was eroding so quickly it threatened the property above.

During the meeting, Mayor Marty Dunn expressed concerns about a couple of trees that could come loose and cause blockages or extreme damage in the event of another flood. Hinchliffe said they are working with homeowners for easement rights to perform minor repairs and preventative measures. Hinchliffe noted that in 2001, when the city made similar repairs, property owners granted easements to four out of the seven properties that run along the area. Two property owners have granted temporary access, and he is currently working to obtain the final easement right from the remaining owners.

Flood control and repair efforts are a developing situation in the City of Waitsburg for both the Touchet and Coppei Rivers.