Information

Type: Deliberation

Department: BOCC - Board of County Commissioners

Directors' Update: May 6, 2020

Business Meeting: May 11, 2020

Summary:

To support and offer Lewis County's continued participation in the integrated processes of the Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority, Office of Chehalis Basin, Chehalis Basin Board, Chehalis Basin Flood Control Zone District, and Chehalis Basin Strategy as the best way to deliver the most beneficial combination of flood protection and aquatic species enhancement all Basin citizens, stakeholders, and “flood” and “fish” interests deserve.

Publications:

Cover Letter To: Scott Boettcher: scottb@sbgh-partners.com

Additional Copies To:

Resolution

WHEREAS, in 2010 and 2016, Lewis County, like many other jurisdictions in the Basin, adopted local resolutions in support of a Basin-wide solution to flooding and aquatic species restoration as developed through the Chehalis Basin process, which can be accessed through the Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority’s Local Resolutions Library at https://www.ezview.wa.gov/site/alias__1492/37643/local_resolutions.aspx; and

WHEREAS, Lewis County foresees a future through the Chehalis Basin process where our families and communities are protected from the worst of the periodic catastrophic floods that hit our Basin and a future where habitat restoration projects have turned a declining fishery into a vibrant fishery; and

WHEREAS, on April 21, 2020, the Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority stated its support for the Chehalis River Basin Flood Control Zone District’s proposed Chehalis River Basin Flood Damage Reduction Project and view that the institutional governance capacity existed in the Basin to identify and implement sufficient “technically feasible and economically practicable” mitigation as required (see “Final CRBFA Letter re DEIS” in the Local Resolutions Library at https://www.ezview.wa.gov/site/alias__1492/37643/local_resolutions.aspx).; and

WHEREAS, the Flood Authority’s position on the District’s proposed Chehalis River Basin Flood Damage Reduction Project is consistent with previous positions and statements supporting balanced, Basin-wide solutions for flooding and aquatic species restoration made by Lewis County; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Ecology’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement shows the District’s proposed Chehalis River Basin Flood Damage Reduction Project will deliver significant reductions in catastrophic levels of flooding for Basin communities and provide substantial reductions in impact and flood inundation for thousands of structures, including homes, schools, churches, small businesses, state highways and I-5 provided impacts are acceptably mitigated; and

WHEREAS, the Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority, Office of Chehalis Basin, Chehalis Basin Board, Chehalis Basin Flood Control Zone District and Chehalis Basin Strategy together provide a well-structured governance and funding framework that has delivered much positive “flood” and “fish” benefit to the Basin since the catastrophic floods of 2007 and 2009.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Lewis County Board of County Commissioners resolves to support and offer Lewis County's continued participation in the integrated processes of the Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority, Office of Chehalis Basin, Chehalis Basin Board, Chehalis Basin Flood Control Zone District, and Chehalis Basin Strategy as the best way to deliver the most beneficial combination of flood protection and aquatic species enhancement that all Basin citizens, tribal partners, stakeholders, and “flood” and “fish” interests deserve.

DONE IN OPEN SESSION this 11th day of May, 2020.