I found a document this afternoon that states the flood zone was de-established … here are a couple of sentences from that document (http://lewiscountywa.gov/communitydevelopment/request-for-qualifications-flood-authority) .
The third paragraph on page 9 of the CRBFA (Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority) Work Session Meeting Notes 12.17.09
“Commissioner Averill said that Lewis County formed a zone district in 1998 that they just disestablished last year. It didn’t accomplish anything. Commissioners tend to have other problems to deal with on a day-to-day basis. When a district is formed with a governing body that is the BOCC, it runs that risk. Is there an alternative that allows you to put some other body in place to make decisions..”
Visit the Link above to view meeting notes from 11/2009 to 02/2009 and additional information.
Below is Lee’s email from earlier this week. We need to find out if the minutes are talking about the same “District” as in Lee’s email. Look’s like they are the same to me…and John.
I spent the evening reading through the documents, it appears that there is a "Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority" that is currently working to establish either a Flood Control District or a Flood Control Zone District in the Chehalis Basin and several other affected counties and the Chehalis Tribe that are included in the basin. Including hiring a consulting service to determine which type of district should be established. There is state money going to this project in the Chehalis Basin; for the protection of I-5.
Both the "Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority - Flood Storage Facility Design and Economic Feasibility Analysis REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS" and the "Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority - Flood District Formation REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS" are due to be opened for review on 03/15/2010 on or about 10:00am in the Lewis County Courthouse Commissioners Hearing Room.
Another document on Lewis County's website describes RESOLUTION No. 09-361; in which a grant was obtained from Washington State Department of Ecology for Elevation of At-Risk Structures in the Cowlitz and Chehalis River Basins. As I expected most of the funds are being spent in the Chehalis River basin, but there are 2 properties in Randle that grant will be assisting with the cost of elevating the homes above the Base Flood Elevation, as per the NFIP, to help prevent further damage in a major high-water event. Fred Chapman, who is our county building official and flood plain manager is the "Recipient Project Coordinator" for the grant.
So, it looks like there is a lot more going on than we were aware of, if we can keep up on it, we may be able to learn even more from their success and failures.
Elise
----- Original Message -----
From: F. Lee Grose
Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2010 1:23 PM
Subject: RE: Upper Cowlitz Community Awareness Committee Meeting - January 9, 2010
All,
I encourage you to read RCW 86.15 which establishes Flood Control Zone Districts. There is some very interesting information there. It is the position of the Commissioners that we would feel more comfortable with Flood Zone commissioners with the responsibility for making the decisions rather than that responsibility resting solely on the three of us. The Cowlitz Flood Control Zone District encompasses all of the Cowlitz Basin in Lewis County.
Lee Grose
Lewis County Commissioner, District 3
_______________________________________________
From: Gary McCarty [mailto:mccartyg@lewiscounty.com]
Sent: Saturday, March 13, 2010 2:18 PM
Subject: Upper Cowlitz Community Awareness Committee Meeting - March 13, 2010
Attached are my notes from todays meeting of the Upper CowlitzTechnical Advisory Committee.
Gary McCarty
Saturday, March 13, 2010
03-13-10 Meeting Notes
Upper Cowlitz Community Awareness Committee Meeting
MEETING - March 13, 2010
Attendees:
John Berry; Meagen Johnson; Roger Johnson;
Doug Lageson; John Anderson; Elise Lindberg;
Gary McCarty; Robert L. Steichen
The meeting of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) was called on short notice and many of the members of the committee were unable to attend. Another meeting is scheduled for April 17, 2010 at 10:00 AM at the High Valley Club House.
FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT – The group discussed the Flood Control Zone District (FCZD) that already exists in Lewis County. It was soon apparent that there is much to be learned in order to understand a FCDZ and what it will take to make it operational. It is clear that the FCDZ has the potential to be a source of funding for mitigation efforts in the upper Cowlitz. The question was raised as to the commitment of the Lewis County Commissioners to the funding of the FCZD. It was decided that the next logical step is to determine if the Commissioners have the political will to tax the citizens of Lewis County and thereby fund the FCZD.
NEXT STEPS
• John Anderson and Roger Johnson will schedule meetings with the Lewis County Commissioners starting with Lee Grose. John and Roger will ask:
o Are the Commissioners willing to fund the FCZD?
o What is their position relative to the CMZ regulation?
o Are they willing to support the NRCS study mitigation recommendations?
• John Anderson will try to get Fred Chapman to come to the next meeting to explain the what, where, when and how of the CMZ situation.
• John will schedule a public meeting sometime in the future to let people know what is going on.
Gary McCarty
President
High Valley Country Club
MEETING - March 13, 2010
Attendees:
John Berry; Meagen Johnson; Roger Johnson;
Doug Lageson; John Anderson; Elise Lindberg;
Gary McCarty; Robert L. Steichen
The meeting of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) was called on short notice and many of the members of the committee were unable to attend. Another meeting is scheduled for April 17, 2010 at 10:00 AM at the High Valley Club House.
FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT – The group discussed the Flood Control Zone District (FCZD) that already exists in Lewis County. It was soon apparent that there is much to be learned in order to understand a FCDZ and what it will take to make it operational. It is clear that the FCDZ has the potential to be a source of funding for mitigation efforts in the upper Cowlitz. The question was raised as to the commitment of the Lewis County Commissioners to the funding of the FCZD. It was decided that the next logical step is to determine if the Commissioners have the political will to tax the citizens of Lewis County and thereby fund the FCZD.
NEXT STEPS
• John Anderson and Roger Johnson will schedule meetings with the Lewis County Commissioners starting with Lee Grose. John and Roger will ask:
o Are the Commissioners willing to fund the FCZD?
o What is their position relative to the CMZ regulation?
o Are they willing to support the NRCS study mitigation recommendations?
• John Anderson will try to get Fred Chapman to come to the next meeting to explain the what, where, when and how of the CMZ situation.
• John will schedule a public meeting sometime in the future to let people know what is going on.
Gary McCarty
President
High Valley Country Club
Thursday, March 11, 2010
01-09-10 Meeting Minutes
UPPER COWLITZ COMMUNITY AWARENESS COMMITTEE
MEETING – JANUARY 9, 2010
Agenda: Committee membership and leadership
The CMZ …looking to document what, when, why, where, by who.
Flood district
Recent proposals
Setting dates and times for future committee meetings and also community meetings
Attendees: John Anderson Doug Lageson Bill Legler
Novella Legler Wanda Steichen John Berry
Robert Steichen Michael Claus Elise Lindberg Meagen Johnson Lee Grose Gary McCarty
Lenny LeSarge Keith Hodges Steve Mansfield
Discussion:
The meeting was called to order by John Anderson. He then reviewed the proposed agenda. John also referred to the UPPER COWLITZ COMMUNITY AWARENES COMMITTEE web page (uppercowlitz.info) which will communicate the committee activities, items of interest as well as links to other sources of information. One key item on the web page is CODE RED an emergency telephone notification system. Directions for signing up for CODE RED are available on the web page.
John stated that the committee has been formed to provide informal input to the CMZ regulations during the input stage. John suggested that the committee needs to find out who is pushing the CMZ, the reasons for the CMZ regulations, what is to be included, when the law is to be promulgated and where the new regulations will be applied. He suggested that the driver for the formation of the committee is the protection of property and the value of property. Gary McCarty suggested that the focus should be directed at protection of property based on the recommendations of the NRCS study. That study provides risk evaluations, specific mitigation recommendations and a cost benefit analysis. Jim Brazil has already done preliminary engineering of the Cannon road revetment recommendation and presented that to the County (see notes on the High Valley Country Club web site).
Several people on the committee expressed opinions on the situation including:
A suggestion that since dozers were used in the Nisqually to return the river to its channel, the upper Cowlitz should be treated the same (ignoring environmental regulations).
Legally challenge the CMZ based on the fact that lives and property are at risk.
Be ready to implement the NRCS recommendation at the next flood event.
A Flood Control District (FLC) was discussed. Lewis County has promised to look into the formation of a FLC; Lee Grose will follow up to determine the status. A FLC would be a legal entity and provide a means of obtaining money to proceed with mitigation alternatives.
The process for changing the CMZ red zone boundaries was discussed. There was not a good understanding of the process by the committee; Lee suggested that data would be needed to support a request for changing the red zone. Lee will ask Fred Chapman to attend the next committee meeting to explain the process in detail. Fred will also be asked to explain the who, what, why, where and when of the CMZ.
Follow up:
1. Lee Grose – Status of FLC county efforts
2. Lee Grose – Emergency response plan detail
3. Lee Grose – bring plans on Franklin Bridge protection
4. Lee Grose – Ask Fred Chapman to attend next meeting and explain who, what, why, when, where of the CMZ
5. Gary McCarty – Continue to try and locate funding sources for mitigation alternative.
6. Gary McCarty – Information on EIS planning
7. John Anderson – Locate a Chairman for the Upper Cowlitz Committee
8. EliseLindberg – set up a blog on the web site
9. Gary McCarty – Bring more information on HV 8/11 revetment
10. Lenny LaSarge – Draft on defining input into CMZ
The next meeting of the Committee will be: February 27, 2010, location to be announced.
MEETING – JANUARY 9, 2010
Agenda: Committee membership and leadership
The CMZ …looking to document what, when, why, where, by who.
Flood district
Recent proposals
Setting dates and times for future committee meetings and also community meetings
Attendees: John Anderson Doug Lageson Bill Legler
Novella Legler Wanda Steichen John Berry
Robert Steichen Michael Claus Elise Lindberg Meagen Johnson Lee Grose Gary McCarty
Lenny LeSarge Keith Hodges Steve Mansfield
Discussion:
The meeting was called to order by John Anderson. He then reviewed the proposed agenda. John also referred to the UPPER COWLITZ COMMUNITY AWARENES COMMITTEE web page (uppercowlitz.info) which will communicate the committee activities, items of interest as well as links to other sources of information. One key item on the web page is CODE RED an emergency telephone notification system. Directions for signing up for CODE RED are available on the web page.
John stated that the committee has been formed to provide informal input to the CMZ regulations during the input stage. John suggested that the committee needs to find out who is pushing the CMZ, the reasons for the CMZ regulations, what is to be included, when the law is to be promulgated and where the new regulations will be applied. He suggested that the driver for the formation of the committee is the protection of property and the value of property. Gary McCarty suggested that the focus should be directed at protection of property based on the recommendations of the NRCS study. That study provides risk evaluations, specific mitigation recommendations and a cost benefit analysis. Jim Brazil has already done preliminary engineering of the Cannon road revetment recommendation and presented that to the County (see notes on the High Valley Country Club web site).
Several people on the committee expressed opinions on the situation including:
A suggestion that since dozers were used in the Nisqually to return the river to its channel, the upper Cowlitz should be treated the same (ignoring environmental regulations).
Legally challenge the CMZ based on the fact that lives and property are at risk.
Be ready to implement the NRCS recommendation at the next flood event.
A Flood Control District (FLC) was discussed. Lewis County has promised to look into the formation of a FLC; Lee Grose will follow up to determine the status. A FLC would be a legal entity and provide a means of obtaining money to proceed with mitigation alternatives.
The process for changing the CMZ red zone boundaries was discussed. There was not a good understanding of the process by the committee; Lee suggested that data would be needed to support a request for changing the red zone. Lee will ask Fred Chapman to attend the next committee meeting to explain the process in detail. Fred will also be asked to explain the who, what, why, where and when of the CMZ.
Follow up:
1. Lee Grose – Status of FLC county efforts
2. Lee Grose – Emergency response plan detail
3. Lee Grose – bring plans on Franklin Bridge protection
4. Lee Grose – Ask Fred Chapman to attend next meeting and explain who, what, why, when, where of the CMZ
5. Gary McCarty – Continue to try and locate funding sources for mitigation alternative.
6. Gary McCarty – Information on EIS planning
7. John Anderson – Locate a Chairman for the Upper Cowlitz Committee
8. EliseLindberg – set up a blog on the web site
9. Gary McCarty – Bring more information on HV 8/11 revetment
10. Lenny LaSarge – Draft on defining input into CMZ
The next meeting of the Committee will be: February 27, 2010, location to be announced.
02-27-10 Meeting Minutes
The following minutes summarize a meeting held February 27, 2010 where we learned that there already exists a Flood Control Zone District for Lewis County. The district may be the way to address the mitigation needs of the Upper Cowlitz.
Gary McCarty
___________________
CMZ MEETING
February 27, 2010
Attendees:
Roger Johnson; Meagen Johnson; Lenny LeSarge; Mike Claus; John Anderson; Lee Grose; Gary McCarty
The meeting of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) was called on short notice and many of the members of the committee were unable to attend. Another meeting will be scheduled in a couple of weeks.
FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT – Lee Grose opened the meeting by explaining that a Flood Control Zone District (FCZD) already exists in Lewis County. Lee and the other commissioners were unaware of the FCZD which had been formed in August of 1997. It was intended to address problems with the Chehalis, Cowlitz and some other Lewis County rivers. This has the potential address the mitigation efforts on the upper Cowlitz.
The FCDZ was intended to operate as follows:
Gary McCarty
___________________
CMZ MEETING
February 27, 2010
Attendees:
Roger Johnson; Meagen Johnson; Lenny LeSarge; Mike Claus; John Anderson; Lee Grose; Gary McCarty
The meeting of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) was called on short notice and many of the members of the committee were unable to attend. Another meeting will be scheduled in a couple of weeks.
FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT – Lee Grose opened the meeting by explaining that a Flood Control Zone District (FCZD) already exists in Lewis County. Lee and the other commissioners were unaware of the FCZD which had been formed in August of 1997. It was intended to address problems with the Chehalis, Cowlitz and some other Lewis County rivers. This has the potential address the mitigation efforts on the upper Cowlitz.
The FCDZ was intended to operate as follows:
- A Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) is formed consisting of:
- Fifteen people from around the County.
- Non-voting representatives from:
- Chehalis, Centralia, Toledo, Winlock, Mossyrock, Vader, Morton, Pe Ell, and Napavine
- Non-voting County staff members
- The Director of Public Service
- The County Enginee
- The Flood Control Zone Coordinator
- The committee members gather input from the citizens in their area, assess that input, develop action steps and recommend those actions to the County Flood Control Board, which is actually the Board of County Commissioners acting as a Flood Control Board.
- The Flood Control Board then makes an official recommendation to the County Commissioners who acting in that capacity makes the final decisions.
- Funding for the FCDZ is via “Lewis County Flood Control District Fund No. 125. The money that was available for that fund has been spent but the County Commissioners have the ability to authorize taxes to support the FCDZ.
- The FCDZ provides the vehicle to go after grants that would fund mitigation efforts. Most of the potential grants require some seed money.
NEXT STEPS
- Lee Grose will further define the scope of the FCDZ and report back at the next CMZ TAC meeting.
- Lee asked the group to provide a list of people willing to serve on the FCDZ Citizens Advisory Committee suggesting that representatives of Timberline, High Valley, Cispus should be represented on that list. Five persons from the Upper Cowlitz would probably be on the CAC.
Flood Control Zone Districts
Since I want to make sure that anyone who follows what is happening with the Upper Cowlitz Community Awareness Committee has the opportunity to give us feedback. I have provided below an email message sent from Gary McCarty to the group. It is in response to an email from Commissioner Lee Grose about the Flood Control Zone District and Flood Zone Commissoners; the email from Commissioner Grose is also included.
Thanks for following the news on the committee.
Elise
_______________________________________
From: Gary McCarty
Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2010 4:20 PM
Subject: Fw: Upper Cowlitz Community Awareness Committee Meeting - January 9, 2010
I was not sure who all got Lee's message so I decided to forward it to all who might be interested.
Lee's and the Commissioner's are taking the position that Flood Zone Commissioners make the decisions is interesting. I am not at all sure what that means. Where do these Commissioners come from? Are they elected, appointed or? Do they take direction from the Flood Zone Committee? Do They report to the County Commissioners? Who approves projects, tax levies, studies, etc? The Upper Cowlitz Community Awareness Committe meeting tentatively scheduled for this month may help clarify the situation.
Gary
----- Original Message -----
From: F. Lee Grose
To: Gary McCarty
Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2010 1:23 PM
Subject: RE: Upper Cowlitz Community Awareness Committee Meeting - January 9, 2010
All,
I encourage you to read RCW 86.15 which establishes Flood Control Zone Districts. There is some very interesting information there. It is the position of the Commissioners that we would feel more comfortable with Flood Zone commissioners with the responsibility for making the decisions rather than that responsibility resting solely on the three of us. The Cowlitz Flood Control Zone District encompasses all of the Cowlitz Basin in Lewis County.
Lee Grose
Lewis County Commissioner, District 3
Thanks for following the news on the committee.
Elise
_______________________________________
From: Gary McCarty
Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2010 4:20 PM
Subject: Fw: Upper Cowlitz Community Awareness Committee Meeting - January 9, 2010
I was not sure who all got Lee's message so I decided to forward it to all who might be interested.
Lee's and the Commissioner's are taking the position that Flood Zone Commissioners make the decisions is interesting. I am not at all sure what that means. Where do these Commissioners come from? Are they elected, appointed or? Do they take direction from the Flood Zone Committee? Do They report to the County Commissioners? Who approves projects, tax levies, studies, etc? The Upper Cowlitz Community Awareness Committe meeting tentatively scheduled for this month may help clarify the situation.
Gary
----- Original Message -----
From: F. Lee Grose
To: Gary McCarty
Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2010 1:23 PM
Subject: RE: Upper Cowlitz Community Awareness Committee Meeting - January 9, 2010
All,
I encourage you to read RCW 86.15 which establishes Flood Control Zone Districts. There is some very interesting information there. It is the position of the Commissioners that we would feel more comfortable with Flood Zone commissioners with the responsibility for making the decisions rather than that responsibility resting solely on the three of us. The Cowlitz Flood Control Zone District encompasses all of the Cowlitz Basin in Lewis County.
Lee Grose
Lewis County Commissioner, District 3
Friday, January 15, 2010
Website problem
I just wanted to let everyone know that there is a problem with http://www.uppercowlitz.info/, the Channel Migration Zone page appears to be disabled. I will let everyone know when this has been resolved.
I am also curious to know if anyone has been able to access the Lewis County site about the CMZ, the link that I had saved no longer works, and I've been unable to access it from the Community Development site. This is a concern to me since the website links directly to the county maps and information.
Thanks everyone!
Elise
Webmaster http://www.uppercowlitz.info/
I am also curious to know if anyone has been able to access the Lewis County site about the CMZ, the link that I had saved no longer works, and I've been unable to access it from the Community Development site. This is a concern to me since the website links directly to the county maps and information.
Thanks everyone!
Elise
Webmaster http://www.uppercowlitz.info/
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Welcome
Welcome to the newest addition to our website, our very own blog!
Here we can share ideas and information about the progress of the Upper Cowlitz Commuity Awareness Committee.
Thank you to everyone involved in the first official committee meeting today at the High Valley Club House. I look forward to seeing you all again next month. We will be working on the minutes from that meeting over the next couple of days and I will get them posted as soon as possible.
Please feel free to post suggestions, comments or concerns here, or email them to me at webmaster@uppercowlitz.info.
Elise Lindberg
Webmaster
http://www.uppercowlitz.info/
Here we can share ideas and information about the progress of the Upper Cowlitz Commuity Awareness Committee.
Thank you to everyone involved in the first official committee meeting today at the High Valley Club House. I look forward to seeing you all again next month. We will be working on the minutes from that meeting over the next couple of days and I will get them posted as soon as possible.
Please feel free to post suggestions, comments or concerns here, or email them to me at webmaster@uppercowlitz.info.
Elise Lindberg
Webmaster
http://www.uppercowlitz.info/
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