Here is some more on the Flood control District.

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