Welcome to Skagit County
March 11, 2004
COMMISSIONERS, MAYORS
TAKE HISTORICAL TRIP TO WASHINGTON DC TO ASK FOR ADDITIONAL FLOOD STORAGE IN
BAKER RIVER SYSTEM
SKAGIT COUNTY – A delegation of Skagit County mayors and commissioners recently returned from a trip to Washington DC to make their case for more flood storage in the Baker River System and ask for additional funding for the Skagit River Flood Prevention Feasibility Study. “This trip was unprecedented for the citizens of Skagit County. To have our mayors and commissioners, plus our state and federal elected officials, all pulling together to find a solution for flood prevention has been very productive,” said Skagit County Commissioner Ken Dahlstedt.
The delegation included Anacortes Mayor Dean Maxwell, Burlington Mayor Gus Tjeerdsma, Sedro-Woolley Mayor Sharon Dillon, Mount Vernon City Councilmember Dale Ragan, and Skagit County Commissioners Ted Anderson, Ken Dahlstedt, and Don Munks.
The mayors and commissioners met with Congressmen Rick Larsen, Norm Dicks, and George Nethercutt and their staff, Senator Patty Murray and her staff; and the staff of Senator Maria Cantwell. In addition, the commissioners and mayors met with Federal Energy Regulatory (FERC) Commissioners Joseph Kelliher, Nora Brownell, and Suedeen Kelly, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers General Robert Griffin. They also met with officials from Burlington Northern/Sante Fe Railroad, the Department of Transportation, Office of Pipeline Safety, the Department of Interior, Office of External Affairs Department of Agriculture Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Oceans and Coastal Resource Management.
“Our message is simple, but our mission is to leave no stone unturned in finding a viable and environmentally reasonable solution for flood control that protects human life, property, and fish,” said Dahlstedt. “We need additional flood storage as part of a long-term solution for flooding in the Skagit Valley.”
Skagit County’s request of the federal delegation and agencies is to request that Puget Sound Energy consider additional flood storage behind Lower Baker Dam, as part of the FERC re-licensing process now underway. They also asked for increased funding for the Skagit River Flood Prevention/Salmon Restoration Feasibility Study.
- Skagit County’s plan to eliminate and minimize flood damage and loss of life to includes:
- Negotiate additional storage and reservoir management operations in the Baker and Skagit River systems.
- Increase conveyance and
eliminate major flood impediments through the four-bridge corridor between
Burlington and Mount Vernon.
- Rehabilitation of the levee system downstream of Mount Vernon, providing flood protection and enhanced habitat for fish.
- Establish an emergency overflow route
In 2004, the United States Congress appropriated $750,000 for the Skagit River
Flood Prevention/Salmon Restoration Project Feasibility Study. Skagit County
has requested $950,000 for 2005. Skagit County also requested $1.2 million be
added to the 2005 Transportation Appropriation for 2005 to continue engineering
and permitting associated with work on bridges and levees necessary to protect
transportation infrastructure. Congress added an appropriation of $800,000 to
the transportation budget in 2004 towards this purpose.
Dahlstedt also commended Skagit County’s delegation in the Washington State Legislature for their commitment to the project. “In 2004, $300,000 was appropriated from the Washington State Department of Transportation to study bridge improvements,” said Dahlstedt. “We’re expecting additional funding in 2005.”
“The Skagit River is represents the most dangerous flood risk on the West Coast,” said Commissioner Don Munks. “We appreciate the efforts of our cities, dike districts, our citizens, and all of our elected representatives who are working together to find a long-term solution.”
For further information, contact: Dan Berentson
Communications Director
360-419-3461