In this aerial file photo taken on Oct. 9, 2009, a planned site for a potential dam outside of Pe Ell is seen.
The Centralia City Council on Tuesday approved a resolution supporting Alternative One from the Department of Ecology’s draft options for the Chehalis River Basin, which includes the construction of a dam near Pe Ell.
The alternative is one of four outlined in the Chehalis Basin Strategy Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement. An option to do nothing is also included in the EIS.
The comment period for the EIS was extended to Monday, allowing the council time to submit its feedback.
Alternative One looks at two options for a dam, one with a permanent reservoir and the other with a seasonal reservoir with fish passage.
Alternative Two includes a combination of walls and levees along Interstate 5 to protect the freeway from flooding.
Alternative Three includes buying easements or portions of land from property owners along the Chehalis River to allow for the restoration of the river and creek side environments.
Alternative Four focuses on restorative flood protection and includes the purchase of about 21,000 acres of land in the upper basin.
Trees would be planted on the state-acquired property alongside the river, while farms in the basin would be moved to hillsides.
The city of Centralia’s support for Alternative One matches other local organizations who have also selected it as a favorite.
The Board of Lewis County Commissioners, the city of Chehalis, the Chehalis Basin Flood Authority and the Port of Chehalis also support that alternative.
