Local legislators Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, and Sen. Brian Hatfield, D-Raymond, earlier this week interceded on the behalf of the Chehalis River Basin.
Made aware that the Senate's proposed capital budget included about $24 million for flood mitigation projects — rather than the requested $28 million — Braun and Hatfield took steps to restore full funding.
And on Wednesday, the Senate unanimously approved the senators' budget amendment, which now allocates $28 million to basin flood relief.
Full funding was included in the budgets proposed by the House of Representatives, Gov. Jay Inslee, and former-Gov. Chris Gregoire.
Vickie Raines, the Flood Authority chairwoman and a member of the Chehalis Work Group, said the discrepancy stemmed from miscommunication.
When the Flood Authority had preliminary studies done, about eight months ago, a range of costs were provided. The Chehalis Work Group used the high end of the range in its proposed portfolio of projects.
"What the Senate staff did was take the low range, probably in an effort to reduce the budget," Raines said. "Senators Braun and Hatfield made the request to have that increased."
Basin leaders were heartened by the senators' swift reaction, according to Raines.
"They are in the basin, and it's important to them as well," she said. "They understand where we are coming from, and they are doing their part to make sure the needed work gets done."
Though the Senate's support, particularly its unanimous vote to restore funding, is "a really good sign," the Chehalis Work Group must remain diligent: "They haven't banged the gavel yet," Raines said.
In November, the Work Group requested that funding for a multi-pronged flood mitigation plan, including $9.2 million for the study and design of a dam and other long-term projects to improve Interstate 5; $10.7 million for local flood protection projects; $4.4 million for projects that reduce flooding while benefitting fish; $1.75 million for reducing damage to residences and other structures in the floodplain; $1.2 million for operation of the basin program and for project management; and $950,000 for state agency technical assistance and project permitting.
Members of the Work Group include: Vickie Raines, the Flood Authority chairwoman; Karen Valenzuela, the vice chair of the Flood Authority; J. Vander Stoep, an alternate to the Flood Authority; David Burnett, the chair of the Chehalis Tribe; Jay Gordon, the head of the Washington Dairy Farmers Association; and Keith Phillips, an adviser to the governor.
