Project designer Keith Moen of HDR Engineering, left, walks across a bridge where the proposed dam would be located during a tour near Pe Ell earlier this year.
The public comment period focused on an agreement to get dedicated staff members within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expedite a proposed dam on the Chehalis River near Pe Ell has closed.
The additional staff, according to Erik Martin, the administrator of the Chehalis River Basin Flood Control Zone District, would work on the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act.
The comment period resulted in responses from the Quinault Tribe, who expressed a concern on the meaning of an expedited review, Martin said on Wednesday.
“They thought it might mean that it would not get a thorough review, but that’s not the case,” Martin, who is also the county’s public works director, said. “We’re going to work with the Corps to adjust the language a little bit and make sure everyone understands that (the agreement) is really to dedicate staff to work on this project only.”
Martin has a meeting with the Army Corps on Monday to discuss the agreement in more depth. The agreement will require funding, so he has been working with a consultant and the state Recreation and Conservation Office to obtain that money, which he said is currently available despite the lack of a capital budget from the Legislature. During an update, county staff was informed the Legislature could come together to pass a capital budget in December, although it could stretch into March, depending on what is done with the water rights ruling known as the Hirst decision.
The environmental impact statement from the state Department of Ecology outlines three objectives all aimed at reducing flooding levels in various areas of Lewis County.
J. Vander Stoep, a member of the Chehalis Basin Board, applauded the flood control zone district for the work it has completed thus far. The board of supervisors are Lewis County Commissioners Edna Fund, Gary Stamper and Bobby Jackson. Supervisor Jackson was not present at the meeting.
“I think this flood zone district is doing a great bunch of work here,” he said. “Most people don’t have the time to see it, but it’s really important and it’s moving this process forward. What I think people can understand and do know and have a sense for is that we are now into the permitting process.”
The permitting process of the dam takes place at both the national and state levels.
“This is something people have been talking about and thinking about for almost 100 years and I just want to say thank you for all of your work,” Vander Stoep said.
Following the meeting, a separate flood control zone district focused on the Cowlitz River took place. Currently, members are being sought to sit on the advisory committee.
The current focus of the district is to identify issues in the Cowlitz Basin like Coal Creek and Stover Road, which was washed out by the river.
Staff discussed following the same model on the Chehalis River for the Cowlitz River to try to get the entirety of the basin involved in combatting flood issues.
