Commission Approves Deal for Flood Analysis in Centralia

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The Board of County Commissioners approved an agreement for a floodplain study for the city of Centralia at its Monday meeting.

The study will consider mitigation options for the city.

The plan for the study was previously presented to the Centralia City Council and has been approved by the Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority.

Lewis County is the fiscal agent for the Flood Authority, and the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office will provide a reimbursement for the study cost. The supplemental scope of work and budget for French & Associates as approved by the county commissioners totals $115,687.

The Flood Authority approved the study at its December 2015 meeting, and French & Associates was selected to do the project. French & Associates will determine policies for mitigation options and divide Centralia and its urban growth area into sectors to determine the best mitigation methods for each area, which could include raising homes or buying properties.



“If that is successful, they would continue on throughout the Flood Authority's area,” said Lee Napier, Lewis County director of community development.

Improved mitigation programs could lead to a reduction in flood damage and cheaper insurance. A similar project was done in Bucoda through the Flood Authority.

Ron Averill, Centralia representative on the Flood Authority, said the study should be completed in 2017.