Port of Chehalis Shows Support for Dam Near Pe Ell

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Port of Chehalis commissioners approved a letter last week in support of Alternative One in the Department of Ecology’s draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement presenting options to reduce flooding and improve conditions for aquatic species. 

The letter strongly encouraged state officials to take actions to address flooding in the Chehalis Basin, and said Alternative One, which includes the construction of a dam near Pe Ell, appeared to be the best choice to reduce flood impacts in the local community.

The letter was unanimously approved by port commissioners and will be submitted to the Department of Ecology. 

The port has followed other local governments and organizations that have also recently supported the construction of a dam. Those include the city of Chehalis, the Lewis County Board of County Commissioners and the Chehalis Basin Flood Authority, among others. 

The alternative is one of four presented in the EIS that is currently being considered by the public. Another option, to do nothing, also remains. 

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 Port of Chehalis also discussed a stormwater management plan for its industrial park last week.

According to Rick Rouse, senior director of operations for the port, the Flood Control Commission will finance and complete the study. It will pinpoint what the stormwater needs for the park are. 

Randy Mueller, chief executive officer of the port, said now that the Flood Control District has more money, it allows the port to look at bigger projects to relieve flood-related issues at the industrial park. 

Rouse also informed commissioners that repairs to port property resulting from last November’s windstorm, and issues related to a floodwater event in December, came in at lower prices than expected.

The windstorm caused a tree to fall on a bridge, while the December event washed out a culvert on state Route 6. The repairs required assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Administration and the state. The port had also acquired $25,000 in .09 funds from the county for the repairs. The repairs were originally estimated to cost about $100,000, but ended up only costing about $64,000. The port did not have to use about $14,000 in .09 funds, so that money will now be available for distribution to other applicants requesting the funds from the county, Rouse said.