The recent flooding along the Cedar River will the subject of the next meeting of the Cedar River Council.

The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 27 at Maplewood Greens Golf Course, located at 4050 Maple Valley Hwy. Representatives of King County, the city of Renton and Seattle Public Utilities present information about the flooding that occurred earlier this month. And they might get an earful from disgruntled citizens, according to one of the latter.

Clint Fisher told the Reporter that “a lot of angry residents” plan to attend the meeting and ask whether flooding could have been prevented or lessened through better flood-control measures.

Fisher said Seattle Public Utilities, which controls releases of water into the river upstream, kept a reservoir at a high level and the river’s flow at a low level prior to the heavy rainfall and warmer temperatures that melted snowpack, causing a rapid rise of the river. He claimed the agency was too concerned about salmon habitat and water supplies for its customers.

River-management policies should be modified when conditions are building toward possible floods, Fisher said, adding “public safety” and protection of property should be a high priority.

The council, which monitors river-related issues, includes representatives of government and citizens’ groups. Its co-chairmen are Metropolitan King County Council members, Reagan Dunn, whose district includes Maple Valley, Covington and Black Diamond, and Larry Phillips.