King County Flood Control District Chair Reagan Dunn and Flood District Supervisor Pete von Reichbauer were at Auburn City Hall today for the first of two meetings where the public were able to review and comment on a variety of flood protection solutions for the lower Green River valley.
The meetings are an opportunity to examine options that satisfy the multiple and often competing federal mandates and legal requirements that apply to levee systems. Project employees were at the meeting to gather feedback and answer questions.
“It is vital that we hold these meetings in the affected communities the District serves,” said Flood Control District Chair Reagan Dunn. “Keeping community members engaged in flood protection plans and options affords us the opportunity to gather much needed feedback.”
The levee system in the lower Green River valley is old and outdated. It was originally constructed to protect sparsely populated agricultural lands, rather than the present landscape of residential development and significant regional economic infrastructure.
To address the risks associated with an aging levee system, the King County Flood Control District has worked with a variety of constituents and stakeholders to be able to present several alternatives for making improvements.
Known as the Green River System-Wide Improvement Framework (SWIF), the product will be a prioritized set of projects and recommendations to achieve flood protection goals that build economic, ecologic and community resiliency.
The next meeting will be Tuesday, Sept. 30 from 4 – 7 p.m. at the Maleng Regional Justice Center Rotunda, 401 4th Ave. N. in Kent. Supervisor Dave Upthegrove is expected join Dunn to meet with residents in Kent.
“This work is really important,” said Upthegrove. “There is a lot at stake for the city of Kent and other Green River Valley cities.”
“An engaged community is vital as we plan future flood protection projects in the Green River Valley,” said Dunn. “If you live in an area that could be affected by Green River flooding please consider attending this upcoming meeting.”
For more about the Green River SWIF, or to provide comments, visit www.kingcounty.gov/rivers, or contact Jennifer Knauer at 206-477-4856 orJennifer.knauer@kingcounty.gov.
