The Executive Board of the King County Flood Control District gave its unanimous approval to the District’s proposed 2015 Budget, which will focus on funding future projects as it continues the work needed to protect King County residents and businesses from flooding.
The $55.6 million budget, the eighth budget adopted by the Flood District Executive Committee, was approved by the Committee at its Oct. 27 meeting. It will pay for work underway along the Green River, Cedar River, White River and the Snoqualmie River Basins.
Last year, the District began a comprehensive look at each river corridor. This year the budget continues that commitment by allocating money to implement these corridor plans.
“This is a budget that prioritizes and funds the District’s ambitious work program for the coming year,” said Flood District Chair Reagan Dunn. “We are committed to protecting King County residents, businesses and infrastructure from flooding events and this budget continues to reflect that commitment.”
“This vote demonstrates our continued commitment to reduce the risk of flooding to those living in all corners of King County,” said Flood District Vice Chair Larry Gossett. “The storms over the weekend show that regardless of where you live – in a city or rural King County, in or outside of the floodplain – the dangers and risk of flooding are an everyday part of our lives. I’m proud that the King County Flood Control District is working hard to improve the lives and protect property.”
A number of projects will continue to move forward as a result of this budget including the gravel removal in the Cedar River which is being led by the City of Renton. This $5.3 million project will remove approximately 125,000 cubic yards of accumulated sediment from the river channel in 2015. By doing this important work sites like the Boeing 737 production facility at the Renton Municipal Airport will be protected from flooding events.The City of Kent and the Green River Valley is also benefitting from this budget as ongoing projects in and around the city will continue. Projects like the Briscoe-Desimone Levee improvements and the Russell Road upper levee improvements –which will reconstruct the existing system of levee and revetments along the right (east) bank of the Green River between S 212th St and river mile S 231st Way in the City of Kent in order to provide long-term flood protection and improve riparian and aquatic habitat—will safeguard countless businesses, homes and infrastructure in the Green River Valley a vitally important economic hub within King County and the region.
“As flooding becomes a rising threat in our region, implementing an efficient budget is critical to protecting our communities” said Supervisor Pete von Reichbauer. “I will be monitoring the projects that will be completed through this budget to prepare King County in the event of a flood.”“This budget pays for many important projects that are essential to protect jobs and the economy,” said Supervisor Dave Upthegrove.
Also funded in the 2015 budget are programs that will help elevate homes and provide farm pads for livestock along the Snoqualmie River Basin.
“I’m happy to see that, in this year’s budget, we will have the funding to continue with our plan of providing home elevations and farm pads for those whose property is in danger of flooding,” said Supervisor Kathy Lambert. “They are critical infrastructure in the Snoqualmie Valley and we will be able to complete more this year than ever before.”
Along with approving the budget, the Executive Committee also sent to the full Board of Supervisors the 2015, work program, six-year capital improvement program, oversight budget, water resource inventory area funding, flood reduction fund grant funding, and sub-regional opportunity fund project list.
The full King County Flood Control District’s Board of Supervisors is scheduled to act on the Budget at its Nov. 3 meeting.
