County Is Developing a Flood Management Plan

Pierce County Public Works and Utilities Surface Water Management division is developing a Rivers Flood Hazard Management Plan. This plan would be a guideline the county will use to reduce damage from floods in the Puyallup Valley. The old plan developed in 1992 became obsolete after a number of major storm events (see 2006 flood link on side bar) caused extensive flood damage from the Puyallup, Carbon, and White rivers. Also changes of federal and state regulatory requirements are requiring a revision in the County's flood management plan.

The county has a team consisting of various county departments and programs to help develop the plan with input from an advisory committee and the public. A 27-member Flood Plan Advisory Committee has been formed to include representation from cities, tribes, state and Federal agencies, businesses, agriculture and environmental interests and the citizens. The next public participation is in early 2011 when a public meeting will be held to seek input on the draft plan recommendations.

The county plan development timeline does not prevent you from becoming involved before then. You may gather information about the progress of the plan and perhaps seek materials to help you become more informed by contacting the County (see contact information below). You may also voice your questions about flood prevention methods under consideration.

The flood management plans over the past few years have attempted to raise the dykes as the river bed rises. Obviously this plan only works until the river soon becomes higher than the surrounding lands. Will the new plan create ways to lower the level of the rivers, by diversionary methods or dredging? Changing the designated floodplains is not an option to property owners in the valley, but remains an issue on the table.

In the last 100 years, at least 26 major flood events caused significant flood damage. The 2006 flood was significant and left the river clogged with river rock and debris in a number of places in the valley. Heavy rock deposits now have changed the course of the rivers during lower levels and cause river capacity reduction during high volume periods. Years ago, prior to regulations imposed by environmental agencies, river dredging managed flooding. Fish runs did not suffer, in fact common sense tells you that opening up the river will increase future fish runs. Dredging along with building river dykes were responsible for reducing flooding, holding the worst flooding to 100 year cycles.

It will be very interesting to see the first draft of the county plan. The fact that the county is addressing this problem shows the importance of the issue of flooding in the Puyallup Valley. It is also a signal that the problem is greater than we all may realize. Let the county know you do appreciate their program to develop a comprehensive flood management plan. Stress that the public input is important to the plan development process and unlike county transportation decisions that placed developer needs over public concerns, the public opinion should have merit.

County Contact Information:

Pierce County Public Works & Untilities Department
Surface Water Management Division
2702 South 42nd Street, Suite 201
Tacoma, WA 98409-7322

Phone: 253-798-2725

Email: pcwater@co.pierce.wa.us

Visit: www.piercecountywa.org/floodplan

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