Public meetings to discuss flood hazard management

Pierce County Public Works and Utilities will host three public meetings to provide the public an update on the Rivers Flood Hazard Management Plan.

The plan addresses flood hazard issues on Pierce County's seven major rivers. The plan will update and expand the 1991 Puyallup River Basin Comprehensive Flood Control Management Plan. It will recommend policies, programs and projects that will help reduce risks and property losses associated with flooding. A draft should be complete in early 2011.

The plan is being updated by the Surface Water Management division in collaboration with the Flood Plan Advisory Committee. The committee is made up of stakeholders that include cities, county staff, tribes, state and federal agencies, business and economic interests, watershed councils, environmental organizations, agricultural interests and citizen representatives. The committee exists to help Pierce County make important decisions about complex issues related to flood management.

This is the second round of public meetings about the plan. In March 2010, the Surface Water Management division introduced the plan and asked the public for help with identifying river flooding and channel migration problems. Upcoming meetings will provide:

• An update on the planning process.
• Information about the flood hazard problems and preliminary solutions that have been identified.
• Proposed levels of protection for county flood control facilities such as levees and revetments.

The meetings will be an open house, drop-in format. All meetings are from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., and presentations will begin at 6 p.m. County staff and members of the advisory committee will be available before and after the presentation to listen to comments and answer questions.

Monday, Nov. 8 - Orting Middle School
111 Whitehawk Blvd. NW, Orting

"Flooding is a huge concern in Pierce County, and this plan will help provide guidance for years to come. We want to keep the public involved and hear their ideas as we update the plan," said Harold Smelt, Surface Water division manager for Public Works and Utilities.

Information about the plan update can be found at www.piercecountywa.org/floodplan. For more information about the meetings, or to provide comments on the plan update, contact Melissa Paulson at 253-798-4686 or mpaulso@co.pierce.wa.us. 

Learn more about flooding and flood safety at www.piercecountywa.org/flood.