$74 million on tap for Chehalis River levees

ROCHESTER -- U.S. Sen. Patty Murray confirmed today that $74 million in federal money is on tap for a massive Chehalis River Basin Partnership levee construction program to ensure flood protection for three South Sound counties and tribal lands.

"The money is there, authorized, but we can't go forward until we get a local non-federal partner to represent the basin," said Murray, D-Wash.

Murray made her comments after a community meeting at Swede Hall. The event drew more than 150 residents and emergency responders from throughout Thurston County, as well as county, state and federal emergency staff and elected officials.

It was Murray's first visit to Thurston County to survey the federal disaster response to the Dec. 3 flooding and to talk about ongoing prevention efforts.

Murray also said she would see if there is any way to secure more federal money for a permanent bridge at the Cedar Flats Road washout over Swift Creek.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said it would reimburse Thurston County for a $135,000 detour set up after the Dec. 3 washout, and for a $150,000 to $250,000 temporary one-lane bridge to substitute for the problem-prone detour.

However, FEMA will not pay $800,000 for a permanent bridge because federal rules only allow reimbursement to replace a failed culvert under where Cedar Flats Road used to be.

A culvert won't fix the situation, officials said.

"FEMA can only replace what was there originally, but now the state is asking for a higher level of mitigation," Murray said.

For more on the story, see The Olympian Thursday.