Murray brings prospect of federal aid during flood tour

By Keri Brenner | The Olympian • Published February 20, 2008

• Comments (0)

ROCHESTER – A total of $74 million in federal money is in place for a massive levee-construction program to ensure future flood protection in the Chehalis River Basin, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray said Wednesday.

"The money is there, authorized, but we can't go forward until we get a local nonfederal partner to represent the basin," said Murray, D-Wash. "We're waiting for that."

The Chehalis River Partnership Program would use $74 million in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers money authorized by the federal Water Resources Development Act, she said. The project, which has the support of Gov. Chris Gregoire, has been delayed for seven years, Murray said.

It would include a system of levees along the river in Thurston, Lewis and Grays Harbor counties and on tribal lands, and improvements at the Skookumchuck Dam.

Murray spoke at a community forum at Swede Hall that drew about 150 residents, elected officials and emergency responders. The event was part of Murray's first visit to Thurston County to survey the federal disaster response to December's flooding.

"I've been through this flooding in 1990, in 1996 and now in 2007," state Rep. Gary Alexander, R-Thurston County, said at the forum. "We need a long-term solution, and it needs to be basinwide."

He said he seeks $50 million in matching state money for the program.

In other developments Wednesday:

• The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced it would reimburse Thurston County for a $135,000 detour at the Cedar Flats Road washout area, and for a $150,000-to-$250,000 one-lane temporary bridge over Swift Creek.

However, FEMA denied an application to reimburse the county for an $800,000 permanent bridge. Murray said she would see if there was any other way to get money for a permanent bridge.

• The Pacific Mountain Workforce will extend its jobs program for flood-displaced workers through the summer, spokesman John Loyle said. Loyle said he will seek additional money for 40 more jobs from the U.S. Department of Labor, which is expected to allocate $2.1 million to finance up to 140 jobs in five flood-affected counties. Seventy-six people have been placed in positions, Loyle said.

Interested job applicants can call the WorkSource office in Lewis County at 360-740-6880.

At the forum, Murray echoed calls from residents for a basinwide solution.

"I don't live in Thurston County, but I had 5 feet of water in my living room," said Bob Bue of Chehalis in Lewis County.

"It's really important to address all three counties because we're all one community."