Chehalis flood control is endless money pit

Eighty years of taxpayer-funded studies and consultants to identify and implement effective flood damage reduction projects throughout the large, complex Chehalis River basin have proven to be an utter waste of time and money.

Irresponsible logging in local forests and tree farms, short-sighted development in the vast Chehalis River floodway and changing weather patterns will result in increased damage with each major storm.

Now, after millions of dollars and countless hours, we are told that the Chehalis River basin is comprised of multiple habitats that support multiple aquatic species. We’re also told that the headwaters of the Chehalis River are prime habitats for highly-prized salmon and steelhead – no kidding!

Of course, these spawning and rearing habitats will be under hundreds of feet of water if the massive Chehalis River dam is constructed south of Pe Ell as proposed. This proposed dam will not be close to cost effective nor will it be constructed for many years, if at all!

In the meantime, there will be more irresponsible land practices, more and larger storms, more storm damage and more multi-million dollar studies with little to show for them.

Resolutions by Wild Game Fish Conservation International regarding irresponsible land practices throughout the Chehalis River basin continue to be ignored as the preferred alternative appears to be status quo with the addition of the proposed cost-ineffective Chehalis River dam. Truly shameful and absolutely irresponsible!

This story was originally published November 2, 2015 at 11:36 AM with the headline "Chehalis flood control is endless money pit."