The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG - Four flood reduction risk measures on Coppei Creek ranging in cost from $725,000 to about $4 million were up for discussion at a public interest meeting hosted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Monday night at the fairgrounds.

About 10 area residents, including Waitsburg City Clerk Randy Hinchliffe, turned out for the meeting, which was co-hosted by the City Council.

The Corps of Engineers is offering to pay 65 percent of the project. That would leave the city on the hook for about two million dollars if the decision is made to pursue the most expensive of four flood reduction alternatives.

To help pay its share, the city could place a bond measure before its voters as early as November.

"The best plan is probably to protect everyone we can," Corps of Engineers project manager Stan Heller said. "It wouldn't be right to just protect part of the city."

Alternative one, the least expensive option, provides the least amount of protection. It would fill parking area at the fairgrounds, reconstruct adjacent levee and clear trees and obstructions upstream of parking area. This alternative would protect a small area just west of the racetrack.

Alternative two, in addition to work described in the first option, would add more levee construction upstream of the racetrack and regrade the ground to drain towards Coppei Creek. It would extend the second levee to the levee adjacent to Coppei Creek. This would protect the racetrack and fairgrounds.

Additional work included in alternative three calls for a low point drainage swale downstream of Orchard Road and through the alfalfa field back to Coppei Creek. Fencing would be replaced, low areas filled and the alfalfa field replanted. This alternative is focused on extending additional flood protection to the area northeast of Coppei Creek and west of Highway 12.

Alternative four includes all previously mentioned plans plus construction of two floodwalls, reconstruction of Coppei Creek upstream of Highway 12, relocation of a small barn, and additional levee work. This option also includes relocation of a small building and removal of a knoll south of Coppei Creek.

In his presentation, Heller stressed the concept of "flood risk reduction" because no plan offers full protection against the largest of floods. The goal is to reduce rather eliminate risk, he said.

Heller said the plans under consideration now are aimed at protecting against a 100- year flood but not the larger floods Waitsburg might expect every 250 to 500 years.

Plans one and two would protect the city and school district while the plans three and four would extend protection to most of Waitsburg's residential areas.

The possibility of additional measures to protect the city is still open. The Corps of Engineers would be happy to add more ideas under its cost-sharing platform, Heller said.

One idea mentioned during the meeting would add flood risk reduction measures on the other side of the city near the Touchet River.

The city is already cleaning debris, trash, vegetation and trees away from the levee in that area so the levee can be inspected.

Some at the meeting questioned the wisdom of asking voters for a bond issue if work is limited to Coppei Creek alone.

Heller made the point that it makes sense economically in the long run to support the project. Work would take advantage of available federal funding and help lower flood insurance costs.

One resident at the meeting argued in favor of the community doing as much work as it can afford - and as quickly as possible.

Cost overruns in the plans were also discussed in the meeting. The contract builds into the agreement an allotment for 20-25 percent to cover unexpected expenses. Money could be left over after the project and the budget could also still be gone over.