Draft findings from environmental review are available for comment until Feb. 4, 2026
Ecology is seeking public comments on the revised draft environmental impact statement for the proposed Chehalis River Basin Flood Damage Reduction Project. The Chehalis River Basin Flood Control Zone District (Flood District) is proposing a project to reduce flood-related damage in the Chehalis River basin by:
- Constructing a flow-through dam and associated temporary reservoir on the Chehalis River, near Pe Ell, WA
- Making changes to the Chehalis-Centralia Airport levee
This is a revised draft environmental study under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), following a 2020 draft environmental study of the proposed project. After receiving public comments and project revisions from the Flood District, Ecology determined that an expanded evaluation and a revised draft environmental impact statement were necessary to ensure the environmental review for the project is accurate, complete, and transparent.
The revised draft environmental study does not compare the two designs for the Flood District’s project. The updated evaluation only looks at the project’s new design, its potential environmental impacts and possible measures to mitigate or offset the impacts.
Environmental Review
Ecology studied the possible adverse impacts resulting from the construction and operation of the revised project design and summarized its findings in the revised draft environmental impact statement. The study looked at impacts to the natural environment, nearby communities and natural and cultural resources by studying air quality, plant and animal habitat, transportation, water resources, water quality, and Tribal and cultural resources. It also looked at ways to reduce or eliminate impacts through mitigation.
The revised draft environmental impact statement is not a decision-making document. It does not approve or deny the proposal. Instead, it provides critical information for decision-makers to consider.
How to submit public comments:
SEPA Revised Draft EIS for the Chehalis Flood Damage Reduction Project
c/o Bobbak Talebi, Southwest Region Office
P.O. Box 47775
Olympia, WA 98504-7775
In person at:
Dec. 9, 2025
Jan. 6, 2026
Both meetings will be held from 6 pm - 8 pm at:
Centralia College
Rose Bowman Banquet Hall, TransAlta Commons
615 W. Pear St.
Centralia, WA 98531
Online:
Dec. 11, 2025 at 6 pm
Jan. 8, 2026 at 6 pm
Visit our website to register for the online meetings.
How to review the draft document:
- On our project website
- At a community library
- Centralia Timberland Library, 110 S. Silver St., Centralia, WA 98531
- Chehalis Timberland Library, 400 N. Market Boulevard, Chehalis, WA 98532
- Oakville Timberland Library, 204 Main St., Oakville, 98568
- At Ecology's Southwest Region Office, 300 Desmond Dr SE., Lacey, WA 98503 (call for an appointment at 360-407-6040 or email at recordsofficer@ecy.wa.gov)
Comments due by Feb. 4, 2026
Ecology will consider all comments received during the comment period when finalizing the environmental impact statement for the project in 2026. All comments will be weighed equally regardless how they are submitted.
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