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Seth Oakes from WLRD details work to create a stable floodplain area and how the county uses
bumper logs to secure riverbanks, provide habitat and protect boaters and recreationalists.
Our engineers, geomorphologists, and fluvial geomorphologists design pragmatic solutions to flooding risks to protect nearby businesses, warehouses, office parks, residences, roads, and utilities.
Monica Walker manages projects involving acquisitions of property along the Green River such as former farms
King County also assesses the need to acquire flood-prone property to protect people from flooding.
Question: What does a 100-year flood risk mean?
Answer: In any given year the risk of a 100-year flood means a 1% chance of flooding that year. The risk of a 500-year flood means a 0.02% chance of flooding that year.
CM Quinn listening to Chris Brummer and Laura Bradstreet, King County Water and Land Use Division (WLRD)
about efforts to prevent flood damage caused by avulsions while also protecting health and habitat along the Cedar River.
CM Quinn and staff are standing on the 1,145 foot long Belmondo Levee.
King County Flood Control District is responsible for minimizing flood risk. This work includes maintaining 500 distinct facilities including levees, revetments, and flood walls. Some of which help protect the Green River Valley and some which help protect Renton and businesses and residents along Highway 169 from flooding from the Cedar River.
The goal of the D5 e-news is to share information about council business, upcoming community events, access to services, opportunities, and ways for us to build an even better King County.
CM Quinn listens to staff describe work to protect the many warehouses, business parks and offices in the Tukwila-Kent Valley from flooding by the Green River. He is joined by staff Chase Barton and Patty Robinson on the pedestrian bridge which connects the levee to developed business parks on both sides of the Green River.
The Green River was low and calm on this summer day, but we discussed the risk to the valley of rising waters during the rainy season. There are businesses, warehouses, and office parks all around the Green River which would be devastated by flood waters without the levee system.
CM Quinn standing in the dry part of the floodplain at the Jan Road Levee Setback Project. The Jan Road Levee runs 2,338 feet and keeps flooding on the Cedar River to a 100 year level of service or a 1% annual chance of flooding.
On Tuesday, I toured four flood control levees on the Cedar River and learned about work to maintain and repair them to protect nearby communities, Highway 169, the Cedar River Trail, and underground utilities from floodwaters.
State Highway 169 – a major thoroughfare - runs close to the Cedar River. There is also a parks trail – the Cedar River Trail adjacent to the highway. Utilities run under both. Flood protection is vital along the Cedar River while maintaining its value to returning sockeye salmon, critters and birds including eagles.
CM Quinn leans down next to an “glacial erratic”
Glacial erratics are large boulders transported from a northern glacier. This one is now in the Cedar River
I would like to thank Michelle Clark the Executive Director of the King County Flood Control District and Krista Camenzind, Deputy Director of the King County Water and Land Resource Division for making arrangements for these tours.
The expertise and talent of staff is impressive as is their commitment to public service. Thank you Chase Barton, Laura Bradstreet, Chris Brummer, Seth Oakes, Patty Robinson, Steven Schauer and Monica Walker. We appreciate your work on behalf of everyone in King County.
King County Prosecutor Leesa Manion and CM De’Sean Quinn met to discuss
public response to crime and advocacy for victims of crimes.
On Wednesday, I met with King County Prosecutor Leesa Manion about her plans to reduce caseload and needs for funding to address issues such as domestic violence, sexual assault and gun violence.
CM Quinn – at the presentation table - answers 45 minutes of questions posed by
14 high school students from south King County seated at the council dais. The questions were excellent and ranged from “how did you decide to run for office?” to “what is your responsibility to the public?”
I also welcomed 14 high school interns enrolled in the Youth Transit Summer Internship with Metro’s Green Career Pathways program to visit the Council and learn more about what we do as elected officials.
The interns all come from South King County high schools including: Auburn Mountainview, Foster, Hazen, Kentwood, Mount Rainier, Rainier Beach, and Renton.
These interns are exploring potential jobs in public service with a focus on transportation. I would love to welcome more students to come visit the King County Council.
My district office in Kent is in a former pilates studio.
We are planning to host an open house. Stay tuned!
On Thursday and Friday, I met with staff at our district office in Kent and visited several parks sites in the district, more to share next week!
In this week’s e-news, I share information about swimming safety on King County beaches, water quality monitoring on King County major and small lakes, and overall water safety.
August 5 is Primary Election Day! You can vote any time before or on August 5. Ballots must be postmarked or dropped in a ballot drop-box by Tuesday August 5. Please remember to vote!
I hope this information is helpful to you. I am happy to be your eyes and ears and keep you informed about on what King County government is doing on behalf of District 5.
King County Councilmember, District 5
Des Moines, Kent, Normandy Park, Renton, SeaTac, Tukwila
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