Impasse over Skykomish erosion may be over

Published 1:30 am Thursday, August 25, 2016

INDEX — The owner of an eroding property along the South Fork Skykomish River should be able to get approval for emergency repairs ahead of flood season, Snohomish County officials said Wednesday.

Before that happens, Jeff Poole must provide more detailed information about his plans to shore up the riverbank with a wall of boulders in an effort to save his house from getting washed away. Poole has been in contact with the county planning department since July, hoping to finish the estimated three-week job by the end of September. After that, federal rules intended to protect spawning salmon would prevent him from getting it done.

A meeting with county officials on Wednesday put him at ease.

“I want to get to work,” he said.

A week earlier, an apparent impasse with the county had left him frustrated. He has lost about 40 feet of his yard during the past two years. Part of his septic system is exposed. Without fortifying his property, he fears he’ll lose the approximately 20 feet that remains of his yard — along with the septic system — during the next flood season.

“Certainly when the septic tank is exposed, that’s an emergency,” said Tom Rowe, a former planning department manager who now works in trying to improve efficiency and service countywide. “Then again, (Poole) needs to show us what he’s going to do and where he’s going to do it.”

A county engineer had suggested that Poole’s case might not qualify for emergency repairs in time for flood season, given that the erosion has been occurring for years.

The house near Barclay Creek, east of Index, has stood since 1940. By the time Poole bought it in 2014, county and state experts already had documented the river’s steady migration toward his property and U.S. 2, just on the other side. County officials discussed a flood buyout with the previous owner and bought out the lot next door.

Before signing off on repairs, county officials want to see more detailed drawings of the proposed structure to protect the bank. Once the county has more information in hand, the review process should finish up within two days, Rowe said. Some of the main concerns are confirming that the proposed wall would be properly built and that it would respect property lines.

“We want to make sure he’s not building something that won’t be permitted or will wash out at the next high water,” Rowe said.

After receiving emergency approval, Poole has 120 days to apply for permits, Rowe said. The county already has approved at least three other emergency requests to protect waterfront properties this year.

Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @NWhaglund.