I have been following the story about bringing in fill dirt in the Snohomish Valley, specifically in the Harvey Industrial Area of the Marshland Floodplain.
I am so appalled at the very thought of bringing fill into a flood plain, thus allowing the water levels of neighboring farmers to rise. In our throw-away society have we stooped to the level that we now are willing to throw away the farms of long-time families in our community? What is the impetus behind this desire to make money at the expense of our neighbors?
I live in a flood fringe of the Pilchuck and Snohomish rivers. The Snohomish River is the one that always puts water in our fields. Other than the 1975 flood, we have not had water in the area that our house occupies. However, in 1990 and 1995 it was within 25 feet of our home. Am I to believe that filling up this much space would not possibly put our home at risk? Does this matter to anyone or have dollar signs blinded people to common caring for others?
When we built our home in 1993 the required level for our house was eight feet above the ground. We protested that the level was too high. We were allowed to lower the level by two feet. If there is that much difference between three acres of blackberries as opposed to open field, what does that tell you? It says that bringing in fill would be a disaster. It says that an acre full of fill will displace the water enormously.
There has to be another solution to whatever is trying to be accomplished here, a solution that does not cause possible loss of homes to the very people we share our community with.
Snohomish
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