After reading the letters written concerning the many mudslides that occurred this winter resulting in the cancellation of Sounder passenger service numerous times, I’ll comment from different perspective.
Opinions have been given from both professional and layman’s views on causes and solutions. I have noticed, however, that no former or current BNSF employees have weighed in on this, other than a BNSF spokesman giving condition updates and when service might be resumed.
As a retired employee of the former Great Northern and Burlington Northern railroads I’ll weigh-in with a slightly different view. I worked for a number of years between Seattle and Everett and dealt with many mudslides. The railroad over the last 100-plus years has invested large amounts of money for the design and upkeep of drainage systems along the right-of-way. I will not get into cause, effort and possible solutions at this time. There has been one cause or contributor to mudslides that has not been mentioned, however, that being the property owners in several mudslide-prone areas. While maybe not a consistent cause of mudslides, never the less a contributor. I have dealt numerous phone calls and meetings with property owners at the Everett offices wanting to the railroad to remove trees that block views, which could possibly impact property values.
Owners sometimes would take it upon themselves to remove the offending trees which were adding to soil stabilization. Some owners would dump large amounts of yard debris over these hillsides which would usually result in the debris sliding down and plugging drainage ditches and culverts. The on-going and future drainage and hillside stabilization projects will help greatly. However, property owners in mudslide-prone areas should be informed of the ramifications that result when trees are removed from hillsides and yard debris is improperly deposed of. I realize the afore-mentioned cause is not a large one, but it is a factor. It’s always going to rain in the wintertime and water will always run down hill, but educating everyone concerned is another way help control the mudslide issue.
Phil Labuguen
Monroe
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
