In response to the Dec.11 article regarding flood area regulations, I would like to clarify my thoughts on river management. Let me start be saying that my father, who farmed the Stilly Valley for decades, used to tell me “the river holds first mortgage on the land”; which always meant to me that the river was something one could work to “manage,” but never really “tame.”
It’s an important difference in that there are some effective ways to manage rivers. One method that is very effective, yet unpopular with fisheries and environmental groups (and subsequently almost never used) is the removal of aggregate accumulations that continue to grow and displace more water every year. While surface waters from new development in the floodplains and uplands certainly may contribute to the flood hazard, it need also be recognized that water displaced by unabated aggregate accumulations have become a major part of the problem.
While we have new methodologies and technologies that can allow certain removal projects to take place with minimal environmental impact, the very word “dredging” can cause emotions to run so high that constructive discourse on the subject is often unattainable. It remains, however, an effective and common sense river management tool that should be looked at anew by reasonable people.
The broad brush approach favored by some environmental groups and certain legislators of simply moving everyone out of the river valleys, would affect many residents with properties that have never had a drop of floodwater on them. My point is this: If we are going to develop the very best river management policy for this county, we will need to put our emotions aside, rediscover common sense, and utilize the most effective methods before us.
John Koster, Councilman
Snohomish County Council
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