Carol Krause’s April 3 letter, “Agriculture: County shouldn’t let floodplain be filled in,” regarding the proposed expansion of the Harvey Industrial area, described potentially catastrophic outcomes of this action on rural communities in the floodplain.
I would like to add a component to her position: the cost to taxpayers from the local to national level for catastrophic repairs to infrastructure in the floodplain. River access, low populations, level lands and the sandy soils of Snohomish River floodplains make them ideal for placing infrastructure that would be inconvenient, expensive or controversial to situate elsewhere. As a result, pipelines carrying petroleum and water, power lines, commuter roads and wastewater treatment plants have been built throughout the floodplain. These structures require protection from floodwaters, as evidenced by Puget Sound Energy’s continuing battle to protect its power lines before wetland restoration of Drainage District 6 can occur. Imagine the effect that 8-12 feet of fill over many acres will have on the course and velocity of the Snohomish River during a catastrophic flood.
Snohomish County Councilman John Koster has advocated arming dikes to prevent breaching, but this will be impossible under current environmental regulations and is not a guarantee against breaching. If the proposed fill increases velocity and current to levels that damage the dikes and cause infrastructure damage, we could face public health and environmental crises, and most certainly pay more for the cleanup than we earn from taxes and jobs generated by the expansion. Already, at least $400,000 will be spent on dike repair around the Lake Stevens wastewater plant after the October 2003 floods. The Lowell-Snohomish Road wasn’t repaired for free after the 1995-1996 floods.
It’s unfortunate that business owners in the Harvey Industrial Area chose to establish themselves in such a hazard-prone area. We do not have to allow their errors in judgment to drain the wallets of taxpayers for years to come.
Snohomish
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