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Skagit River General Investigation reaches major milestone
County, Corps move ahead on one plan

SKAGIT COUNTY – On April 23, Skagit County officials were notified that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reached concurrence on a Tentatively Selected Plan, or TSP, for the Skagit River General Investigation.

The Comprehensive Urban Levee Improvement Plan was selected as the TSP and will proceed to the next phase of the feasibility study. The plan includes operational modifications to lower and upper Baker dams for flood risk management.

In February Skagit County officials and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers staff participated in the Tentatively Selected Plan Milestone Meeting, the purpose of which was to outline the alternative analysis completed to date under the Corps’ new planning parameters.

The Corps was represented by the Seattle District, Portland Division, and Headquarters. After some post meeting assessments, the Corps reached concurrence on a TSP.

Throughout 2012 and 2013, the Skagit River General Investigation Project Delivery Team (PDT) created six preliminary alternatives and received feedback from the community at various forums. These were later refined to four alternatives: No Action, Joe Leary Slough Bypass, Swinomish Bypass, and the Comprehensive Urban Levee Improvement Plan.

The alternatives were evaluated based on numerous criteria, such as risks to life safety, hydraulic efficacy, economic damages, impacts to agricultural resources, and construction costs.

The alternative analysis will be presented to the public in a forthcoming draft Feasibility Report/Environmental Impact Statement and at community forums. The document will contain a summary of the alternative formulation process, a draft EIS, and will undergo a series of concurrent technical, legal, and policy reviews.

The public will have an opportunity to provide input through a formal National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) comment period; more details on the timing of this comment period are also forthcoming. The PDT will use additional analysis, reviews, and public comment to recommend a plan for Congress via a Chief of Engineer’s report in 2015.

For more information, contact Kara Symonds, Skagit County Public Works, 360-336-9400.