Welcome to Skagit County
Public comment invited on Skagit River Flood Risk Management Study
MOUNT VERNON – A public comment session regarding Skagit River flood risk reduction plans will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 19 at the Skagit Station Community Room in Mount Vernon.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Skagit County have prepared a draft integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement (FR/EIS) for the Skagit River Flood Risk Management General Investigation study.
The draft FR/EIS documents the process of developing potential solutions to reduce flood risk in the Skagit Basin, including: evaluation of flood risk in the Skagit River Basin; formulation, evaluation, and screening of potential solutions to these problems; and the recommendation of a plan to address flood risk in the Basin.
This report also identifies potential environmental consequences of flood risk reduction alternatives per requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act.
USACE and Skagit County are seeking public comments on the Draft FR/EIS. The 45-day public comment period is from June 6 to July 21, 2014. This document is available for viewing online at http://1.usa.gov/1i0Kjzk.
Paper copies are available at the Mount Vernon City Public Library in Mount Vernon and Burlington Public Library in Burlington.
A public meeting on the Draft FR/EIS has been scheduled to present the proposal for federal action, the alternatives considered during the Flood Risk Management Study, environmental resources evaluated, and the tentatively selected plan (agency preferred alternative).
The primary features of the preferred alternative include raising and strengthening urban levees, the creation of new urban levees, increased storage at the Baker River dams, uniform rural levee recommendations, site specific projects, flood-proofing structures, and outlets in the sea dikes.
The public meeting will be held Thursday, June 19, 2014 6 p.m., at the Skagit Station Community Room, 105 E. Kincaid, Mount Vernon. An open house is scheduled from 6-6:30, with a 30-minute presentation at 6:30. A public comment session will be open from 7-8 p.m.
Comments on the Draft FR/EIS may be submitted by email, at the upcoming public meeting, or in written form. Comments will also be accepted via email at: skagit.river@usace.army.mil
Mailed comments regarding the proposed plan must be received by July 21, 2014, and sent to:
Ms. Hannah Hadley
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, CENWS-EN-ER,
PO Box 3755,
Seattle, Washington 98124-3755