The Chehalis Basin Flood Authority approved a letter Thursday, March 20, that will be sent to the Washington state Senate Ways and Means Committee and the House Capital Budget Committee in support of the Chehalis Basin Board’s recommendation that the Legislature approve $80 million for the 2025-2027 biennium for the implementation of the Chehalis Basin Strategy.

It’s the latest in a longstanding and ongoing effort to mitigate against chronic flooding in the basin while enhancing habitat for aquatic species.

The Legislature has dedicated $70 million or more to the Chehalis Basin Strategy in previous bienniums. The increased request reflects the financial needs of the Office of Chehalis Basin, according to Chehalis Basin Flood Authority staff member Scott Boettcher.

“It’s a function of increased funding to continue doing the work that they’re doing,” Boettcher said. “The program has matured in the scale of projects. We have moved on from the low-hanging fruit.”

In the letter, the flood authority points to three major milestones in the work toward implementing the Chehalis Basin Strategy: the Chehalis Basin flood warning and alert system; the completion of more than 100 local projects focused on drinking water, emergency response facilities and flood protection; and, finally, the construction of 26 elevated farm pads to protect livestock and the development of farm evacuation routes.

The flood authority also cites broad support from the relevant communities and cooperation across the many jurisdictions in the Chehalis River Basin.

“Our success is not just our own. Our success is due to a steadfast commitment to open and transparent decision-making, engaged and collaborative partnerships, and shared financial contribution,” the letter states. “What’s more, our communities around the basin share in our view (through many local resolutions) that the best solution for the Chehalis Basin is a balanced solution focused on fish, floods, large projects, small projects and early-warning.”

In the meeting, the flood authority went through a presentation on the Chehalis Basin Strategy and the Office of Chehalis Basin’s plans for the next year. The focus of the presentation was a number of studies on the local environment that are on track to be finished by the end of 2025.

One is an environmental impact study for a flow-through dam being studied for potential construction in the upper reaches of the basin near Pe Ell. The structure would only hold back water at times when flooding is in the forecast and would otherwise remain open to allow fish to swim through freely. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is on track to complete a study on the facility’s potential environmental impacts in November, according to the presentation.

Consulting agencies Moffatt and Nichol continue work on studies looking at local actions as alternatives to a flow-through dam.

In the same meeting Thursday, the Chehalis Basin Flood Authority nominated and reelected Grays Harbor County Commissioner Vickie Raines from Grays Harbor as chair of the organization and Edna Fund from Lewis County as vice chair for 2025.