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King County Floodplain Projects and River Safety

King County Floodplain Projects and River Safety. Katy Vanderpool King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks February 14 th , 2012. King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks. History with Large Wood:. 50 – 100 yrs of manipulating rivers

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King County Floodplain Projects and River Safety

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  1. King County Floodplain Projects and River Safety Katy Vanderpool King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks February 14th, 2012

  2. King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks

  3. History with Large Wood: • 50 – 100 yrs of manipulating rivers • 20 – 30 yrs of bioengineering since late 1980’s – 1990’s • 1990’s formalized goal of self-mitigating projects 1993 Flood Hazard Plan 1993 Guideline on Bank Stabilization stakeholder input sought • 1997 SEPA Appeal Hamakami setback, 1994 Green River

  4. River Projects (simplified) Public Safety Prevent Property Damage Recover Salmon Existing use on rivers

  5. River Projects (simplified) Public Safety Prevent Property Damage Recover Salmon Stakeholder input Existing use on rivers

  6. Wood shapes rivers and County policy

  7. Natural Wood Protocol (2008)background • 2006 private citizen removes wood • 2008 prosecuted for malicious mischief • damages >$10K • felony Lead to published County protocols

  8. Natural Wood Protocol (2008)procedure • Sheriff’s office fields complaints • Sheriff and DNRP both evaluate risk • Public safety • Infrastructure • Recommendation • Implementation • Feedback to public

  9. Natural Wood Protocol:challenges • Questions of jurisdiction • Flexibility allows interpretation • Authority vs. willingness for river closure • Inconsistent documentation of hazards • 2012 Update of Natural Wood Protocols • Are all sites created equal? • Wood management plans

  10. Placed Wood Policy (2010) background 2009 Ordinance • Response to public safety concerns • Council calls for Public Rule

  11. Placed Wood Policy procedures 2010 Public Rule • Document safety considerations at 30% design • Seek public input on projects • Licensed Engineer must sign off on all projects • Monitor results of projects • Independent review of projects • Convene stakeholder committee at least every 3 years

  12. Placed Wood Policychallenges • Public expectations • Safety • Comments are advisory • Not all projects are on the same timeline • Staff intensive public meetings are expensive for few attendees • Intent may be better met by different method • Most comments encourage less wood or removal of wood 2013 Stakeholder Committee to review policy

  13. Large Wood Stakeholder Committee (2009) • convened broad ranging interests citizens, agencies, recreational professionals • intended to address safety of recreational river users in relation to large wood • recommendations on three key topics: • enhance outreach and education to recreational river users, • placed wood protocols, and • the management of naturally occurring wood in rivers

  14. Stakeholder Committeeconsensus for education needs Improve Education and Outreach • mandatory life jacket law • target the most vulnerable population • informational warning signs • alternative access sites • “Large Wood Ahead” signs in key locations • broader marketing to warn of dangers • partner in schools for habitat and river safety • partner with professional users • Proposal to augment Spring outreach efforts 2011 temporary ordinance

  15. Cedar River Large Wood Study (2009-2012) • Study where and how much large wood is likely to accumulate over time • Characterize current and historical • Evaluate the effects of KC policies on current conditions • Anticipate expected changes if current policies continue • Proposal to repeat in other basins

  16. Cedar River Recreational Study (2010) • Unseasoned and ill-prepared river users are at greatest risk of running into conflict with placed wood • Pilot study to understand: • Location of recreational users • Risk factors • Attitudes and awareness of users • Data informs projects and policy • Proposal to repeat in other basins

  17. River Management Surveys (2011) Telephone and Online Surveys • Recreational use • Management methods and priorities • Safety

  18. http://www.kingcounty.gov/rivers No-fault settlement

  19. Contact information Katy Vanderpool- katy.vanderpool@kingcounty.gov King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks River and Floodplain Management Section http://www.kingcounty.gov/rivers

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