Farmers, apply for farm pad construction assistance by March 31

Published 11:30 am Friday, March 25, 2016

Agricultural landowners who work in King County’s river valley floodplains can reduce their risk of losses from flooding by building a farm pad or elevated structure, where livestock and farm equipment can be stored safely during times of high water.

King County offers free technical assistance to build new farm pads or modify existing barns and other farm structures – and applications are due by March 31 for the 2016 construction season.

“Nearly three dozen farm pads and elevated structures have been built over the past eight years, and they have provided farmers with significant relief and reduced loss and damages from flooding,” said King County Flood Control District Supervisor Kathy Lambert. “I encourage farmers to take advantage of the valuable technical permitting assistance being offered.”

The Flood Control District provides funding for the program, which is implemented by King County’s Water and Land Resources Division.

Farm pad proposals should be appropriately sized to help minimize the amount of fill that is brought into the floodplain, which can reduce the land’s overall flood-storage capacity. Alternately, elevated platforms can be constructed to provide the same high-ground function of a pad without diminishing flood-storage capacity.

Information is available at www.kingcounty.gov/rivers, or by calling Richelle Rose at (206) 477-4815.