Tolt flooding is focus of Jan. 15 community meeting

The King County Flood Control District and the Snoqualmie Watershed Forum host a community meeting and open house on Thursday, Jan. 15, in Carnation about the Tolt River Corridor Action Plan—a flood-risk reduction project underway to improve public safety and salmon habitat while keeping long-term river management costs down.

The King County Flood Control District and the Snoqualmie Watershed Forum host a community meeting and open house on Thursday, Jan. 15, in Carnation about the Tolt River Corridor Action Plan—a flood-risk reduction project underway to improve public safety and salmon habitat while keeping long-term river management costs down.

Set for 6:30 p.m. in the Commons Room at the Tolt Middle School, 3740 Tolt Ave., Carnation, the meeting will begin and end with a half-hour open house so residents can talk with the project team, provide input on experiences with flooding and share their priorities for the river.

The main presentation starts at 7 p.m. and includes findings from a recently completed technical study of the lower Tolt River’s existing conditions, such as flood hazards, transportation access and habitat quality. The study area includes a six-mile stretch of the river from the confluence of the Tolt and Snoqualmie rivers to the end of Tolt River Road Northeast and 361st Avenue Northeast.

“I encourage those who live near the Tolt River to attend this meeting and let their concerns and suggestions be heard,” said King County Flood Control District Supervisor Kathy Lambert, who will be attending the meeting.

The next phase of the project is to evaluate possible river management actions such as setting back or removing levees; acquiring property from willing landowners to allow flood channel movement with lower risk to people; and altering or improving roads or bridges. For more information, to provide feedback, or to sign-up for project notifications, visit www.kingcounty.gov/rivers or call (206) 477-4734 or send e-mail to sally.king@kingcounty.gov.