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Flood warning center opened twice after high flows; district opens grant application season
Summary
Staff reported two recent Flood Warning Center activations — one for the Snoqualmie River and one for the White River following Army Corps releases from Mud Mountain Dam — with no reported damages; the committee also announced the Flood Reduction Grant application period is open through May 23.
King County Flood Control District staff reported April 2 that the district’s Flood Warning Center opened twice in recent days for high river flows and that no damages were reported. Staff also announced the district’s flood reduction grant season is open through May 23.
A staff member identified as Krista reported that the Flood Warning Center opened at 4:45 a.m. last Thursday when the Snoqualmie River reached phase 2; the center closed after about nine and a half hours. The district also opened the center at 9:40 a.m. the previous day when the White River in south King County reached phase 2; staff closed that activation after about seven and a half hours as flows receded. Krista said these high flows were due to a decision by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to release water from Mud Mountain Dam and that outflows were dropping to about 5,000 cubic feet per second on the morning of the meeting, which the district treats as phase 1 conditions.
"There were no damages reported," Krista said, and she reported field staff observed roughly a foot of freeboard at Pacific Park on the White River, noting only normal groundwater seepage and seepage to the levee. District staff said they did not plan to reopen the Flood Warning Center because the events were considered part of the same hydrologic episode.
Supervisor Von Reichbauer asked staff to follow up on Army Corps communications and timing, noting that timely Corps notifications are important for community trust and preparedness; staff agreed to provide more detail after the meeting.
Separately, Executive Director Michelle Clark announced the flood reduction grant application period is open and will remain so until May 23; King County provided social media outreach materials to help jurisdictions and community groups promote the opportunity. Clark urged members to notify cities, homeowner associations and community groups.
The briefing and announcements were informational; no board action was requested.
