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Lakewood updates Clover Creek flood study; setback levee preferred, funding gap remains
Summary
City engineers briefed council May 19 on a Clover Creek study that modeled a larger hundred‑year floodplain than FEMA maps show; staff recommended a setback levee as the preferred alternative but said reaching 30% design will require roughly $365,000 more than currently budgeted.
Lakewood — City engineering staff and consultants updated the Lakewood City Council on May 19 about the Clover Creek flood study and said a setback levee is the preferred alternative to reduce the extent of the modeled hundred‑year flood.
Engineers told the council that an updated, two‑dimensional hydraulic model shows a broader‑than‑expected area subject to a hundred‑year flood; in that scenario portions of Springbrook and sections south of I‑5 would be affected. Staff said a setback levee — extending roughly between JBLM tracks and Bridgeport Way in its preliminary layout — would remove property from the floodplain but would require property acquisitions in locations currently within the modeled floodway.
"The project is still in its early stages," City Engineer Westinott said. "We have about a half‑million dollars budgeted ... what that can get us is a 10% plan set. To get to a 30% scope, we're looking at almost $900,000 in 2024 dollars, so that puts us at a shortfall of about $365,000."
Consultant Ryan Retzloff told council members the study evaluated four alternatives — do‑nothing, channel and floodplain enhancement, an I‑5 flood wall and a setback levee — and that the setback‑levee option best balanced community benefit, water‑quality improvements and feasibility. Retzloff said the team would need more detailed survey, geotechnical and permitting work to refine costs and to estimate relocation or buyout costs for property that would be removed from the floodplain.
Council members asked whether downstream impacts would increase and whether regional partners — including WSDOT and Joint Base Lewis‑McChord (JBLM) — would be funding partners. Staff said neither WSDOT nor JBLM has committed funding yet and that additional partner outreach is part of the next steps.
Actions and next steps
Staff said the city will advance design to the 10% level with existing funds and seek additional sources to reach 30% design, which is typically required to be competitive for major grants. The project team will refine the levee alignment, perform detailed survey and geotechnical work and begin outreach to potential funding partners and permitting agencies.
Discussion vs. decision
Discussion: the council received a status update and asked questions about property acquisition, downstream effects and funding. Direction: staff to proceed to the 10% design scope and to begin partner outreach. Decision: no construction authorization or formal policy decision tonight.
Why this matters
Updated modeling shows the hundred‑year floodplain covers a wider area than existing FEMA mapping in parts of Lakewood. The preferred set‑back levee could lower flood insurance requirements for properties removed from the floodplain and reduce the risk of I‑5 overtopping, but it carries acquisition, permitting and construction costs and requires multi‑agency coordination.
