Cowlitz County staff told commissioners that rapid riverbank erosion along Toutle Park Road has removed up to 15 feet of bank in some places, threatening access to three homes and the adjacent gun range and prompting plans for emergency repairs.

Mike Moss, public services director, said the river had eroded the bank “in certain areas up to 15 feet” since mid-December, and staff were negotiating access with private landowners to establish a temporary bypass. “We’re hopeful that they’ll give us the permissions,” he said, noting staff will pay for relocation of fences and other costs to secure access for residents.

County engineer Susan (identified in the transcript as the county engineer) described the geotechnical recommendation: remove unstable material at the bottom of the embankment, place about 5 feet of quarry spalls, add a reinforcement geotextile, then bench and place structural fill and base rock. She said pavement work must wait until the asphalt plant reopens; staff expect to create a single-lane in-and-out route with pullouts that could take “a week or two” to construct and to pursue paving as soon as plant access allows.

The board discussed using the county’s existing emergency declaration for the recent flood event to expedite an emergency contract. Susan said the declaration should cover Barnes Drive (a related site) and allow staff to roll an emergency contract into the broader disaster work. She also outlined the FEMA reimbursement process: preliminary damage assessments are due around Jan. 23, the county will bundle small projects for FEMA review, and different rules apply for arterial roads handled through FHWA and WSDOT.

Staff said they are also monitoring other slides, including a closed section of Holcomb Road where a deep crack led to closure. Geotechnical follow-up is expected in January to assess whether temporary fixes or more permanent deep-patch repairs are needed.

The commissioners directed staff to pursue emergency contracting and continue negotiations for temporary access. No formal vote was required; staff said they would update the board as property-owner permissions and contracting progress.