Westfir eligible for FEMA mitigation grants; council hears 1st/2nd Street drainage proposal

Adam Kennedy, who briefed the Westfir City Council on Feb. 3, said the city’s mitigation work is already included in the Lane County plan and therefore eligible for federal grants. “Westfir does not have to complete a new NHMP because Westfir has completed its update in its NHMP annex along with the county's updates,” Kennedy said, noting the city can apply for FEMA mitigation grants through October 2028.

Kennedy outlined a 12–18 month proposal focused on drainage improvements in the Central Westfir neighborhood that he said would address frequent flooding on 1st and 2nd Street. The presentation listed an estimated cost of $80,000, possible federal funding sources, and specific mitigation actions including creating a drain to give overflow a path away from low-lying homes. He warned McLean Creek’s upslope location and existing easement slopes complicate excavation and that some options — such as trenching below McLean Creek — would be infeasible because of impacts to the creek banks.

Council members and staff discussed temporary pumping measures already in place — white overland pipes now used during flood events — and longer-term options such as buried pipes, culverts or horizontal boring. Kennedy said contractors can pull 18-inch culverts and would provide cost estimates once the council settled on preferred alignments and engineers reviewed the slope and grade requirements. He also said a Lane County steering committee meeting in March will address plan-holder coordination and grant-writing next steps.