News Brief - County prepares for floods

King County is working to protect residents and businesses from flooding that could come during this fall and winter’s heavy rainstorms. The King County Flood Control District, in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and local governments, will begin work on 25 capital improvement and repair projects in flood-prone areas throughout the county. In response to damages caused by last January’s flooding, the Flood District Board of Supervisors revisited the 2009 capital budget and the six-year capital improvement plan to prioritize damaged facilities. Last year, during its first construction season, the Flood District finished 24 projects that were deemed high-priority out of a total of 55. The remaining 31 projects are large-scale, multi-year efforts. Of this season’s 25 projects, 10 will be taking place at the Cedar River Basin and nine at the Snoqualmie and South Fork Skykomish Basin. The Flood District and King County have completed emergency repairs at six sites, including two breached levees on the Tolt River that protect residential areas and four other levees where critical public infrastructure and residential areas were at imminent risk. More info: www.kingcounty.gov/environment/waterandland/flooding.

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