County tables Elochoman drainage proposal

Wahkiakum County officials have dropped a suggestion to install a culvert under the Elochoman Valley Railroad Grade in an effort to ease flooding.

Shortly after January flooding, valley resident Bob Jungers suggested installation of the culvert in an effort to improve drainage in an area where the county road is flooded in freshets.

Public Works Director Pete Ringen on Tuesday presented an analysis of the situation and concluded the proposed culvert probably wouldn't help in flooding. During floods, the river itself overflows the road way, and the mouths of existing culverts, making them useless until the water recedes.

"In summary, installation of a new pipe under the logging grade is not a bad idea after all," he wrote in the report; "however, it is not likely to accomplish the intended results of resolving the water over road problem in all events.

"It would likely provide some relief in certain runoff situations where water from more localized streams ponds northwesterly from the road, because the volume exceeds cross culvert capacity.

Finding a solution to the flooding would be very expensive, he added.

"A detailed engineer report on this matter will require considerable time and effort," he wrote in the report. "Because there was no major infrastructure damage in this location, it would not be my recommendation that a more detailed report proceed at this time. Other matters would be considered higher priority, in my opinion."

Commissioners Blair Brady and Lisa Marsyla--Dan Cothren had left the meeting to testify in a legislative meeting--accepted Ringen's recommendation.

"Right now this will have to go on hold," Brady said. "We have too many other items that need attention."