Groups discuss Kandoll Road flood repair

Local government and non-profit conservation groups will meet to discuss repairs to Kandoll Road and related drainage issues.

Officials from Wahkiakum County, Grays River Habitat Enhancement District and Columbia Land Trust agreed Tuesday to look for solutions to the flooding and erosion problems that have troubled that part of the Grays River Valley for several years.

Several times in the past few years, Grays River freshets have swept over the gravel road and washed away the gravel, making the road almost impassable.

County commissioners authorized Public Works Director Pete Ringen to use $6,000 in federal disaster relief funds to grade and surface the road again, but they also asked land trust officials to discuss a funding contribution to armor the road to prevent freshets from carrying away the gravel again.

"It's worked for us on Barr Road," Ringen said.

Armoring the embankments and putting a paved surface on the road could cost roughly $90,000 or more, he added.

Glen Lamb, executive director of the land trust, said his organization would be interested in working with the county on the project. Ducks Unlimited, who provides engineering work for the land trust, should be involved, too, he said.

Other issues in the area could be addressed, too, the county commissioners said.

Commissioner Blair Brady commented that the culverts which the land trust placed under the road, replacing tide gates, have speeded up the current in Seal River and that is causing erosion of dikes protecting private property.

Al George and Poul Toftemark, enhancement district commissioners, said that residents feel the road, which was elevated, now prevents flood waters from draining, thus making floods worse.

Commissioner Blair Brady agreed.

"Undoing the whole project and making it go away would not be a bad solution to my thinking," Brady said.

"We will have an engineer out there, I hope in the next three or four weeks," Lamb said.

Ringen urged quick action.

"I'm concerned: If we get in a holding pattern here, it will be fall with high tides, and tidal flooding will occur and do more damage to the road and property," he said.

Commissioner Lisa Marsyla moved that the county authorize Ringen to repair the road and that they set up a meeting to discuss further actions.

Lamb said his organization would participate, and the motion passed.