Groups work on Grays River flood issues

Representatives of groups often at odds over flood plain management in the Grays River Valley on Tuesday agreed on some initial steps to stop erosion of a private dike along Seal Slough.

Columbia Land Trust bought the Kandoll Farm near Rosburg several years ago and, partnering with Ducks Unlimited, breached dikes and changed drainage facilities in an effort to restore wetland habitat for salmon and other fish.

The area has subsequently experience flooding, and local residents said the projects created or exacerbated the flood damage.

Last year, county commissioners convened the working group to try to find solutions to the problems.

The group agreed Tuesday to remove some trees in the Seal Slough and to generate some elevations and other data to consider what to do with a dike.

Poul Toftemark, a member of the Grays River Habitat Enhancement District board of commissioners, has reported that increased current in Seal Slough is eroding the dike along his property and that of his neighbors. He and fellow enhancement district commissioner Delvin Fredrickson attribute the increased flow to two 13-foot culverts which the land trust used to replace tide gates up the slough.

In discussion Tuesday, the group agreed it would be worth trying to ease the current by removing certain trees which are channeling the water.

Fredrickson also argued that a dike crossing the property needs to be removed to ease the pressure of floodwaters crossing the area in freshets.

After discussion, the parties agreed to survey the area to obtain elevations which could indicate whether or not changing the dike's elevation might have the desired effect.

Fredrickson also suggested the culverts be replaced with tidegates, but the land trust's Ian Sinks said that the Department of Fish and Wildlife would require extensive permitting to close the now flowing water channels.

Fredrickson also strongly suggested the group reexamine a report prepared by consulting engineers working for the enhancement district and considering the proposals it contains.

Toftemark said that if the tree removal works, the dike should be able to last another winter, but more planning needs to be done to preserve the dike in the future.