Approval near for Mill Road dike work

Local officials and the Columbia Land Trust are nearing final agreement on a dike project on Mill Road near Rosburg.

The land trust, a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring salmon habitat along the Columbia River, proposes breaching an existing dike to create a 45-acre tidal wetland and replacing the dike by constructing a new dike along a stretch of Mill Road.

Relocating the dike as the new road bed requires approval of the Wahkiakum County Board of Commissioners, and last year when the land trust proposed the project, commissioners said the land trust would have to obtain local support for the project and also to satisfy the concerns of county Public Works Director Pete Ringen.

Land trust Stewardship Manager Ian Sinks reported to the board of commissioners that final plans were nearly complete.

He presented papers signed by all but one nearby landowner stating support of the project. The last landowner wanted confirmation that landowners wouldn't be responsible for maintenance of the road, and Sinks said that could be confirmed by a simple statement in the commissioners' minutes.

Sinks said the land trust would construct the road to county road standards and maintain it for two years. It would have a gravel surface during that time so that settling could be addressed. After two years, the road would receive a chip seal surface, which it now has.

The current dike, constructed years ago by a private landowner, lines the river bank and is failing, Sinks said.

"The dike is being undercut and allows flooding of our property and neighboring properties," he said.

The replacement dike will be moved back from the river bank to the existing road bed; it will improve flood protection for Mill Road property owners, but the area may still flood. The project includes three 36-inch culverts with tidegates for drainage.

The land trust will breech the old dike and allow its property to become a wetland that can provide habitat for juvenile salmon and steelhead.

The project also has support of the Grays River Habitat Enhancement District.

"We've been involved since the beginning," commented habitat enhancement district Commissioner Delvin Fredrickson. ""We're in favor because it protects land."

Public Works Director Ringen said his concerns could be addressed.

He said the land trust should sign an agreement stating its road maintenance plans. The county doesn't maintain tidegates, so he suggested the habitat enhancement district take on that responsibility; Fredrickson said that was possible.

Ringen said he had also asked that the land trust include some ripwrap work along the shoreline to combat erosion, and that has been included in the plans.

Ringen also wanted an engineer on site when the contractor is compacting the road bed to make sure it meets standards. Sinks said there would be an engineer or geotech on site and that they could provide certification that they'd met the compaction standard.

Sinks said the land trust would sign a formal agreement with the county stipulating the conditions.

Commissioner Dan Cothren expressed concern that the project could have unintended adverse impacts on other properties in the lower valley, as had happened with a previous land trust project.

"I'm paranoid about anything we do down there with these projects," he said.

"I share your paranoia," Sinks said. Engineers had gone over flood models for the area to evaluate potential impacts and they concluded there would be little, if any, impact on neighboring lands.

"I would like to commend the land trust," said Commissioner Blair Brady. "This project has been handled in a new way--involvement with the landowners. This method could have prevented problems of the past."

"I agree," Sinks said.

The parties agreed to draft the formal agreement and return with it to the board for final approval.