County OKs easement for refuge levy project

Wahkiakum County commissioners approved an easement allowing the US Army Corps of Engineers to cut through the Steamboat Slough Dike Road when they met Tuesday.

Commissioners also heard developing plans for a public housing project in the Cathlamet area and acted on other business.

The easement to cut through the county road is part of the setback levee project planned for the Julia Butler Hansen White-tailed Deer Refuge. Erosion is threatening the Steamboat Slough Dike, and without funds to stop the erosion, federal officials are building a new dike set back from the river and breaching the dike in two places to create a wetland habitat.

"Our attorney has reviewed the document; we're ready to proceed," said county Public Works Director Pete Ringen. He added that Diking District 2 Commissioner Maurice Mooers, had received an easement as he had requested for diking district purposes and would also sign his easement.

Although the dike will be breached in two places, anglers will be able to reach most fishing areas, said Commission Chair Blair Brady.

Blaine Edwards, fish habitat program manager for the Corps, said the new wetland will replace shallow water habitat that is being lost along the river. This kind of habitat is a refuge and feeding ground for small salmonids, he said, and water leaving the flats on the ebb tide carries insects and nutrients into the river that benefit juvenile salmon on their downstream migration.

Commissioners outlined to Edwards and Corps Project Manager Amy Gibbons the frustrations they have with permitting projects. Commissioner Dan Cothren pointed out that upstream landowners were making progress in restoring habitat but tributary mouths are often plugged and block access to fish, and local government has a difficult time obtaining permits to do work that would benefit fish.

"When you folks get more authority, there's more road blocks," Cothren said. "We do feel we get dumped on. "I think the Corps needs to have a more open mind on some of these issues."

"I appreciate your comments," Edwards said. "I have the ear of the commander of the district and I'll let him know."

Cothren urged the officials to get their colleagues interested in clearing the Cathlamet Channel, which has shoaling issues, Cothren said, from sand drifting downstream from dredge spoil sites. "I'd like to have a meeting about the future of the Cathlamet Channel," he said. Brady added that the channel for the ferry "Wahkiakum" needs dredging.

Commissioners discussed preliminary plans for a public housing project with Health and Human Serivces staff and authorized the department to proceed with the project.

Department staffer Chris Holmes said the department has reached agreement with a landowner in the Cathlamet for an earnest money agreement on the purchase of land. The department needs to conduct a feasibility assessment of the land.

Holmes said planners envisage a project with many houses built by occupants and a flexible mix of other housing.

"The theme is affordable housing in our county," he said.

He added that the department has been saving funds from a dedicated source for housing and should be able to leverage that money so that with grants and participation by other agencies, the cost to the county should be very low.

Next steps include preparation of a program to present the project in public meetings.