County modifies Cape Horn flood zone

Wahkiakum County commissioners modified a proposed flood control zone district for the Cape Horn area on Tuesday and set the stage for final action next week.

Responding to requests from residents at the downstream end of the proposed zone, commissioners agreed to shorten the zone and leave out some properties that have rock and riprap waterfront. At a public hearing last week, some of the owners said they weren't experiencing erosion like their neighbors upstream.

Wanting to evaluate the situation on the shoreline, commissioners had tabled the issue last week, hoping to get a report from their consulting engineer who's designing the disposal of dredge spoils for the beach nourishment project.

Public Works Director Chuck Beyer said he had gone to the area with the engineer, but it was high tide. Beyer returned later and reported to the engineer. The shortened zone proposal stems from that work.

Commissioners discussed which property line should become the downstream boundary, eventually settling on the Schneider/Kellogg boundary.

Commissioners said they would sign the resolution establishing the flood control zone district next week after the boundary line was corrected.

Overall, county officials said efforts are proceeding to set up beach nourishment projects on Cape Horn and Puget Island's East Sunny Sands.

Beyer said the consultant had toured the zones and was making some refinements to the Island plans.

They're planning to meet next week with officials from the various permitting agencies to go over the project with them so that the agencies understand the projects and to see if there are any unexpected pitfalls.

Commissioner Dan Cothren said the legal and real estate teams of the US Army Corp of Engineers are reviewing documents for the projects. Cothren has communicated with the Corps project manager and said the reviews were proceeding, albeit slowly.