Army Corps flood fight teams reinforcing local levees, delivering sandbags

Published Jan. 31, 2020

Flood fighters from the Seattle District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, are providing materials and assistance in the Skagit, Nooksack and Snohomish river basins in western Washington.

Seattle District crews are working to extend the length of a previously constructed buried rock trench to reinforce the upstream channel bank along the Skagit River in the Town of Lyman. The temporary work to reduce flood risk posed by erosion adjacent to some of the town’s critical infrastructure started today and is estimated to run 24 hours a day through the weekend.

A flood team is also supporting efforts by Diking District 12 in the Skagit basin to place rock to protect infrastructure at Strawberry Point near Burlington.

Seattle District has provided sandbags and supersacks to Whatcom County and the City of Ferndale in the Nooksack basin, delivered sandbags to the City of Sultan in Snohomish County and delivered two pumps and supersacks in Skagit County along with sandbags to the City of Hamilton in the Skagit basin.

Public Law 84-99 enables the Corps to assist state and local authorities in flood fight activities and cost share in the repair of flood protection structures. The purpose is to prevent loss of life and minimize property damage associated with severe weather.

The Seattle District Reservoir Control Center is in 24-hour operation to ensure real-time reservoir monitoring and regulation over the weekend.

The Corps’ reservoirs behind Howard Hanson Dam on the Green River and Mud Mountain Dam on the White River are empty ahead of the expected storm.

Private citizens seeking sandbags should contact their local government offices. 

The National Weather Service issues flood watches and warnings and should be consulted for that information.


Contact
Public Affairs Office
206-764-3750
paoteam@nws02.usace.army.mil

Release no. 20-005