Sauk River Comprehensive Flood/Erosion Control Management Plan
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Sauk River Comprehensive Flood/Erosion Control Management Plan Project Manager Bob Aldrich, Project Specialist Snohomish County Public Works Department Surface Water Management Division 3000 Rockefeller Ave., M/S 607, Everett, WA 98201 Phone: 425-388-6424 FAX: 425-388-6455 Email: [email protected] Acknowledgements Aaron Reardon, Snohomish County Executive Snohomish County Council John Koster, Councilmember, District 1 Brian Sullivan, Councilmember, District 2 Mike Cooper, Councilmember, District 3 Dave Gossett, Councilmember, District 4 Dave Somers, Councilmember, District 5 Snohomish County Public Works Department Steven Thomsen, P.E., Director Owen Carter, P.E., Surface Water Management (SWM) Interim Director Snohomish County Contributing Staff Karen Wood-McGuiness, Mary Hurner, John Engel, P.E., Suzy Brunzell, Allison Sanders, Laura Audette, Sheila Hagen, Chris Nelson, P.E., Mike Rustay, Frank Leonetti, Andy Haas, Brett Gaddes, Deb Harvey Skagit County Commissioner’s Office Ron Wesen, Commissioner, District 1 Ken Dahlstedt, Commissioner, District 2 Sharon Dillon, Commissioner, District 3 Special Acknowledgements The Sauk River Stakeholder Committee, and in particular David Like, Bob and Dianne Boyd (who also graciously arranged for the use of the amazing Darrington Community Center), Lori Kratzer, Jeff Kamps, Walt Dortch, Devin Smith, Larry Wasserman, Noel Gilbrough, P.E., Alex Uber, P.E., Greta Movassaghi, Peter Forbes, Brenda Jensen-White, Scott Morris, Jim Faucett, Holley P. Ross, Tom Sibley, Ric Boge, P.E., and Dana Exum, played a very important role in making the plan happen, as did others not mentioned. Contributing Consultants Paul DeVries, PhD, P.E. (R2 Resource Consultants, Inc.) played a pivotal role in the plan; Kurt Warber (Parametrix Inc.) and Joan Lee, P.E. (Parametrix, Inc.) made the development of alternatives a reality. Finally, we would like to acknowledge the patience and support of our grant officer from the Department of Ecology, Chuck Steele. Sauk River Comprehensive Flood/Erosion Control Management Plan CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................... IX INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... IX GOALS ....................................................................................................................................... X MISSION STATEMENT ................................................................................................................. X OBJECTIVES ............................................................................................................................... X 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 1-1 1.1 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY ................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 STUDY AREA .................................................................................................................... 1-2 1.3 PLAN DEVELOPMENT ....................................................................................................... 1-2 1.3.1 Public Involvement .............................................................................................. 1-3 1.3.2 Advisory Committee ........................................................................................... 1-3 1.3.3 Goals and Objectives of the Sauk River Comprehensive Erosion/Flood Hazard Management Plan ................................................................................... 1-5 1.3.4 Mission Statement ............................................................................................... 1-5 1.3.5 Objectives ............................................................................................................ 1-6 1.4 FUNDING THROUGH THE FLOOD CONTROL ASSISTANCE ACCOUNT PROGRAM ................ 1-7 1.4.1 Requirements for Comprehensive Flood Management Plans ............................. 1-8 1.4.2 Applicant Eligibility ............................................................................................ 1-9 1.4.3 Maintenance Project Eligibility ........................................................................... 1-9 1.4.4 Emergency Projects ........................................................................................... 1-10 1.4.5 Consultation with Other Agencies ..................................................................... 1-10 1.5 AUTHORITY AND SCOPE ................................................................................................. 1-11 1.6 PLAN ORGANIZATION ..................................................................................................... 1-12 2. THE SAUK RIVER BASIN .................................................................................................. 2-1 2.1 OVERVIEW ....................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 EARLY SETTLEMENTS ...................................................................................................... 2-1 2.3 THE SAUK BASIN TODAY – CURRENT LAND USES AND KEY FEATURES .......................... 2-3 2.3.1 Ownerships / Land Management ......................................................................... 2-4 Snohomish County Surface Water Management iii June 26, 2009 Sauk River Comprehensive Flood/Erosion Control Management Plan 2.3.2 Public Infrastructure ............................................................................................ 2-5 2.3.3 The Mountain Loop Highway, a National Forest Scenic Byway ........................ 2-6 2.3.4 The Sauk River – Part of the Skagit Wild and Scenic River System .................. 2-7 2.4 THE SAUK RIVER - GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION .................................................................... 2-8 2.5 BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS .................................................. 2-8 2.5.1 Fisheries Resources ............................................................................................. 2-9 2.5.2 Riparian Areas ................................................................................................... 2-10 2.6 PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS ......................................................................................... 2-11 2.6.1 Topography ........................................................................................................ 2-11 2.6.2 Geology ............................................................................................................. 2-12 2.6.3 Hydrology .......................................................................................................... 2-13 2.6.4 Climate .............................................................................................................. 2-13 2.6.5 Sauk River Processes ......................................................................................... 2-14 2.6.6 Sauk River Channel Migration Zone ................................................................. 2-14 2.6.7 Historical Record of Flood/Erosion Events ....................................................... 2-14 2.6.8 Recent Flood Events .......................................................................................... 2-16 2.6.9 Existing and Proposed Flood Warning Systems and Operations ...................... 2-18 3. CURRENT REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT OF SAUK RIVER CORRIDOR .............. 3-1 3.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 3-1 3.2 STATE, FEDERAL, AND LOCAL PERMITS AND REGULATORY ASSESSMENT ....................... 3-1 4. EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVES ................................................................................ 4-1 4.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 4-1 4.2 DISCUSSION OF ALTERNATIVE MATRICES ........................................................................ 4-1 4.3 MISSION STATEMENT ....................................................................................................... 4-2 4.4 CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION .............................................................................................. 4-4 4.4.1 Prevention ............................................................................................................ 4-4 4.4.2 Property Protection .............................................................................................. 4-5 4.4.3 Public Education and Awareness ........................................................................ 4-5 4.4.4 Natural Resource Protection ................................................................................ 4-5 4.4.5 Emergency Services ............................................................................................ 4-6 Snohomish County Surface Water Management iv June 26, 2009 Sauk River Comprehensive Flood/Erosion Control Management Plan 4.4.6 Structural Projects ............................................................................................... 4-6 4.5 THE MATRIX .................................................................................................................... 4-6 4.6 FINAL ALTERNATIVES DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP .......................................................