The City of Yakima’s Public Works Department is taking steps to mitigate potential flooding next spring at Cowiche Creek and Wide Hollow Creek.
“While no governmental entity can guarantee that flooding will never occur, the City of Yakima and its partners are working hard to mitigate possible issues arising from potentially hazardous weather,” City Manager Cliff Moore said. “Inter-jurisdictional collaboration has been very productive and I appreciate the opportunity to move forward in a positive way – well ahead of the rain, snow, ice and snow-melt that we will experience in the months ahead,” Moore continued.
“The City and Yakima County have been meeting regularly to address immediate, mid-term, and long-term goals and objectives to address the threat of future flooding,” said Public Works Director Scott Schafer. “In addition, the City has been working closely with the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife as well as the Washington State Department of Transportation, both of which play a role in protective measures at the state level.”
That cooperative effort includes dredging underneath the bridge at Cowiche Creek, Schafer said. “The idea is to build more capacity in the creek so it can handle a high water event,” he said. “We’ve already fortified a few places along the levee.”
The levee bordering Cowiche Creek is privately owned and maintained. “The City has secured an easement from the owner authorizing access to the levee, which is intended to afford some protection from flooding to the city,” said Schafer. “The easement authorizes the City to inspect and maintain the levee. In addition, the City will be clearing accumulated vegetation from the top of the levee and within the creek itself, which hopefully will contribute to an increased capacity for the natural flow of water within the creek’s boundaries.”
The City’s flood mitigation efforts for Wide Hollow Creek include work south of Randall Park near 48th Avenue. “We’ve already built a berm next to the dog park that will hopefully keep high water in the creek,” Schafer said.
Work is also planned this fall to clear two log jams within Wide Hollow Creek in the area of 80th Avenue.
City of Yakima Taking Flood Mitigation Measures – News Release