Historical Quote of the Month
2010
Previous years:
“The problem with studies is that they use a lot of words to hide unpleasant choices.”
(Source: Brown and Caldwell Letter to Skagit County Public Works 5/30/1982)
“Flood Damage Reduction: 29,700 acres of land would be provided rural protection (50-year), and 22,000 acres of land would be provided urban protection (100-year). The project would prevent 100-year Skagit floods from overflow to the Samish. However, flooding would still occur due to Samish River flows on 14,500 acres. The Nookachamps-Clear Lake area would experience an increase in the 100-year water surface elevation of about 4.5 feet.”
(Source: USACE Levee Improvement Study Studygram December 1978)
AC Note: Please see Draft as of June 19, 2010 of Chapter 7 of CFHMP: History of Flood Management
“In response to the question, how do upstream or downstream dike districts handle impacts of improvements to the levee system by others, a local dike district commissioner answered, "Get more sandbags." ”
(Source: SCFCZD Advisory Committee Meeting, 5/17/10)
“Why is it so hard to get an acceptable cost benefit ratio for diking protection of the Skagit River, when in 1936 Congress approved the Avon Bypass and supported dike systems. Please refer to paragraphs 68, 91 and 92 of the 1952 copy of "Report on Survey for Flood Control of Skagit River and Tributaries", Copy No. 43. Your report suggests a design of 250,000 C.F.S. at Mount Vernon. We fail to reconcile these statements with our record of eleven floods from 1896 to I960 and with a flood volume of 100,000 C.F.S. to 195,000 C.F.S.”
(Source: May 3, 1960 Letter from Frank Gilkey, Skagit County Government to Colonel R. P. Young, Seattle District Corps of Engineers RE: Legislative Council Meeting)
AC Note: Please see Excerpts from Report on Survey for Flood Control of Skagit River and Tributaries
“Ross reservoir by itself cannot, with any amount of storage, prevent all damaging floods in the important downstream areas. Ross reservoir can, however, achieve reductions in flood peaks which are particularly significant for medium floods which start to damage the downstream levee system.”
(Source: August 14, 1953 Letter From Lt. Colonel Lloyd L. Ball, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Seattle District to Division Engineer, North Pacific Division Corps of Engineers RE: Flood Control Requirement and Operating Procedure for Ross Reservoir, Skagit River, Wash.)
AC Note: See re: promises of Ross Dam storage: 1/22/22 C.H. & 1/7/32 Argus
“In considering the solution of the Skagit River flood problem, several possible methods are being studied. These methods include storage of flood waters, deepening the present channel, together with raising and strengthening of the present diking system as recently suggested by local interests, and construction of flood water diversion channels. The studies are not complete, and definite conclusions as to the desirability of any particular method have not been made.”
(Source: January 11, 1950 Letter From Colonel E.C. Itschner, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Seattle District to Skagit River Control Association RE: Corps of Engineers Involvement in Skagit River Flood Control Affairs)
“It’s just like, hello, how hard do you have to beat your head against the wall and realize don’t build in the floodplain,” said Montesano Mayor Ron Schillinger, adding it was also difficult to get behind someone who allows filling in the floodplain. “You can’t create additional problems and then allow someone to bail you out.”
(Source: The Chronicle, Chehalis, Washington, “Twin Cities Hold Out Against Army Corps Plan”, November 10, 2009)
