WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. – Funding for mid and long-term responses to severe flooding in Whatcom County was squeezed into the budget passed in Olympia during this legislative session.
State Representative Sharon Shewmake says it includes millions to elevate a frequently flooded part of Slater Road, repair Nooksack District Schools, and buy out frequently-flooded properties in the county.
For the long term, she says they’re kickstarting efforts to deal with the Nooksack River’s natural tendency to flood.
“We need to work on a blueprint for that. We don’t have a blueprint yet and that’s a planning process,” said Shewmake. “We got about $750,000 for that planning process. For Whatcom County to kick it off and the processes we already have in place. And also to do some international coordination with Canada.”
She says that process will include many voices including tribes, cities, the county, the state, federal and Canadian governments.
To listen to the full interview with Shewmake, visit our Podcast page.