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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, February 5, 2002
| Contact: | Don Krupp, Thurston County Chief Administrative Officer, 360-786-5440 | | John Tennis, Public Information Officer, 360-709-3073.
Pager, 360-413-6385 |
THURSTON
COUNTY DECIDES ACTION PLAN FOR LOGJAM
OLYMPIA – Thurston County Commissioners today
decided not to remove any of a massive logjam on the Deschutes River.
However, they will continue to work with affected property owners and
could reevaluate removal of the jam if an emergency situation develops.
County officials became aware of the extent of
the jam in December after it grew about 600 feet to a total in excess of 1,200
feet. Water behind the jam is
threatening a handful of nearby properties.
Since then, the county has hired specialized consultants and has
studied the situation in depth.
The river has been cutting new channels around
the jam and that has alleviated some of the emergency. Reaching a decision has been a difficult process according to
county administrator Don Krupp, “Everyone is concerned with the welfare of
affected property owners. However,
we are prohibited from spending public resources to assist private property
owners and this situation did not reach the threshold of a threat to public
infrastructure or the health and safety of county residents.”
Krupp goes on to say, “We are not walking away from the situation
however. We will provide whatever
resources we legally can to aid area residents.”
That assistance could include-
·
Technical information and advice on the river actions and flood
protection.
·
Continued monitoring of river water levels and the potential
growth of the jam.
·
Watching development of new channels that are forming around the
logjam.
·
Working with area residents on the potential for creation of a
special district to work on the challenge.
Commissioners also said the county would work on
contingency plans for possible federal government assistance should the log
jam and flooding situation grow drastically worse in the future.
Visit Thurston
County on the World Wide Web at www.co.thurston.wa.us
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