Q: Does the Lower Green River frequently flood?
A: The Lower Green River is at risk of severe flooding. Floods are dangerous and destructive. They threaten our safety, block the movement of people and goods, harm the environment, and cause significant damage.
Q: What is the Lower Green River Corridor Flood Hazard Management Plan?
A: The King County Flood Control District (District) is considering developing a Lower Green Corridor Flood Hazard Management Plan (Plan) to guide future investments to manage flood risk in the Lower Green River Valley. To inform the development of a Plan, a programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) was prepared.
Q: What is a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS)?
A: When an agency determines that a project could have potentially negative effects on the natural or built environment, it is required by the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) to prepare a document called an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). A project EIS describes the potential adverse impacts on the environment and plans to mitigate those impacts, as well as possible alternative projects and their impacts.
A Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) evaluates the impacts of a broad agency action, such as the development of a program or plan, rather than a project. The PEIS for the Lower Green River Corridor Flood Hazard Management Plan provides information to decision-makers and the public about the plan’s potential environmental impacts and steps to mitigate them, as well as reasonable plan alternatives. The PEIS also describes potential benefits that could be provided along with managing floods.
The elements of the environment evaluated in the PEIS include (in alphabetical order):
Agriculture
Aquatic resources
Climate change
Cultural and historic resources
Cumulative impacts
Equity and social justice
Geology and geomorphology
Land and shoreline use
Public health and safety
Recreation and public access
Socioeconomics
Terrestrial and riparian resources
Transportation
Tribal treaty resources and interests
Utilities and public services
Water resources
Wetlands
Q: How did interested parties/community members engage in the PEIS process?
A: Tribes, jurisdictions, agencies, interested parties, and members of the public were encouraged to participate in the PEIS process at key milestones defined by SEPA. During two scoping periods, the District asked for public comment on types of environmental impacts to be considered as part of the PEIS. From March 20 to June 20, 2023, the District asked for comments on the draft PEIS.
Q: How are comments utilized?
A: The District responded to all comments in the final PEIS, issued April 30, 2024. Public input will continue to shape flood protection planning on the Lower Green River.
Q: What are the next steps?
A: The District Board of Supervisors will identify next steps that could include directing the development of a Lower Green River Corridor Flood Hazard Management Plan.