Residents and experts meet, once again, to hash out solutions for Grays Bay flooding

Westend residents filled Rosburg Hall last Tuesday for the third in a series of workshops on flooding in the Westend, led by Jackson Blalock of the Pacific Conservation District, and hosted by the Washington Sea Grant, the Pacific Conservation District, and the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership.

Using information gleaned from the first two workshops, Blalock presented maps of each area in the Westend showing possible solutions for the flooding issues, while looking for input from the audience as to what might work, what wouldn’t, and what those in the community might actually be willing to do.

It spurred a lot more dialogue.

After going through all the possible solutions they had come up with so far, Blalock shared some thoughts, and asked for more input.

“What we’ve learned is that most grant programs will not give you dollars to do the work you want to do, unless you have a plan,” Blalock said. “Another thing we’ve seen through funding for flood control, there is a lot of funds available for public work, but not a lot for private work. If people are looking for funds to benefit private land, one of the keys to unlocking that is that people adopting it look like they are going in the same direction. It has to look bigger than a single parcel.”

A final workshop is planned for this spring, where they will share everything they’ve learned.

Source: Residents and experts meet, once again, to hash out solutions for Grays Bay flooding | The Wahkiakum County Eagle