how does dredging work to prevent flooding

Over $6 million went to Whatcom County Public Works for phase one of the “Nooksack River: Floodplains that Work” (3) project, making it the highest-funded project for the 2019-21 fiscal cycle. In 2019, the Washington state Legislature approved $50.4 million for the 2019-21 two-year state capital budget for 10 Floodplains by Design projects that span across the state. Local jurisdictions, with the assistance of the state’s Floodplains by Design grant program, are working on solutions regarding this ongoing issue. The Nooksack River floods the surrounding lowlands. The program provides grants to communities that will allow them to pursue projects that will increase the resiliency of floodplains - including the Nooksack River. To answer this question, the state Department of Ecology created the Floodplains by Design (2) program in 2013. “ how do you make a program that reduces flood risks, restores the floodplains, and helps restore aquatic species and helps public access to shorelines?” Hart said. “The whole challenge is how we make sure our infrastructure and people don’t get harmed.”Ĭurt Hart, communication manager for the Washington state Department of Ecology, said one of the biggest challenges for coming up with flood solutions is balancing a variety of factors. “Flooding is a natural process,” said Paula Harris, river and flood manager for Whatcom County. Instead, city and county officials are approaching the problem from a variety of angles, from levee restoration to revising disaster plans. When it comes to reducing the effects of flooding, there is no single, clear-cut solution.

In February 2020, a large flood from the Nooksack River (1) devastated parts of Whatcom County and left many wondering: what will city and county officials do next? However, not all flooding in Ferndale results from the river topping its banks.

In Ferndale, the floodplain is associated with and influenced by the flooding of the Nooksack River. This area is commonly known as the 100-year floodplain. Much of the low-lying areas of Ferndale are within an area that has a 1% chance of flooding in any given year.

How does dredging work to prevent flooding