The Skagit is also a powerful river - the U.S. West Coast’s third largest - posing tremendous flood risk to our cities and infrastructure. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers estimates that the Skagit’s existing levee system only provides 25 year flood protection, meaning that without additional flood risk reduction measures our levee system can be expected to fail once every 25 years. A catastrophic flood could mean billions of dollars in property damage and loss of life. At the same time, it would cost billions to raise the levees higher. We’re in a tough situation.

That’s why it is vital we ensure a safe level of flood storage at the Skagit’s hydroelectric dams. By drawing down reservoir levels ahead of fall storms, the dams significantly reduce our entire community’s flood risk from Marblemount to Conway.

By law, flood control is the first priority operational purpose of Seattle’s Skagit dams, part of the deal allowing Seattle to build dams on federal land. Nevertheless, Seattle’s operating license for its Skagit dams has never included a provision requiring a safe level of flood storage. When I ran in 2020, I promised to make progress on Skagit flood safety, this issue in particular.  

Working closely with Skagit Treaty tribes, state and federal agencies and other Skagit local governments, we negotiated a safe level of flood storage at Seattle’s dams last fall, a deal that also honors Treaty rights and protects salmon habitat. It’s a big win for public safety, tribal-local relations, and the fisheries resource.  

Our plan was supported by Skagit cities, dike and drainage districts, tribes and agencies, an example of the success we can achieve when Skagit local and tribal governments work together.  

We are in the midst of finalizing a settlement agreement with Seattle, but we still have work to do to ensure our community is safe. That’s one reason I’m asking for your vote this November.