2022 Work Projects Page
Above is an overview of the TWO 2022 Work Project Areas
(RED = Work Areas)
Below are pages of Work Projects (back to Home Page)
There is a noticed "Ditch Narrowing" that is reducing flow that needs repair here
This project was accomplished without
any cost to the Ditch District because the landowner volunteered to use his equipment and time! This is Greatly Appreciated!
Blomberg Narrowing -After
(also removed 2 beaver dams and a tree that had fallen into the Ditch down-ditch The Webster Nursery also cleaned their area and removed a beaver dam. )
After the Narrowing was rectified the
width was restored to 12-feet at top and 8 feet at bottom. The ditch was cleaned on the entire parcel restoring high flow capacity.
Tilley Road Upstream Project - Before
(we were able to get all the way to just north of the Stroble parcel in the Main Fork of the Ditch and we also were able to upgrade the Culvert beside Tilley Road/SR-121 to try to eliminate flooding/overflowing of SR-121 )
This project is undertaken to deal with the January 2022 Flood. Goals: Remove debris and silt brought into ditch from flood and increase capacity of Ditch.
(see pictures for specifics)
Tilley Road Upstream Project
- After
(we were able to get all the way to just north of the Stroble parcel in the Main Fork of the Ditch and we also were able to upgrade the Culvert beside Tilley Road/SR-121 to try to eliminate flooding/overflowing of SR-121 )
This project is undertaken to deal with the January 2022 Flood. Goals: Remove debris and silt brought into ditch from flood and increase capacity of Ditch. (see pictures for specifics)
Financials for 2022 Maintenance Projects:
Below is the accounting for the 2022 Dredging Maintenance Costs. You may notice that at the bottom under " - Other" there is a "Loan from Commissioner Jackmond for $ 8200." This was done because the FEMA Grant is an "After the Fact" Grant and required that the work be done before "Grant monies" would be given. We are still awaiting word from FEMA on whether or not they will be awarding the Grant for $ 8712.87 for the work that was done. We did receive a Grant from WA-Dept of Ecology for $ 7709 which did help defray some of the costs to replace the Culvert that was at the area of the overflooding of SR-121.
End of Year 2022
- Income & Expense Report
Here is the Income & Expenses Report ( P&L ) for 2022.
There is still an "Outstanding FEMA Grant Request" for which it appears we MAY need to "Appeal the Denial".
Apparently, the "Endangered Species Act" (ESA) and US Fish & Wildlife Service is causing problems with obtaining those FEMA Funds.
There was a "Habitat Conservation Plan" established by the Owner ("UCP SAGEWOOD LLC") of the parcel at 10325 TILLEY RD S, OLYMPIA, a 20 acre undeveloped parcel. If this name sounds familiar, it is because this is also the company that was heavily involved with "The Preserve" Development which added a 550 house development just "up-ditch/ups-stream" from the Ditch District. (see the August 9th 2021 Meeting re: 85.32)
Background for appeal of FEMA Denial
This is very problematic for a number of reasons:
1). The removal of this obstruction was only determined to be a problem by the USWFS because it is in an area that was created as a “HCP Swap” for the landowner’s ability to develop a 550 house development 2.5 miles up-ditch of the HCP rather than having to adhere to ESA problems at the "housing site"; said subdivision is now causing additional flows and a strain on the Drainage Ditch District facilities.
a. This action (a “HCP Swap”) allows the developer to basically swap “habitat protection” from an area up-ditch of the headwaters of the Ditch District and replace that with an area in the middle of the Drainage Ditch District, thereby causing 2 problem areas for the Drainage Ditch District.
2). The "Grass Growth", that was removed in Sept. 2022 by manual means by the Ditch District, was actually caused by an action of someone that the landowner allowed to use thier parcel. At the bottom of the "Grass Growth", wood pallets were found to have been illegally placed in the Ditch (which is OWNED by the Ditch District), which caused the "Grass Growth" and impeded the flow of stormwater through the Hopkins Ditch.
3). The USFWS was conferred with, however thier assertion that "nothing could be done without their permission" (which would take approx. 18 months for them to evaluate) was totally unacceptable. The “United States Fish and Wildlife (USWFS) had replied with an email advising the Ditch District against further work in the ditch, to meet the requirements of the ESA, due to the presence of federally listed species” (The Oregon Spotted Frog) was totally unhelpful.
a. Their answer is totally unacceptable as the Drainage Ditch District has the State Mandated Duty by RCW 85.06 and RCW 85.38 to provide for continued maintenance of the Drainage Ditch to provide for Stormwater drainage from what used to be known as “The Union Swamp” (see “1878_November_7_” attached Document).
b. The USWFS gave no guidance as to what could be reasonably done to solve the problem before winter rains began; at the time it was not known to be caused by “a man-made obstruction”.
c. RCW 85.06.400 compels action by the Ditch District; “The superior court may compel the performance of the duties imposed by this chapter, and may in its discretion, on proper application therefor, issue its mandatory injunction for such purpose.”
d. When the HCP was being created, no one contacted the Hopkins Drainage Ditch District to elicit input, even though the Drainage Ditch District owns the Ditch itself and has “eminent domain powers” by RCW 85.06.070.
e. All of the foregoing is very disingenuous and a total misapplication of the ESA.
If FEMA is going to deny a grant of $8700 to an ultra-small Drainage Ditch District by a determination that an 11th-hour disruption of the flow of stormwater out of this historical swamp-area due to a “HCP Swap” by a developer, who allowed the Ditch to be blocked by pallets placed there by someone using their land, is in the best interest of these landowners and the Federal Government, then I guess that is big government for you!
However, we the Ditch District Commissioners implore FEMA to reconsider and make a more “common sense determination” in this matter.