Pierce County’s Flood Control Zone District – a special-purpose district represented by all seven members of the Pierce County Council – has announced that an unincorporated portion of the county will be the next to receive funding to help mitigate flood problems.
Midland, a community north of Parkland, received word this week that $375,000 will be allocated for culvert replacement along Golden Given Road East, north of 121st Street East. County engineers plan to begin construction during the summer and hopefully resolve problems with repeated flooding of roadways and surrounding properties.
“The natural disaster in Oso served as a reminder that we need to take proactive steps to deal with runoff in our own backyards,” said Councilman Rick Talbert, who represents the 5th Council District which contains the Midland community. “I’m very pleased to see that the next project funded by the FCZD will be in an area known to flood frequently and hopefully these preventative measures will help us avoid a situation like the tragedy in Snohomish County.”
The council created the Flood Control Zone District in 2012 to facilitate methods of collecting and distributing funds to areas of the county with flooding or stormwater issues. Communities not typically prone to flooding can use it for stormwater abatement or bank the money for several years to help pay for larger related projects.
“Emergency preparedness has always been one of my top priorities, and we created the Flood Control Zone District specifically so we could get out in front of emergencies before they happen,” said Councilwoman Joyce McDonald, who represents the 2nd Council District and chairs the FCZD’s Board of Supervisors as well as its Executive Committee. “Over time, the funds distributed throughout the county will pay for projects that will make our communities safer and less prone to devastating flooding.”
The Flood Control Zone District has distributed or plans to distribute funding to several county-wide projects in Orting, Tacoma, Eatonville, and others. For a complete list of projects and more information about the Flood Control Zone District, please visit www.piercefloodcontrol.org.
