City to remove flood barriers from Pacific Park

Work expected to begin Monday

March 28, 2018 1:30 pm
As the region transitions from winter’s heightened threat of flooding to milder spring weather, temporary flood protection barriers along a park in Pacific will soon be removed. REPORTER FILE PHOTO

For the Reporter

Public access to Pacific Park along the White River in the City of Pacific will be restored in early April when crews are scheduled to remove temporary flood barriers placed at the riverside park’s entrance.

The King County Flood Control District is funding the barrier removal project, which is expected to begin on Monday, April 2, and take three to four days to complete. During the winter, these barriers, called HESCOs, help protect Pacific from seasonal flooding. “The King County Flood Control District installs HESCOs to protect the residents and businesses in the City of Pacific during flood season,” said Reagan Dunn, chair of the Flood Control District. “Now with the risk of seasonal flooding subsiding, we are removing a select amount of HESCOs to reopen the beloved Pacific City Park.”

“These temporary barriers continue to play an important role for both residents and the business community in Pacific,” said King County Flood Control District Supervisor Pete von Reichbauer. “They’re an added measure of safety that enables us all to breathe easier.”

The White River last reached minor flooding stages in February 2018, when planned releases from Mud Mountain Dam led to higher flows on the river.

“The HESCOs are a physical reminder of the Flood Control District’s ongoing efforts to protect Pacific from flooding. We appreciate their commitment to our city,” said Pacific Mayor Leanne Guier.

The HESCO barriers were first installed as a seasonal flood protection measure along the White River following flooding in 2009. King County works with Pacific to remove the HESCOs at the park’s entrance each April, when the threat of severe seasonal flooding has passed, and replaces them each fall in advance of flood season.

The Flood Control District is also working with the community to provide long-term flood protection to Pacific. Last fall, the district completed the Countyline Levee Setback Project, which provided floodwaters more room to fan out by removing a constrictive levee along the river and reconnecting the river to about 120 acres of historical floodplain. The district is now working on the Pacific Right Bank Flood Protection Project, located on the opposite side of the river from the Countyline project.

The new project, which would extend from the BNSF Railway south to the King-Pierce county line, is undergoing environmental review, and stakeholders are invited to participate in this process. A public comment period on the scope of that environmental review extends until April 13.