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Home My WebLink About11.10.2025 PW SS Briefings KITTITAS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS PUBLIC WORKS—BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT STUDY SESSION DATE: November 10,2025 TOPIC: Extension Letter RE: FEMA flood map revisions ACTION REQUESTED: Finalize comment letter and invite City of Kittitas to sign LEAD STAFF: Arden Thomas RECOMMENDATION: Finalize extension letter regarding FEMA flood map revisions and invite the City of Kittitas to sign the comment letter. BRIEFING SUMMARY: • At the March 25, 2024 Public Works Study Session,the Board of County Commissioners(BOCC) directed staff to remain engaged in the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA)ongoing efforts to improve flood risk modeling and mapping, and to provide periodic updates regarding the status of this initiative. • The FEMA study area includes land located just east of Cle Elum and several streams on the eastern side of the Kittitas Valley—areas where County staff have concerns that current FEMA mapping does not adequately assess flood risk. • Draft maps have been shared with the County, and we were informed that comments on the draft maps may be submitted until November 24, 2025. • Proposed mapping in the Kittitas Valley area significantly expands the mapped floodplain area. • Kittitas County staff recommend a more in-depth technical review of the modeling and mapping work conducted in the Kittitas Valley study area and propose to utilize our on-call Hydraulic and Hydrologic (H&H) contractor to conduct this review. • Our H&H contractor has not yet been able to complete the review because the necessary technical documents have not been provided. • Staff recommend that the BOCC submit a formal comment letter requesting an extension of the review period,as FEMA has not provided the requested technical information. Page 1 of 4 PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT BACKGROUND: Many of the mapped floodplains within Kittitas County were assessed for flood risk in the late 1970s using approximate mapping techniques. In 2024, FEMA proposed new flood studies for several streams on the east side of the Kittitas Valley, including within the City of Kittitas, and for an area east of Cle Elum. These studies will ultimately update the regulatory maps. FEMA conducted surveys in 2024 and recently shared draft versions of the proposed regulatory maps. On October 23, 2025, FEMA's mapping partner, STAR II,hosted a Flood Risk Review meeting to present the modeling work and mapping outcomes. During this meeting, we were informed that comments on the draft maps are due by November 24, 2025. DISCUSSION: During and following the October 23, 2025, Flood Risk Review meeting, County staff requested two technical reports and the associated hydraulic model to support a comprehensive technical review of FEMA's work. To date,these materials have not been received. It appears that FEMA's lack of response may be related to the ongoing federal government shutdown. Given the absence of the required technical information, staff recommend that the BOCC formally request an extension of the public comment period to ensure adequate time for technical evaluation once the data have been provided. Given the magnitude of the changes between the current effective maps and the proposed draft maps in the Kittitas Valley area, allowing adequate time for local review is essential to ensuring confidence in the final outcomes of this process. FISCAL IMPACTS: Staff time and consultant costs associated with the technical review will be funded through existing Flood Control Zone District resources.No budget amendment is anticipated to be necessary at this time. ATTACHMENTS: Exhibit 1: Draft Extension Letter Exhibit 2: Example maps illustrating changes between existing and proposed mapping in the Cle Elum and City of Kittitas vicinities. Page 2 of 4 PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT EXHIBIT 1: Draft Extension Letter Page 3 of 4 PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT "ADES...To THE G Kittitas County, Washington e� BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS District One District Two District Three �.�,as<oc�.�.� Cory Wright Laura Osiadacz Brett Wachsmith November 10, 2025 Wendy L. Shaw,P.E. Risk Analysis Branch Chief Mitigation Division FEMA Region 10 RE: Extension Request for Flood Risk Review Comment Period Dear Ms. Shaw On Thursday, October 23, 2025,Kittitas County staff met with representatives from FEMA's mapping partner, STAR II, for a Flood Risk Review(FRR)meeting. During this meeting,the STAR II team presented the results of newly restudied areas outside the City of Cle Elum and multiple creeks within the Kittitas Valley area, encompassing both unincorporated Kittitas County and the City of Cle Elum. At the FRR meeting,we were informed that comments from local jurisdictions on the presented materials are due by November 24, 2025. To date,we have not received formal written notification regarding this comment period. During the meeting, and subsequently by email,Kittitas County requested additional technical documentation to facilitate our review and preparation of comments. Specifically, we requested two technical reports and the hydraulic model associated with the Kittitas Valley study area. We have not received the requested materials. This lack of response appears to be associated with the ongoing federal government shutdown. Given that the requested documentation has not been made available and is necessary to conduct a complete and technically sound review, Kittitas County respectfully requests an extension of the comment period to at least thirty(30) days following receipt of the requested materials. Kittitas County fully supports FEMA's stated objective of developing useful, credible data through a fair and transparent process that enables informed decision-making regarding flood risk in our communities. Your correspondence dated March 13,2024,regarding this study effort,emphasized FEMA's reliance on local"feedback,partnership,and knowledge." Consistent with that principle, our preliminary review of the materials presented indicates that the Kittitas Valley Creek study should include a model run utilizing unsteady modeling techniques, in addition to the quasi-unsteady model employed.We further recommend that predicted flooding extents be compared with observed flood extents from past events to ensure the study's validity. We also request the opportunity to review model outputs in addition to the mapped flood hazard areas presented. Regarding the restudied area in the vicinity of Cle Elum,we specifically request that the"Zone A" Special Flood Hazard Area located north of Airport Road be updated through a Floodplain Refinement process to more accurately align with existing topography. This requested Kittitas County Courthouse• 205 West 5 s Avenue,STE 108 •Ellensburg,WA 98926 (509)962-7508 •FAX(509)962-7679 www.co.kittitas.wa.us revision is on FIRM Panel 53037C0685D,which is subject to revision under the new study. For all restudied areas, we additionally request that any Letters of Map Revision(LOMRs)be revalidated. While these comments represent our preliminary feedback,we emphasize the importance of being afforded sufficient opportunity,prior to the initiation of the appeal period,to conduct a comprehensive technical review upon receipt of the requested documentation. We anticipate that we may have additional or more refined comments after conducting a more detailed technical review. Given the magnitude of the changes between the current effective maps and the proposed draft maps, allowing adequate time for local review is essential to ensuring confidence in the final outcomes of this process. Respectfully, KITTITAS COUNTY By: Ms. Laura Osiadacz Chair,Kittitas County Board of Commissioners Kittitas County Courthouse• 205 West 56 Avenue,STE 108 - Ellensburg,WA 98926 (509)962-7508 -FAX(509)962-7679 www.co.kittitas.wa.us EXHIBIT 2: Example maps illustrating changes between existing and proposed mapping in the Cle Elum and City of Kittitas vicinities. Page 4 of 4 PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT < / � . . �. - -- . �• �. i \\ � • ' �� '\ W 2 « e 2 7 _0 ƒ $ Cr) k 0 k J \ / ci o « $ @ * — & q a ® } 5 72 ® § ' § f j \ %\ \ ) \ %J S � ^> ? k } f MC C k & % ] \ G\ 0\ ■ ci % EL- z » 6czL E � £ d ®mJ U cd cd y U ui �+ N H r LL O O` OI � 01 16 U � U n oU b�A �tIDj7 � N (j uiY 9 �: a c V Y U V LL Z V ,.. Z IL _ C O