2021-01-11-minutes-public-works-study-session

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Support capital funding for Floodplain by Design Among the 2021 FbD projects are broadly supported packages that protect farmland; restore estuaries; remove, improve or set back levees, improve agricultural drainage, reduce flood hazards, restore salmon and shellfish habitat, and more. These projects are the result of hard work by local governments, tribes, farmers, watershed groups, the conservation community, salmon recovery advocates and state and federal agencies to come together to craft creative and unique suites of actions that deliver reach and watershed scale change. They would create an estimated 2,689 jobs impacting at least 38 legislative districts throughout the state, many of which are currently experiencing nearly double-digit unemployment. Floodplains by Design projects reduce flood risk, restore salmon habitat, deliver vital resources in support of agriculture, increase access to public lands and outdoor recreation, and create local jobs. This funding is a tremendous investment opportunity. By prioritizing and rewarding collaborative, integrated decision-making, the State can reduce conflict in local communities and better spend limited public dollars. Investment in Floodplains by Design, paired with flood dollars, salmon and orca recovery investments and agricultural programs can begin to deliver results at a pace and scale demanded by growth, climate change and failing infrastructure. Washingtonians depend on healthy, livable, safe floodplains, and local communities need state support and incentives to better manage river systems in holistic way that builds community, economic and environmental resilience. At a time when Washington's iconic orca and the salmon they depend on are in peril, Floodplains by Design has reconnected more than 7,000 acres of floodplain — critical habitat for chinook salmon — and restored more than 50 miles of river. Climate change is increasing flows in our rivers by tens of percentage points and flood managers are working hard to reduce risk and protect public safety. Since 2013, Floodplains by Design projects have removed 434 homes and other structures from high-risk areas and reduced flood danger in 59 communities. Farmland in Washington state is disappearing at an alarming rate, increasing floodplain development pressures and associated flood risk. Floodplains by Design projects have protected more than 1,300 acres of working lands, including farmland, dairies, aquaculture sites and ranches, creatively funded projects that keep critical floodplain dairies viable by investing in new technologies to treat dairy waste while improving water quality, and improved infrastructure benefiting another 7,800 acres of working lands. Resilient communities The program not only helps sustain local economic productivity, the infrastructure works it funds creates hundreds of local high -paying engineering and construction jobs. This year has been remarkably challenging for Washingtonians across our state in many ways — with a public health emergency, continued climate -change exacerbated disasters, social unrest and economic losses for many. Beyond the health impacts of COV1D-19, community and economic systems are strained, and workers across the state have lost their livelihoods. Capital investments get people to work. Capital investments in flood risk reduction simultaneously protect communities from devastating floods that would be even harder to recover from. Investments in salmon recovery sows the seeds for a return of harvestable fish for cultural, recreational and commercial purposes. Investment in our farm communities keeps food local, keeps our economy diversified and supports hard-hit rural communities. filc:111kitnt1private(pworks_privlmark.cookl2021%20FbD/Support%20capital%20funding°/o20for%24Floodplains%20by%20Dcsign.html[11512021 8:13:38 AM]