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"ADES...To THE G Kittitas County, Washington <br /> e� BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br /> District One District Two District Three <br /> �.�,as<oc�.�.� Cory Wright Laura Osiadacz Brett Wachsmith <br /> November 10, 2025 <br /> Wendy L. Shaw,P.E. <br /> Risk Analysis Branch Chief <br /> Mitigation Division <br /> FEMA Region 10 <br /> RE: Extension Request for Flood Risk Review Comment Period <br /> Dear Ms. Shaw <br /> On Thursday, October 23, 2025,Kittitas County staff met with representatives from FEMA's <br /> mapping partner, STAR II, for a Flood Risk Review(FRR)meeting. During this meeting,the STAR <br /> II team presented the results of newly restudied areas outside the City of Cle Elum and multiple <br /> creeks within the Kittitas Valley area, encompassing both unincorporated Kittitas County and the <br /> City of Cle Elum. <br /> At the FRR meeting,we were informed that comments from local jurisdictions on the presented <br /> materials are due by November 24, 2025. To date,we have not received formal written notification <br /> regarding this comment period. During the meeting, and subsequently by email,Kittitas County <br /> requested additional technical documentation to facilitate our review and preparation of comments. <br /> Specifically, we requested two technical reports and the hydraulic model associated with the Kittitas <br /> Valley study area. We have not received the requested materials. This lack of response appears to be <br /> associated with the ongoing federal government shutdown. <br /> Given that the requested documentation has not been made available and is necessary to conduct a <br /> complete and technically sound review, Kittitas County respectfully requests an extension of the <br /> comment period to at least thirty(30) days following receipt of the requested materials. <br /> Kittitas County fully supports FEMA's stated objective of developing useful, credible data through a <br /> fair and transparent process that enables informed decision-making regarding flood risk in our <br /> communities. Your correspondence dated March 13,2024,regarding this study effort,emphasized <br /> FEMA's reliance on local"feedback,partnership,and knowledge." Consistent with that principle, <br /> our preliminary review of the materials presented indicates that the Kittitas Valley Creek study <br /> should include a model run utilizing unsteady modeling techniques, in addition to the quasi-unsteady <br /> model employed.We further recommend that predicted flooding extents be compared with observed <br /> flood extents from past events to ensure the study's validity. <br /> We also request the opportunity to review model outputs in addition to the mapped flood hazard <br /> areas presented. Regarding the restudied area in the vicinity of Cle Elum,we specifically request that <br /> the"Zone A" Special Flood Hazard Area located north of Airport Road be updated through a <br /> Floodplain Refinement process to more accurately align with existing topography. This requested <br /> Kittitas County Courthouse• 205 West 5 s Avenue,STE 108 •Ellensburg,WA 98926 <br /> (509)962-7508 •FAX(509)962-7679 <br /> www.co.kittitas.wa.us <br />