The Flood Waters Are Winning -- Issaquah Creek Plan May Include Buyout

ISSAQUAH - Leslie Brown grudgingly admits that the dream house she bought on Issaquah Creek last November fell far short of her hopes.

She thought the house, which had been elevated 4 1/2 feet to raise it above potential floodwaters, was safe.

But even that wasn't enough. Issaquah Creek, she laments, was a "beautiful, small stream. Now it's a huge river.

"If the county wants to buy my house, OK. Who else would buy it with this kind of curse on it? It's tainted."

Now the county may do just that, under the proposed Issaquah Creek Basin Plan - at $21.5 million, the biggest surface-water program of its type ever proposed in King County.

If carried out, the program will purchase and remove the homes of Brown and 60 other homeowners in and around Issaquah whose property is subject to flooding on average every 25 years.

The ambitious flood-control, flood-prevention and water-quality-improvement program was authored by a team of technicians from the city of Issaquah and King County Surface Water Management. It embraces 61 square miles stretching from Lake Sammamish southeast to Hobart and from May Valley in the south to Tiger Mountain. Included are the basins of Upper Issaquah, Fifteenmile, Middle Issaquah, McDonald, East Fork Issaquah, North Fork Issaquah, Lower Issaquah and Tibbetts creeks.

The proposal outlines two goals: protection of the public from hazardous flood-related conditions, and protection of the water

quality in Issaquah Creek and its tributaries for fish and wildlife.

Major recommendations include:

-- Restoration of natural characteristics of Issaquah Creek channel and flood plain in developed areas, mainly through selective removal of buildings in the flood plain.

-- Protection of forested land in developing areas to reduce future flooding and protect water quality.

-- Establishment of stringent land-use standards in areas that drain to significant streams and wetlands.

-- Reduction of pollution from known and predicted sources.

Buying out homeowners will help solve financial problems caused by flooding and allow them to relocate, said Leon Kos, Issaquah city administrator. Houses will be torn down or moved, and the land will be turned into natural habitat and open space.

The goal, Kos said, is to improve water quality in Issaquah Creek, especially in connection with the state fish hatchery.

New regulations would impose strict clearing restrictions on development in forested uplands.

Dennis Canty, county project manager, said builders and developers would be required to leave 65 percent of the trees on single lots. In subdivisions and short plats, 65 percent of the total area would remain open space or forest, he said.

"This would provide better wildlife habitat, reduce runoff and increase the recharge of ground water," Canty said.

In addition, there is $65 million worth of commercial development in the Tibbetts Creek flood plain. Efforts will be made to resolve high-water problems there, Canty said.

Canty said local funding will have to play a major part because there isn't enough money from state and federal governments.

Kos said cost questions remain.

"We want to make it clear that acquisition of properties should be done when people are ready to sell. There will be no condemnations," Kos said.

Condemnation isn't an issue for Elmer and Gwen Dodge, or for James and Jan Harvey. The Dodges have battled floods along the creek for the past 10 years, losing 14 feet of their property to the raging waters. Three years ago, the Harveys were in their new home only nine days when a flood dampened their spirits.

Reluctantly, the Dodges and the Harveys, whose homes would have been part of the buyout, already have agreed to sell their houses to Issaquah in a settlement resulting from a lawsuit they brought against the city over the flooding.

"I guess the plan they have is a good idea if it will do what they say it will do," said Dodge, a retired truck driver and merchant seaman. "We just have to get out now."

---------------------- DRAFT PLAN TO BE HEARD ----------------------

-- The King County Surface Water Management Division will hold a public meeting next Tuesday and Wednesday, 7-9 p.m. at Issaquah Middle School, 400 First Ave. S.E., to familiarize residents with the Issaquah Creek Basin draft plan for surface water and flood-control improvement. The plan also is available for review at the Issaquah Library.