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MASTER INDEX TO
HISTORICAL NEWSPAPER FLOOD ARTICLE RESEARCH |
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COMMENTS |
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(“TSN”) [1] |
memorial to the senate and house of representatives The undersigned citizens of Skagit County, State of Washington, believe that a fair consideration of the conditions surrounding the Skagit River and tributary country will induce such liberal action on the part of Congress as will meet the requirements of our present environments and prevent any disaster in the future such as we have suffered in the past. . . . The surveys already made, and the map attached hereto sustains the statement that there are tributary to Skagit River about forty Townships, or over fourteen hundred square miles of land. A large proportion of this country is now, and all of it, when developed, must be largely dependent for its commerce on this important River. It is navigable for light draft Steamers from its mouth to Sauk City, a distance of about seventy miles, and at some seasons to Marblemount, fifteen miles above Sauk City. . . . A system of dikes extends on both sides of the River from its mouth to and above the village of Avon, about fifteen miles; and connecting with the main system, are other dikes, running across the level country toward LaConner and other points to the North and South of the River. This diking system has been rendered necessary by the filling in of the bed and mouths of the River, from causes which will be explained, and ought to be remedied. The system, already constructed and maintained, embraces one hundred and fifty-eight miles of dikes, and has cost in money and labor expended in construction, the large sum of three hundred and thirty-five thousand dollars. All of this has been expended by owners of land in the Skagit valley, including the residents of towns liable to inundation. . . . Before the mouth of the river began to be obstructed, the accumulating waters of the greatest freshets did not overflow the banks. A channel varying in depth from twelve to twenty feet was a sufficient outlet for all the water that passed in swift torrents from the mountains and highlands of the North and East. . . . The main channel or mouth of the River is now closed from an accumulation of logs, driftwood and sediment. Where a few years ago Steamers could safely navigate in fifteen feet of water persons can now walk from one bank of the River to the other on logs, or other obstruction. The only entrance from the Sound into the Skagit is by way of a small Slough, narrow and unsafe, and through which Steamers at high tide can find only about six feet of water. The North fork of the River, through which navigation was formerly maintained, is now practically closed, and no boat can traverse its waters. The South fork is only navigable from Fir, where it flows through and becomes a part of Steamboat Slough, heretofore mentioned. Various reasons may be assigned for the obstruction and closing of the two mouths of the River, but until Boom Companies were permitted to place obstructions in the River and to locate their booms and appliances near the mouths, there was no trouble about overflows. We call your attention to the fact that since November, 1892, the floods in the Skagit have four times swept over the banks, broken the dikes and inundated the surrounding country. The destruction of property by the overflow in November, 1892, and January, 1895, was not very great, but the overflow in May, 1894, and June of that year entailed a direct loss on the people of the Skagit Valley as shown by estimates attached hereto, approximating one-half million of dollars. The town of Mount Vernon was entirely flooded, small boats and rafts navigated the streets and the people were driven from their homes for safety to the hills. The damage to public and private property was great, and the suffering from exposure and sickness was distressing. |
Unfortunately the newspaper did not publish the names or who wrote this Memorial.
The first documented “investigation” of the Skagit River was done by the Corps of Engineers in 1890. On October 13, 1890 Capt. E.H. Jefferson wrote: “There are several sloughs and channels through which the river finds its way to salt water. Steamboat Slough is the principal one, and used by the Steamers. The others are inferior and operated by the log-boom companies.”
158 miles of dikes. Cost $335,000.
These paragraphs strongly suggest that before the log boom companies came that the river did not flood. This of course was not true.
The 1897 Corps survey map shows that the “Old Main Channel” was completely obstructed with log jams. One has to wonder how much of this log jam was created by the removal of the log jams further upriver at Mt. Vernon.
Previously it has been believed that the only time downtown Mt. Vernon went underwater was in the flood of 1897. (See Skagit Argus article 12/15/21.) Clearly this Memorial contradicts that statement. It is also the first time that a summer flood was documented as having hit the valley. Why didn’t Stewart find any evidence of this flood event or for that matter even mention it? |
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The Highest Water Known The highest water in the Skagit River known to white men occurred last night. On last Thursday a Chinook wind commenced to blow which was accompanied by a warm rain. This rapidly cut away the snow which for several weeks had been creeping down the mountain sides. The wind continued over Friday when the river commenced to rise rapidly. By Saturday afternoon the river was booming and many thought it had reached its highest stage. This however, was not the case as it continued to creep upward during yesterday, and until last night. As the water gradually rose on the levees it became apparent that unless strenuous efforts were made to raise them, the town would be flooded. The experience of former occasion was enough to induce all parties to lend a hand, so that when the fire bell rang out the alarm, not for fire gut water, an army of men turned out with shovels and commended to build a dike on top of the levee, commending at the hill and working clear down through the city. This work saved the town, and but for it, from ten to eighteen inches of water would have swept over the levees and through the city. . . . Six hundred feet of the Great Northern railroad track between the bridge and Burlington were washed out, . . . The protection pier at the Great Northern bridge was knocked out and that structure was in great danger of being washed away. . . . Two big breaks in the levee on the west side occurred. One near F.C. Ward’s place, the other at D. Storr’s place. The whole west side including West Mt. Vernon, is a lake. |
NOVEMBER 16, 1896 FLOOD USGS (Stewart) says 185,000 cfs at Sedro-Woolley. No figure for Concrete.
“The experience of former occasion was enough to induce all parties to lend a hand…” This statement confirms that downtown Mt. Vernon had indeed gone under before. According to COE reports there were 3 floods in 1896. January, June & November. The COE Taylor Report 12/11/1897 stated that “River reportedly was 24 ft on Great Northern Railroad Bridge 6 miles above Mt. Vernon.”, which was 2 ft and 4 ft above the January and June floods respectively.
Burlington levees broke. Westside Mt. Vernon levees broke. Clearly damage not as great as 1917. |
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Protecting the banks One of the most important questions for the consideration of the settlers of the Skagit Valley is an adequate protection to the rivers banks from wash during high water. It is possible to build a levee of sufficient height to prevent overflow, but it is impossible to build a levee that shall withstand the slow undermining of the river at its base. So far, several methods have been tried but none of them are entirely satisfactory. The New Orleans Picayune of Aug. 16 has a description of a system which has been tried along the banks of the Mississippi, with the most satisfactory results. The following extract from the article will explain the system: The system was invented by Messers. R.H.F. and N. H. Sewall. The former gentlemen being interviewed stated that their system of dikes is nothing new to the engineers and citizens at large who are interested in such work. . . . The plan is to construct spur dikes of timber at intervals along the caving banks. These dikes project upstream at an angle of about 25 degrees. They are constructed of piling driven 80 to 85 feet into the river bottom; the water will fall into the angle formed by the dike and the bank, and be held there, forming a motionless body of water on both sides of the dike, which leaves no pressure against same. The deposit of the silt laden waters of the Mississippi will b stopped by the dike and will gradually settle, forming an accretion which will eventually create a batture[2]. |
New Kind of Dikes
The Sewall’s might have taken credit for this design but it is very similar to what a hydraulic engineer professor in the early 1500’s taught to his class. That engineer was Leonardo daVinci. |
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The great flood -- The Skagit on a big tear -- The Skagit Valley From The Baker Valley To The LaConner Flats Washed By The Ruinous Flood—Stock And Improvements Carried Away On Wednesday of last week, the wind began to blow from southeast and, before evening had developed into a chinook gale. Unfortunately for the river bottom settlers of the Skagit valley, the warm wind continued until about 4 p.m. Sunday. On Friday the Skagit began to rise quite rapidly and continued rising at an average rate of three inches an hour until Sunday morning when it began to abate. In the afternoon of that day, the river had risen until all previous highwater marks at Sedro was one foot seven inches under water. The whole valley east of Sedro was a floating wilderness. Hamilton was totally inundated; one brick building having caved in and several frame ones torn from their foundations. The county bridges recently constructed wee destroyed and the improved roads that had become the pride of the upper valley became an easy prey to the devastating waters. Lower Sedro suffered heavily. A large number of cattle and small stock perished and buildings ruthlessly torn from their foundations were cast hap-hazard amid the heaps of debris. Mortimer Cook’s store that has weathered the floods and storms of fifteen years, rose with the eddying waters and turned half way round before lodging against some trees and stumps. . . . South Burlington sustained great damage. Houses and barns were undermined and toppled to the ground and the winter’s supply which they contained scattered on the tide. The fencing of years yielded to the flood and the clearings that represented the toil of a decade were covered with the debris of the surrounding forest. . . . West Mount Vernon is next in line of progress and received no favor from the impartial flood. The water, rising from one to two feet above the first floor of the dwellings, swept fences and everything movable before it. . . . In the year 1878 Joseph Hart, our well known fellow citizen, came to Puget Sound and two years latter came to the Skagit valley, just prior to the great flood of 1880. Since the flood of that year there have been three freshets that have equaled it in height, and the one we chronicle this week surpassed it by eighteen inches. . . . In speaking of the floods and their causes, Mr. Hart said: “At the time of my coming to the valley there had been no freshets of note for many years, and the one that came in 1880 was a damper to the enthusiasm of the dwellers on the marsh lands; but, as several years rolled by without a repetition of the catastrophe and a system of dikes was inaugurated, contentment banished fear. Shortly after the memorable high water of that year, I had a talk with an old Indian and his squaw, who used to live on Skiyou Island but have since died of small-pox. These worthies took me to a tree near by and directed my attention to a water mark at least six feet higher than the highest point reached by the recent freshet and said that when they were children the great flood swept down the valley carrying death and destruction everywhere. He said: ‘The lodges of my people were carried with their canoes and winters food out to the great waters, and they were left to suffer the horrors of starvation and death from exposure to the inclement elements. The snows of winter fell to an unusual depth and the animals upon which we were wont to subsist, greatly reduced in numbers by drowning and driven into the mountain fastnesses by the raging torrent, were hard to get and very poor. The fish we had prepared for winter use were destroyed by the angry waters and we were made to suffer the wrath of the Great Spirit.’ ” Continuing Mr. Hart said: “Judging from the apparent age of the Indians at that time I should place the time of that greatest of the great freshets at about the beginning of the present century, and was caused according to the story of these Indians, by heavy snows coming early in the fall, which were immediately succeeded by a very warm Chinook wind which blew for many days. As to this being the only and real cause of the unprecedented high water, however, I have my doubts. Our fellow townsman, Mr. H.L. Devin, was some years ago engaged in surveying in the upper valley in the vicinity of Baker Lake. Being detained over night in an Indian camp, he was told the history of a great flood. They said that about 60 years ago a great slide had choked up the narrow outlet of the Baker Valley and that the water accumulated in the basin thus formed until the whole valley was an immense lake, full 80 feet deep. By this time the imprisoned waters had burst through the dam and in a few hours this great volume of water was precipitated into the Skagit flooding the whole valley. The water marks still plainly visible high up the sides of the Baker Valley and the great variation in those upon the trees as you come down the Skagit would indicate that this was the real cause of that terrible disaster. |
NOVEMBER 16, 1896 FLOOD
3 inches an hour for approximately 48 hours would be 144 inches or only 12 feet. This would not be a very large flood by todays standards even if we assume the river was at 20 feet when it started to rise. This could explain why the COE stated the BNSF RR bridge only reached 24 feet (See TSN entry 11/16/1898). Burlington at that time was not protected by levees and the water must have flowed down Gages Slough.
Cook’s store was located on the edge of the river.
South Burlington would have been the Gages Slough area. No references to downtown Burlington.
West Mt. Vernon water one to two feet deep.
Water only a foot and a half more then three previous floods since 1880. This would have included the 1884 flood that inundated downtown Mt. Vernon. (See 1895 article above.)
This would have been the 1815 flood Stewart talked about. Stewart later recanted this by saying The old Indian who told Hart and others at Sedro Woolley in 1879 that the flood was when he was a boy either referred to another flood or they did not understand him.” (Source: Transcription of Stewart “flood notes” on 9/16/22 by USGS 6/30/23 re Reflector Bar near Marblemount)
The narrow outlet in the Baker Valley would be where Upper Baker Dam is now. Baker River before the dam ran on the east side of Baker Valley.
Water marks up the sides of the Baker Valley and on trees down the Skagit. USGS now says this flood never happened because they can’t find any evidence. |
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Dikes And Fisheries Upon the call of Representative J. E. Nelson quite a large number of Skagit county people who are interested in the subjects of dikes and fisheries gathered in the court house in Mount Vernon last Tuesday and a thorough discussion was had of the needs of the county in relation to the above subjects. In the matter of improving the diking system it was the universal opinion that the first and most important steps to be taken is to secure the removal of the “boom works” from the mouth of the river so that the water will carry its load of debris out to sea instead of depositing it in the river channels where it forms a dam to the free outlet. Old settlers related that in the early days before the erection of the “boom works” there were three clear channels out to deep water with a depth of from 16 to 18 feet of water, but immediately following the construction of the “boom works” the channels began to fill up with drift until now there is but one navigable channel and that has only a depth of about 6 or 8 feet in a most tortuous channel. . . . In regard to the fishing interests it was the general opinion that laws should be passed prohibiting the erection of traps in or near the mouth of any river or in any “fish runway.” And further that the state would foster the fishing industry by the establishment of an additional number of hatcheries. |
River used to have “3 clear channels”. The one they are talking about in this article is Steamboat Slough.
North and South Forks used to be 16 to 18 feet deep.
Steamboat Slough 6-8 feet deep.
No “fish traps” in or near the mouth of river or in any “fish runways”. Should build fish hatcheries. |
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Disastrous Flood -- Mt. Vernon Is A Heavy Sufferer Levees Overflowed and Sidewalks Washed Out. A Torrent of Water Pours Through The City. Several Houses Wrecked and One or Two Narrow Escapes. On Wednesday morning a very warm Chinook wind commended to blow which increased in force until evening, when it was almost a gale. This hot wind blowing directly on the snow which had been creeping down the hills for the last few weeks, cut it away with the rapidity of fire, and resulted in a raging torrent rushing down the valley of the Skagit on its way to the sea. The rise did not commence until Wednesday evening, as it usually takes from twelve to fourteen hours for the effects of a Chinook to make their appearance, and the same time to cease. By Thursday the river was still raising but still within the banks. During the night, however the water came with increased force, and early on Friday morning the alarm was whistled from the electric light plant which called for help only to find the water pouring over the levees in all directions. Some efforts were made to raise the levees and keep ahead of the water, but it came so fast that they were useless. . . . In the southern part of the city, the very lowest quarter, a great break occurred in the levee, caused by the water pouring over the top, which swept everything before it with irresistible force. . . . After the flood Kincaid Street presented a sight that was dismal in the extreme, being washed out and lined with debris from one end to the other. All other parts of the city were in nearly as bad condition. . . . From Conway to salt water, the flood poured over the top of the levee the entire distance on the east side of the river. On the west side of the river several small breaks occurred letting through large volumes of water. But little damage was caused however. . . . At one time the bridge across the river at this point was in real danger. A jam had formed on one of the piers which gradually increased in size until it reached almost across the river. By good work and the liberal use of giant powder, the jam was finally broken, and the bridge cleared. It is badly damaged however, and cannot be used by teams until repaired. The protection pier on the next span east of the draw was knocked completely out, and the full force of the jam came against the main pier, springing it fully 18 inches out of plumb. . . . At the mouth of the river, steamboat slough, the only channel that can be used by steamboats, is completely blockaded. . . . The Great Northern coast line was overflowed as usual, but not so badly damaged as it was last year. The first train from the south came in today. A jam formed against the bridge at the Davis place, and came near taking it out. As it was the protection piers were knocked out, and the rails on the bridge were sprung fully 18 inches. |
NOVEMBER 18, 1897 FLOOD
USGS (Stewart) says 275,000 cfs at Concrete, 190,000 cfs Sedro-Woolley.
12-14 hours is still what it takes for flood waters to get from Concrete to Mt. Vernon.
Water pouring “over” the levees. This is the first time we have seen evidence of water over the levees.
Downtown Mt. Vernon flooded.
Kincaid Street washed out.
Conway levees overtopped. Fir Island levees broke.
Log jam on Riverside bridge.
Steamboat Slough blocked with log jam. No channel open to the sound.
Great Northern (BNSF) bridge damaged by log jam.
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11/22/04 (“SCT”) |
the sterling cut-off Meeting at Commercial Club Last Tuesday – some opposition met with by property owners in that locality The meeting held on Tuesday afternoon at the Commercial Club rooms to consider the matter of securing the right-of-way for the Sterling Bend Cut-off in the Skagit river was largely attended by the owners of property adjacent to the proposed cut-off, and the owners of property which is being damaged by the present erratic course of the river. The urgent necessity for action in securing an appropriation as soon as possible in order to prevent the great amount of further damage threatened, seemed to be thoroughly appreciated by all who have seen the effects of the high floods during a long residence along the river, but it developed that parties who have recently settled on the river and have not had any experience of extreme high waters were unable to appreciate the possible consequences to their property should the cut-off fail to be secured. |
Sterling Cut-Off
It is believed that they were talking about cutting off the Sterling Bend as at that time the Skagit used to flow around Hart’s Island and during times of flooding the river would flow across Highway 20 (the “Old Dollar Road”) into Gages Slough (Varney Slough). In 1911 during a very small flood event the local farmers took dynamite and blew up a log jam causing the river to change channel. (Source: 1923 Stewart Report) |
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The ferry The above illustration of the ferry across the Skagit river at the foot of Third Street is from a negative made by G. C. White. It is a spot visited by many during the pleasant weather, the beauties of the Skagit river being presented in a charming manner to those who take a trip across. At this point the river is nearly a thousand feet across. The Skagit river bears the distinction of being the largest water course in the state, after the Columbia. The scenery along the banks is varied, increasing in beauty in its upward course. Several of these ferry’s are in operation at different points along the river. |
Skagit River Ferries This is a great picture of how local residents would cross the river in “the early days.” |
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Developing The Country -- Railway Activity Is Skagit County The Great Northern is Planning Much Improvement for Next Year Within the next year Skagit county will be developed more than has been the case since the county has been in existence. This is made possible from the fact that Mr. James J. Hill, who deserves the title of Father of the Northwest, is planning many valuable improvements on such a nature as will bring into the county hundreds of people who will settle upon the rich lands and improve and develop the many resources. . . . For a number of years the mining men of Skagit Pass, of Ruby and State creek have cried out for roads and transportation facilities, but have been unable to get them. . . . That Skagit county has paying mineral deposits there is but the slightest question. She has not only gold and silver but iron and copper and cement rock and other valuable minerals. . . . But the mineral is not Mr. Hills only object, there are great forests of timber to be moved and there are fertile acres to be developed in the future. |
Railroad Development
There’s gold in them thar hills.
And a few trees and good farmland too. |
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Our Resources Are Many -- A Splendid Poor Man’s Country Work is Plentiful at All Times and Wages are Always Good What Skagit county needs is more people to develop the great rich fields which spread off every hand. There is not a country on earth where so many rich stores await the hand of toil and there is not a land extant where the poor man can so nicely get along and soon be in easy circumstances. Skagit county is one vast field of richness, producing the greatest hay, grain, vegetables and fruits to be found anywhere and once this becomes known to the eastern man who is seeking a home, it will be only the matter of a very few years until this whole country will be alive with industrious men, building homes and developing the great resources which surround them. Our county needs advertising we must place before the people that which we have for sale. . . . Let the eastern people know that we have a land of perfect health, that we have no heat or cold to the extreme, just an even, pleasant climate where health is catching and nature has a bountifully blessed the country with scenic mountains, sapphire seas, fantastic forest, green islands, and crystal lakes. Let this be known and Skagit county will not be long in claiming her own. |
The Selling of Skagit County
“What Skagit County needs is more people . . . . “ Perhaps today this statement would not be so true.
Interesting in this article is that it doesn’t mention floods. |
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Skagit River Out Of Its Banks Water In Valley Highest Known for Years—Burlington High and Dry—Very Little Damage On Thursday evening the Skagit river was the highest known for years. Some damage was done at various points on the river. West Mt, Vernon was flooded, but with very light damage. The west span of the bridge at that place was swept away. The draw on the railroad bridge was slightly damaged by a heavy drift but will soon be repaired. No water came within the corporate limits of Burlington except in the slough in the east part of town, and no damage was done.
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NOVEMBER 16, 1906 FLOOD USGS (Stewart) says 180,000 cfs at Sedro-Woolley. No figure for Concrete.
“highest known for years” Should have read highest since 1897 which according to USGS was 275,000 cfs at Concrete and 190,000 cfs at Sedro-Woolley. Burlington had no water in 1906 according to this article. |
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Highest Water In Many Years – Skagit River Goes On Big Rampage All Bridges are Damaged and Dikes Broken in a Number of Places Along the River While no great amount of damage resulted, it is never the less a fact that the old timer does not remember when the Skagit river contained as much water as it did Thursday night and Friday, and only prompt action on the part of the city officials and citizens saved the town from being inundated. The dikes here were very secure and did not break but the torrents of water poured over them and it was only by prompt action on the part of the citizens, who labored like Trojans filling sacks of sand and placing them in the low places, that saved the city from another baptism worse than that of 1897, as the water was at least eight inches higher than it was during that memorable freshet. . . . The greatest damage done is to the numerous bridges along the river. The railway bridge between this city and Burlington has been greatly damaged and one span of the Mt. Vernon bridge was swept away which leaves the city practically cut away from all communications. . . . The bridge at this place will never lament with safety, one span carried away, the others injured. A ferry will be established and sustained here until such time as a new bridge can be constructed. . . . . These floods are fraught with no great danger and throughout the country where the dikes gave way there has been no loss of life and but little damage to property and the farmers are not at all discouraged or alarmed about the future. The dikes in the main remained secure and when the damaged dikes are repaired they will be made sufficiently strong to withstand all future floods. Any home seeker or investor when contemplating coming to Skagit Valley should not hesitate to do so for in truth these floods are of no great consequence except what damage is done to bridges. They really benefit the land, but there is no doubt but in future years the dikes will be so strengthen as to withstand these floods and the country back of them will always remain dry. |
Reported Flood Levels do not Support Stewart
“no great damage”.
Mt. Vernon levees did not break.
This begs the question how did they end up with 8 inches higher water with 5,000 cfs less water.
Bridges damaged.
“No great danger from floods.” In a few years they will regret making that statement.
Floods “really benefit the land.” |
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There should not be too much blame laid at the door of the dike commissioners because of the dikes breaking. Those dikes wee built under many difficulties and considering the newness of the country they have held in pretty good shape. The majority of dikes withstood the floods and in a majority of cases the commissioners are to be commended upon their excellent work. Where logs or stumps were left in the dikes it is to be regretted, but remember that at this time floods extended almost from coast to coast. |
Dike Commissioners Not The Blame
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Freaks Of The Big Freshet -- Many Curious Turns Are Suddenly Taken Great Excavations are Made Showing the Wonderful Depth of Skagit County Soil Although no great killing damage was done by the deed of last week, still at certain places the waters cut many curious capers, especially on the ferry road above the city where the greatest amount of damage was done to fences, walks, houses and barns. In places great excavations 400 feet in length and several feet deep were made. . . . Great stumps were washed out by the roots leaving the deep excavations all the way from 12 to 20 feet in depth. Old logs which had been buried no doubt for a century were exhumed by the playful waters leaving great trenches washed deep into the soil. Below the city in the vicinity of Cedardale, the dykes gave way because of stumps being unintentionally left in them. These stumps were several feet below the surface and unknown to the dike commissioners. The waters however entered a rat hole, found their way and the stumps came to the surface by following the crevices made by the stumps at last passing through and soon soaked the dike until it gave way. The waters then lifted the great roots from hiding places of great years and tumbled them into the great torrents which rushed through the dikes. . . . The report published in the P.I. that the dykes at Avon had broken is false, as there is not a break in the dyke within a mile of that town. . . . The dykes at Mt. Vernon did not break, all stood secure until the city limits were passed. Just above the city the dyke gave way and the water backed into West Mt. Vernon, making quite a serious time for their inhabitants of that side of the river, but all escaped unharmed, no less save a few chickens. . . . The citizens take the freaks of the river in a philosophical manner and are not in the least discouraged. |
Dikes Blew Because of “Rat Holes & Stumps”
Great excavations 400 ft in length and several feet deep.
Old logs buried for 100 years.
Avon levees did not break. City of Mt. Vernon levees did not break. Just above city levees broke and backed into West Mt. Vernon.
Floods not a big deal?? |
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True flood report We have done a little wading and done a little swimming, And we hit for good tall timber when the river got to raging, But we didn’t lose our horses, our cattle, nor our women, Though the water was rather wet and quite above its staging. . . . So here’s to good ole Mt. Vernon and the fertile Skagit valley, We don’t care for the river if she does go on a spree, Let her fill her banks and gurgle, and boil, and foam, and sally, It’s the land of milk and honey she is kissing, don’t you see? |
Poem
Poem downplays the impacts of the flood. |
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Raging Waters – That Came and have gone and the harm done. Skagit County Suffers Little in Comparison with other sections of the State—Useless Fears of Future. So far as can be learned the recent flare-up of the Skagit river and its tributaries concentrated its damaging effects against bridges and railroads. No loss of Human life, except that of Mr. H. Peterson at Mt. Vernon, was caused by it. The case of Mr. Peterson was the result of a self inflicted accident caused by coming in contact with the iron crank used in opening and closing the draw on the county bridge at Mt. Vernon. A blast to loosen a jam of debris in the river was about to be fired, and in running in the darkness to a place of safety the unfortunate man collided with the iron and injured himself internally, from which he died the day after. . . . At Mr. Vernon, while the water over-flowed low places on the dike, by vigilance and hard work the citizens prevented the water making dangerous inroads. West Mt. Vernon was less fortunate and the town was flooded to a considerable extent but without serious loss. The dikes both above and below Mt. Vernon broke, but the overflow is, in most cases, looked upon as a benefit rather than an injury to the land covered. . . . The railroad bridge between Burlington and Mt. Vernon was put out of commission for several days by drift striking and throwing the draw out of line. . . . The water in Big Lake, it is said, was backed up into the basements of several houses. North of the river the water backs in west of the railroad tracks for a considerable distance toward town, while the water in the slough between the town and river made things look serious for a time, and a rise of a few more inches would have put Sedro-Woolley into the flooded district. . . . The rapid succession of rises and overflows is the subject of much conjecture and comparison with old time occurrences of a like nature. High water marks of former days are contrasted with those being made, and imagination lures the possibilities of the future. In this relation it should be remembered that, with the obstruction made by the dense forests and under-growths of years ago, the water which has recently ran out of the mountains and hills would have been backed up to the highest marks made by the flood anywhere in the past. Whatever may happen in the future it has been fairly demonstrated that Skagit County is not in danger of a widely disastrous overflow. The greatest danger that threatens is to those who might be affected by a change of the river’s course, which even now is demonstrated to be not unlikely. The removal of timber quite likely has something to do with climatic changes that are said to be notable in this country. The same thing lessens resistance to any change of base crowding water will cause the river to make. It is possible that an extreme was reached in the last rise and that the worst that can occur has been demonstrated and has passed. If that is true the lesson taught should prepare everyone for any future occurrence. |
NOVEMBER 16, 1906 FLOOD USGS (Stewart) says 180,000 cfs at Sedro-Woolley. No figure for Concrete.
Death of Mr. Peterson.
Log jams “blasted” off of bridges.
Levees overtopped.
Floods and levee breaks in most cases looked upon as a benefit rather than an injury to the land. Levees broke above and below Mt. Vernon.
GNRR (BNSF) bridge between Mt. Vernon and Burlington damaged.
Big Lake backs up.
Attributes past high water marks to dense forest. “Skagit County is not in danger of a widely disastrous overflow.” Really?
Sounds like they are describing “global warming.”
As will be demonstrated later the extreme was not reached in the 1906 flood event as the 1909, 1917 and 1921 floods were higher. |
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Refugee Notes from East Burlington The Skagit river has again risen in her majesty, and outdone its previous efforts for some years back. Everybody at Sterling south of the railroad track was compelled to move, some not getting their household goods high enough, as the water kept raising were obliged to move again. . . . Buzz Jewell suffered the greatest financial loss of anyone, as the river raised so that it covered most of his forty acres, and poured over the county roads in such volumes as to cut a chasm thirty feet wide and fifteen feet deep, the roaring of which could be heard half a mile away. Jeffery Grimbly and wife moved out in season to escape being rescued by a raft this time, “I think the women all bore in mind the instance of one lady during the last flood, being carried out and deposited upon a raft outside the front gate, and determined to get out while the traveling was good.” . . . In the dwellings of Messers. Grimbly, Chappeau, and Raymont the water came up to the door knobs. . . . The flood did no damage to Wm. Crotchett except to fill all the holes in and about his barn yard. It poured a wide stream of water over the county road and ran over the road into the slough. . . . The bridge over the slough by Wm. Miller’s place is impassable, having been built on logs, which were jarred loose lifting the bridge about three feet into space at one end. |
East and South Burlington Damage Sterling damaged.
Water at least 3 feet deep in houses.
Floodwaters found their way to Gages Slough. |
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What we have. Come this way Mr. Traveler, and never be afraid, The floods have all subsided; we no longer have to wade, Trout are in the river we catch them at our ease, The weather’s moderated, no danger of a freeze, The winds are blowing milder, we feel a sort of charm, And the waters which were raging have ceased from doing harm, . . . Come out here Mr. Eastern man and settle down with us, Land’s so poor back yonder you can scarcely raise a fuss. But here’s the land of plenty, the land of perfect ease, And the milk and honey’s flowing from the cows and honey bees. |
POEM Another poem by Charlie Gant downplaying the impact of floods. |
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Bond County For Bridges --Taxpayers Should Vote Sufficient Bonds County Must Progress and Many New Bridges Are an Absolute Necessity The News-Herald believes only in bonds when bonds are an absolute necessity, and it would seem that at this time such is the case. There never was a time in the history of this county when bridges were such an absolute necessity. The county at the present is maintaining eleven ferries at a cost of $3,036, this is for ferry tenders alone, not speaking of the expense of the repairs. If we had three of four new bridges the county could save $996 per year on hire alone, but this is not the point at issue. In maintaining these ferries the county will eventually pay out money enough to have built a steel bridge wherever needed and will not have a thing to show for it aside from a few cables and a few worthless old scows. . . . Ferries are dangerous, especially the weaklings which are constructed along the Skagit river. There has been loss of life and property on these ferries. They are only temporary, while steel bridges properly constructed are good for a lifetime, and once they are constructed the taxpayers feel secure, knowing that the expense is almost at an end. At the present time the county is paying out annually enough to pay the interest on the amount necessary to construct these bridges, and why not do it? |
New Bridges Needed
County needed steel bridges over the Skagit River. Editor wanted to do away with the 11 ferries being operated at the County taxpayer expense. |
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Bridge Ready For Service--Repairs Are Now In Good Order Excellent Work on the Part of Our County Commissioners and the Citizens of Mt. Vernon The span in the bridge which was washed away during the flood has been replaced by a new one and the farmers can now cross with their teams. The new span which rests upon large new piling is perfectly secure in every respect and will answer admirably until such time when the county is in shape to put in a new bridge, or at least until the next freshet. |
Riverside Bridge Repaired
Span washed away in flood had been replaced. Article states they did not think it would withstand another freshet. |
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Ask $100,000 For The Improvement Of The Skagit River U.S. Engineers Report – Favorably on the Proposition to Improve Navigation on Skagit River. Will Confine Water to Main Channel … some details of Maj. Chittenden’s plan, recommends a modified plan to cost $100,000, through following to a considerable extent the plan outlined by Maj. Chittenden. The chief obstacles to navigation in the Skagit as seen by Maj. Chittenden in his report are “the shoals at the mouth of the stream, the bad bars or shoals which interfere with low water navigation and the great quantity of driftwood and snags in the river.” “Beginning with the junction of the north and the south forks in the delta of the river, the energy of the current is greatly dissipated by numerous channels and on the tide flats by a general dispersion of the current in all directions.” The report favored the partial closing of the north channel to increase the current energy in the main channel by way of the south fork. For this work Maj. Chittenden estimated a cost of $95,250. . . . In a previous report, April 15, 1907, he had pointed out that the total commerce on the river for 1906 reached 188,283½ tons, valued at $1,766,452. . . . As a result of a personal examination of the Skagit river from Sedro-Woolley to its mouth, including both north and south forks, the conclusion has been reached that the only means of securing a reliable channel or entrance to this river that will benefit existing commerce is by the construction of a dike at the mouth of the south fork, following generally the line laid down in the report of Maj. Chittenden, and by cutting off or regulating the flow through the other channels. . . . “The estimate is as follows: 16,000 feet of retaining dike, at $80,000; regulating dikes and mattress sill at head of north fork, $6,000; cutting off subsidiary channels at the delta, $5,000; superintendence and contingencies, 10 percent, $9,000, total $100,000. |
Corps of Engineers Plan For Improving Navigation
Several times this report recommends cutting off the flow of river water through the subsidiary channels. The work that was carried out was further described in COE Cavanaugh Report 12/6/12 & COE Woodruff Report 10/10/19 and COE Butler Report 2/8/28. What this strongly suggests is that it was not the farmers at least on Fir Island that blocked off the estuary flows but the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Clearly this had a tremendous impact on fish. |
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High Water On Skagit River Break All Past Records Fairhaven Avenue Flooded With a Foot and a Half of Water River Raises Twenty-four Feet Above Low Water Mark -- Mark—Above all Past Records [4]Some among the oldest settlers of Skagit County are found to make the statement that never before have they seen the river rise to the marks reached during the flood, which came during the first part of the present week. . . . At about 10 o’clock Monday night, W.H. Joyce who lives just east of town, gave the alarm by phone, announcing that the water had broken over the county road east of the Jewell place and was running down the big slough towards the east part of town which is quite timely settled. . . . Down at the east end of Fairhaven avenue the current was very swift and the bridge went out . . . leaving some forty people shut out in this lowest land and in a swift current of water. . . . Thursday was a great day in Burlington and many talked of camping on the heights Tuesday night, but the change came about noon, the water went down rapidly and Burlington has perhaps received less damage then any other town on the Skagit. . . . While the East Mt. Vernon dyke held good, a snapshot from the auction building on the hill at Mt. Vernon shows a sea of water from Mt. Vernon to LaConner. Much damage was done in West Mt. Vernon and the hundreds shut in. LaConner was underwater as well as the entire flats from LaConner to Bayview and Mt. Vernon. |
NOVEMBER 30, 1909 FLOOD USGS (Stewart) says flood 260,000 cfs at Concrete, 220,000 at Sedro-Woolley. This article is in extremely poor condition and very hard to read. Portions are completely unreadable.
Important to remember is that during this time period the Burlington levees were 4,000 feet west of their current location.
Water went down rapidly. Burlington received less damage then any other town in Skagit County. Downtown Mt. Vernon dry, everything from West Mt. Vernon to and including LaConner to Bayview underwater. |
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Reveille Exaggerates High Water (Dead in flood Skagit waters collect their toll of human life.) The above headlines, printed in red, were the attractive features of the front page of Wednesday morning Reveille, and is perhaps of the most disgraceful lies that that paper ever published. Following those headlines the reporter says that no dead have been reported. He also says that Burlington is buried under from five to ten feet of water. This is also untrue. They also say that Burlington is sadly in need of relief and mercy work. We hope that the Reveille will be generous enough to correct these false statements. In the first place there is no dead in the flood, so far we have not received the report of one dead from any place along the Skagit. Burlington had about one foot of water in some of the streets, and there were many buildings over the town that were not even surrounded by water. Neither the railroad bridge south of town, or the steel bridge at Mt. Vernon is washed away. The amount published in the Reveille on Wednesday was simply a piece of Yellow Journalism.
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1909 Flood
Doesn’t sound like all of Burlington was covered in flood water in 1909 and the parts that were only had 1 foot of water in streets. Appears 1921 flood was a larger event. |
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Should Build Span On Bridge The high grade and close trestle bridge of the Great Northern Railroad South of town is in a great measure accountable for the extreme high water in the town during the recent flood. A great drift of wood and logs, at the trestle bridge across the big slough, held the water and caused it to back up and overflow a greater part of the town. For the safety of the town as well as for the railroad company, a long bridge span should be built at this point so as to give the drift wood and logs a chance to pass through. If the railroad company does not do this of their own accord, the city authorities should force them to do so. Many citizens had their homes flooded and were compelled to move out, all on account of this back up water from the above mentioned trestle bridge. This water may seem of little importance to some, but those who have had some experience in this line think it of great importance to them. Railroads are very necessary to our town and should always be treated courteously, but there is no reason that they should be permitted to jeopardize the lives, and comforts of our citizens. |
Bridge Over Gages Slough Caused Flooding in Burlington
This article is extremely significant because it documents the tremendous amount of water and drift that used to travel through Gages Slough during flood events. |
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The River – Gives People of Valley another scare – Big Chinook Starts Things Doing but quits with but little damage done. There may have been a time when a Chinook wind was not an unwelcome thing in this country, but that was a long time before November 1909. Since then when a Chinook blows every gentleman holds his breath. . . . Sunday afternoon the water began to rise at the rate of about 5 inches an hour and by midnight had increased to 8 inches or more an hour. . . . Sunday night up valley train was stopped at Concrete on account of the bridge over Jackson creek, near Van Horn, being washed out. . . . In Sterling Bend where last year the G.N. tracks were moved back from the river bank, and where subsequent rises have washed away the river bonks right up to the tracks, and rock fills were made, the waters of this rise came right up and again dallied with Jim Hill’s iron. |
NOVEMBER 21, 1910 FLOOD USGS reports 114,000 cfs at Sedro-Woolley. No figure for Concrete.
This would have been a flood comparable to the 1979 and 1980 flood events.
Article states there were 16 daily trains in Sedro-Woolley. |
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Dam building does not look too good Several years ago The Times quit building newspaper railroads. This was after it had learned good and well that when railroad officials got mixed up in an interview and “divulged” a lot of plans for the future, that the statement was either an explosion of overworked imagination, or was just the reverse of any real intention. Hence, The Times is skeptical of the big dam story about what Stone & Webster are going to do on Baker river this year and immediately following. . . . Under the most favorable conditions the building of the Baker river dam is going to cost lots of money, and just why the Stone & Webster should begin construction work while the price of every factor to construction is abnormally high and still ascending and transportation precarious, is a mystery. |
Rumors of Baker Dam
Newspaper didn’t believe Baker dam would be built. |
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Heavy Rains Cause A Raging Skagit The heavy rains of the past two weeks have caused considerable inconvenience to people living along the Skagit river. It seemed that the high point of the raging Skagit had been reached Sunday morning when the debris dam and the Mount Vernon bridge went out, carrying a portion of the temporary trestles away. Part of the trestle went out on Saturday, thus putting the bridge out of commission and causing those who wished to get to Mount Vernon to go around by the Avon road and come in from the north. . . . The river dropped Sunday and Monday, but the heavy rains of Monday night brought the river up again. Heavy rains in the hills kept the stream up to a dangerous point and in many places the water covered the low lands. . . . The heavy rains of Tuesday brought raging torrents of water down the old Skagit and for the first tie in nine years the danger line was reached on Wednesday morning when a little over twenty-one feet of water was registered. The dike broke south of town and considerable land was flooded. However, the standstill came about noon and by Thursday morning the water had fallen to the seventeen foot mark.
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UNDOCUMENTED 1917 FLOOD
This flood does not show up in USGS or Corps records probably because it was only 1 ft. over flood stage at the current gage. HOWEVER, it is the first time that we have documented that the infamous December 30, 1917 flood was a “double pump” flood event. Just like the 1990, 1995 and 2003 flood events. As we all know, the 2nd flood is always larger, and it was. Overbank storage would have been minimal at best.
Dike broke “south of town” on this minor event. Although subsequent articles do not mention this levee break it is highly probable that the levee was not repaired in just 10 days. |
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Skagit River Throws Mantle Of Flood Waters Over Ranches And Homes The dear old Skagit Valley, the one green spot in the northwest, has been given a drenching which wrought much damage and caused considerable inconvenience to all persons, ranchers and townspeople alike. An almost unprecedented rainfall and a Chinook wind starting last Friday in the upper part of the county caused the old timers to open their weather eyes and soon the alarm was given that a “big river” was expected. The river began raising last Saturday morning and continued to raise all day. Saturday night the stream was nearing the danger point. Dikes in all parts of the valley were being taxed to their capacity and in many places efforts were being made to strengthen them. . . . LaConner received a full blow of the rushing waters, but aside from the loss of the bridge, some bad washouts, the little town stood up under the blow very strongly. Mount Vernon’s business section and residence section was spared. . . . The Great Northern and the Interurban roads are badly hit. For miles and miles, both north and south, the Great Northern tracks are hanging here and there like a great trestle. In some places the road bed is washed out to a depth of six and seven feet. The interurban tracks are badly damaged and it is not believed that traffic will be resumed between Mount Vernon and Bellingham for a least a month. . . . The first intimation of danger was when advices up river were received to the effect that the water was higher on Saturday morning than it had been during the flood of 1909 and people began to prepare for a wet season. By midnight it had reached the high point at the hospital and was still rising. A small dike was thrown across the street with the hope of holding it, but under the strenuous protest of the property owners who would be submerged at the expense of the north end of the town the idea of keeping it back was abandoned and it was allowed to run down the main street to the Great Northern railway tracks where a breach was made and the waters allowed to spill out over the Olympia Marsh. . . . The loss in stock also promises to be comparatively light for the reason that the valley is so flat that a sudden rise sufficient to endanger life is almost impossible. . . . The Howard Fredman place has suffered the most severely of any in the immediate neighborhood of the big break. Here the river ran mad, undermining the house and barns and plowing deep channels through the fields. Deep holes are to be seen everywhere and across the Varney road where once were stumps there are now excavations that look like cellars. The little station at Varney has been undermined and leans over on its sides in a decidedly disreputable manner. The damage in the Interurban lines at this point will take weeks in repair. . . . Sedro-Woolley has not suffered very severely except in the vicinity of the water plant. At Sterling the damage will be considerable from the cutting up of the farms and the J.H. Hutchins place is said to be pretty badly wrecked. Dr. Cleveland’s new home on which he has spent so much time and money is also much the worse for its experience as well as those of many others. |
DECEMBER 30, 1917 FLOOD USGS (Stewart) reports that flood carried 220,000 cfs at Concrete and 195,000 cfs at Sedro-Woolley. This is the most comprehensive article describing the impacts of a large flood on Skagit Valley.
LaConner floods, Mt. Vernon stays dry.
Railroads badly damaged.
If the water was higher upriver then in 1909 it means 1917 was larger flood.
Water diverted to Olympia Marsh would explain why flood water did not reach downtown Burlington business district. See BJ 1/4/18 article describing this flood.
“a sudden rise sufficient to endanger life is almost impossible.” This statement, given the tremendous development in South Burlington since 1917, would undoubtedly be false today.
Varney is what they used to call Gages Slough. The train station used to be across the street from the Cascade Mall.
Sedro-Woolley little damage. Sterling hard hit. |
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Clear Lake At 1:30 the water started to come in the west part of town, and the people living in that part received the greater part of the water. The water entered the mill and also the engine room where the electric dynamo is and rose so high that the mills and town was put out of order and the town was submerged in darkness until Wednesday evening. The greatest damage done by the water in town was the washing away of sidewalks and fences. The flood was rather mild here compared to what it would have been had not the Sterling Bend dike broke. Although the citizens of Clear Lake sympathize with those of Burlington and vicinity they are thankful that it was not worse here. |
This article unequivocally shows the impacts the levees have had on the Clear Lake area. 1917 was one of if not the most damaging flood in the 20th century, yet Clear Lake suffered only “mild” damage unlike what they suffered in the 1990 and 1995 flood events. |
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Boat upsets boy drowns Little John Gruber of Clear Lake, lost his life in the flood waters of the Skagit Wednesday evening when, in company with his brother, Joe Gruber, they attempted to make their way over the waters to the ranch. The accident happened about 6 o’clock in the evening. Little John had come down from Clear Lake and had waited near the Clear Lake yards, close to the broken dike for his brother, who was coming in a boat from the Loveless place, where he lives with his family. |
Death in 1917 Flood Not counting the Mt. Vernon bridge tender who died from internal injuries after hitting a portion of the bridge, this makes 3 people who have been identified that died in Skagit River flood events. |
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River Becomes Unmanageable
Dikes Break in a Number of Places and Let Water in Over a Large Area of Low Lands – Some Stock Is Lost; Damage Much Less Than Anticipated; Water Reaches High Mark at Mount Vernon Wharf Saturday Night at Twenty-three and One-half Feet – No Rail Communication With Outside World for Several Days – Boat Does Big Business
Four weeks of rains and Chinooks finally resulted in a freshet Saturday night that for a time threatened to inundate the entire valley. The warm winds from the south melted the snows, it is said, up to the 6000-foot level and brought the combined waters of the Upper Skagit, the Sauk, Baker and numerous tributary streams down to the lower valley in greater and more continuous volume than has ever been recorded in the history of the country. . . . Loss Not Great As Expected The heaviest individual losers are those individuals that were in the path of the dike breaks. The break at Sterling Bend and that at Stevens slough immediately north of the Great Northern bridge wrought the greatest damage. At Stevens slough a home belonging to M. Freeman was tilted over into a hole. Dikes, county roads and railroads probably suffered the most from the recent freshet. . . . At Avon there was a sudden dramatic moment Sunday morning when a portion of the dike went out carrying into the swirl six men who were at work with dozens of others reinforcing the dike at this point. Hadn’t been for an old secondary dike the Skagit would have gone through here and every foot of the flats would have been under water. . . . A break at Magnus Anderson’s farm let the water in over a section of country about Conway. . . . Burlington and La Conner and Edison reported water in the streets; Sedro-Woolley reported water in the neighborhood of Jamison avenue, which is some distance from the business section. The Nookachamps low lands also were visited by the water. Mount Vernon, on both sides of the river, was dry throughout the freshet. The water from Sterling bend went over the Olympia marsh and the Samish. Edison also reported a couple of feet of water.
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DECEMBER 1917 FLOOD
This article describes the December 28/29, 1917 flood event.
Four weeks of rains. No wonder flood was flood of “long duration”. Overbank storage must have been non-existent. Snow level only went up to 6,000-feet??? Flood definitely would have been caused by rain alone.
Dike Breaks
Sterling, Stevens Slough, Avon, Conway. Burlington, LaConner, and Edison underwater. Mt. Vernon stayed dry.
Was water in Edison from Samish or Skagit?? |
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Str. Swinomish Sinks in Riverside Bend
The snag boat Swinomish sank in the Skagit river in the bend below the Interurban bridge Friday after grazing the bridge pier. Captain Fred Siegel said that in passing through the draw the boat touched the pier slightly. The men on the main deck reported no damage; but in a few minutes it was noticed that the boat was taking water. The pumps were immediately put to work but to no avail and the boat hit bottom with the upper works well out of water. |
Friday would have been December 28, 1917 the day before the river crest. “The upper works well out of water.” How big was this boat? Could be used to determine how deep river was. Doesn’t sound like river was any deeper then than now. |
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mid-winter flood greatest in memory of oldest inhabitant
Valley Dikes Break in Dozen Places – Skagit Inundates lowlands – No Lives Lost – Only Few Head of Stock Drowned – Considerable Property Damaged – River Channel and Dikes Inadequate to Carry Away Surplus Water – Spillways Needed to Relieve River Channel During Flood Periods – Railroad and Interurban Communications Restored from North – Delayed Mails Received Today
One of the worst and doubtless most destructive floods known in the Skagit delta occurred last Saturday night (December 29, 1917), the river dikes giving way in eight or more places, the overflowing water covering the entire delta from Mt. Vernon to LaConner, and south from Mt. Vernon to Conway. The island delta west of Fir escaping flood waters (Fir Island). The McLean highway district west of Mt. Vernon was not flooded.
The tragical results were caused by the failure of a crude, imperfect, ununiform diking system that never has nor never will retain the torrents of water when a Chinook zephyr loosens the flood gates of the Cascades. From five o’clock Saturday night, when the river was bank full, it steadily rose a foot an hour until midnight. The water then had reached the top practically of all the dikes, and a break was inevitable somewhere or the mighty volume of water was certain to pour over the dikes, causing doubtless even greater damage in loss of property and loss of life than resulted through breaks in the dikes. At about midnight the expected break in the dike came. In fact there were at least ten serious washouts. Four occurred in the Riverside bend, three across the river in the Avon district, at North Riverside, one at Freeman’s old place on the Baker River logging railway right-of-way, southeast of Burlington, one south of Mt. Vernon, and another at the Clear Lake wood yards, north of Mt. Vernon. These artificial spillways naturally afforded an immediate outlet for the surplus water to pour through, and the river immediately began to fall, and all danger from further flood damages was past.
Building a series of ununiform dikes to protect districts here and there through the lowlands utterly fails as a solution, meaning only future disaster when the river runs riot during flood periods. During flood periods when the river reaches the point that dikes are not adequate to control it, it overflows its banks unless other artificial means are provided to carry off the surplus water. Government engineers, who have studied Skagit river flood problems with the view of affording relief to districts subject to overflow, declare that concrete spillways should be built to take care of the surplus water. Improvements of this character should be maintained by the government, state and county.
Because Mt. Vernon’s big dikes kept it dry, or Burlington is so fortunately situated that it does not require a system of dikes to protect it from floods is mighty poor consolation to the people of the delta districts threatened with overflow and devastation every recurring flood,. . . |
December 29, 1917 Flood Event
Fir Island didn’t flood in the 1917 flood?
Diking system not uniform.
Ten dike breaks after midnight.
Dikes should be uniform and have spillways built into them. (Overtopping Levees)
Burlington doesn’t need dikes? Probably because at that time Burlington city limits was at least 1 mile north of Gages Slough. Did Mt. Vernon raise its dikes after 1909 flood? |
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Flood Notes
The Howard Freeman farm at Varney station was quite seriously damaged by the overflow caused by the break in the river dike on the old Freeman farm east of Varney. Mr. Freeman’s fine new home and barn were damaged in some-extent. The break in the river at the old Freeman farm, which was probably 800 feet in width, caused serious damage to the farms in the path of the overflow. The break occurred when the river was at the highest point, the water stretched over a territory of about 2500 feet in width, carrying away the Great Northern and interurban highways, undermining the dwelling and carrying away the barn on the old Freeman farm, and covering the land with piles of drift wood. The water found an outlet in the bay near Whitney. During the height of the flood Sunday morning a foot of water from the overflow of the river from the east covered a small portion of the residence and business districts of Burlington, the water flowing out that night when the river fell. On account of poor drainage and inadequate sewerage, there is still some water in the low places in some of the districts, which will soon all pass into the drains. The loss of property on the Higginbottom farm south of Burlington (the old Freman place) was serious. When the dike broke the house was undermined, the barn and sheds carried away, and the land covered with large-quantities of logs. The owner had only one cow which was saved. The Mussor, Wakley and Lamphier farms were all in the path of the Higginbottom break and the owners were serious losers. The Mt. Vernon Herald says the breaking of the dike at Higginbottom’s saved Burlington. What an idiotic untruth. Why not Mt. Vernon? Burlington is protected by no diking system. It is so fortunately situated that it does not need dikes to protect it from river overflow. The truth is, and why not be honest, that the diking system maintained on the Skagit river was inadequate to control the Skagit river, a break somewhere was inevitable, and shortly after midnight it came down at a dozen different places. Undoubtedly these breaks saved the dikes from giving away at other places. The water had reached the top of practically every dike in Skagit county when the breaks occurred. Flood damages were generally distributed throughout the lowlands. Unfortunately neither the districts directly to Mt. Vernon, Burlington nor any other Skagit County town escaped inconvenience or losses. Burlington had mail, daily newspapers, telegraph and telephone communications from the north and telephone communications from the south at all times. The editor of the Mt. Vernon Herald should confine himself to fact and truth. Why not give his readers the interesting story of the need of a gasoline engine to pump water out of the basement of the county courthouse. At least this is better than lying about a neighboring town. |
Varney Station was located next to Gages Slough on Old 99 (Burlington Blvd.)
Eastern Fairhaven covered with one foot of water. Water gone that night.
Must locate where Higginbottom farm was.
Burlington has no diking system! They must mean Burlington proper. Dike on Fairhaven must have been outside city limits.
Water reached the top of the dikes.
Burlington “is so fortunately situated that it does not need dikes to protect it from river overflow.” Really? While this statement is clearly not appropriate today it is strongly suggestive that flood waters from the 1909 and 1917 floods did not reach downtown Burlington west of the BNSF railroad tracks. Doesn’t look like Burlington Journal editor and Mt. Vernon Herald liked each other. |
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Flood waters are receding The flood waters of the Skagit valley are gradually receding and in a short time, the rancher will be able to walk upon that which he calls ground and view the results of a vicious Skagit river. Individuals are now counting up their losses. Estimates of the aggregate loss to farmers, householders, the county and state in roads and bridges, and to the public service corporations are largely guesswork. The real loss will never be computed. It is large, probably larger than that caused by the freshet of eight years ago. . . . Reports from all points of the valley show that more or less water and damage was the result of the freshet. Roads everywhere are in bad shape and will require a good deal of money to put them all back in a passable condition. The county is badly hit and the commissioners in session this week decided to review the county roads and put them in shape at the earliest possible date.
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Flood damages more than 1909 flood. Again, this strongly suggest that the 1917 flood was the larger then the flood of 1909. |
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Are the dikes a failure? Are the dikes a failure? If so, what is the remedy? These two questions have agitated the minds of hundreds of ranchers in the Skagit Valley during the past week since the old Skagit river ran amuck again. In the end, when the enormous flood waters of the river come down upon the community, dikes are found to be weak, and the result is as shown by the flood of last week. What is the remedy? Much money has been spent in making dikes and in the end, practically nothing has been gained. . . . The remedy is believed to be found in the construction of spillways. Several plans and suggestions have been made during the week, but this matter, being of such enormous proportions, will require more than talk to get something started. . . . It has been nine years since a flood came. It may be nine years again and it may be next year. Don’t wait until it comes again. There is too much valuable land in this valley to wait until a disastrous flood has overtaken it again and again. Now is the time to plan the remedy. |
Recommended “spillways” or over-topping levees.
“Now is the time to plan the remedy.” |
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River Floods Roads and Farms; Latest Reports Receding The warm wind last Sunday filled the river with melted snow from the mountains and caused it to overflow its banks in several places. The road between Sedro-Woolley and Hamilton was under water in several places, many autos getting stuck when trying to ford. The river was so high that the Lyman and Skiyou ferries have not been running for several days. A number of farms near Hamilton were flooded, and the creek along the road is bank-high and washing away its banks. It is thought that the main channel has been somewhat filled, and that unless something is done the creek will continue to carry more water. The water was not high enough to damage crops. |
UNDOCUMENTED FLOOD First documentation of a summer flood. Based on the damage reported it appears to be in the neighborhood of the January 12, 1928 flood. |
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will improve river at once
Commercial Club Hears Officially of Government’s $30,000 Appropriation for Work
. . . $30,000 was available for the improvement of the lower Skagit river. This appropriation was made by congress last year. According to a letter received by John Kill, chairman of the club’s river committee from Congressmen Lin H. Hadley, the federal engineers have approved the work. . . . The work to be taken up under the appropriation calls for the dredging of the Skagit channel from the mouth up the Skagit channel from the mouth up at least as far as Mount Vernon and the building of retaining walls where needed. |
Corps waiting on release from damages from lower valley farmers.
Approved dredging river from mouth to Mt. Vernon. Cost was $45,000 to $60,000. |
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I. pacific highway is said to be flooded High water has broken the dike at Milltown and flooded the Pacific highway so that for some days automobiles have been unable to pass at high tide. At other times a Ford helps to pull the cars through. . . . The new Nookachamps bridge on the inland highway will be completed in about ten days and the new approach on the south side of the Riverside bridge will be complete in about two weeks, according to County Engineer Frank Gilkey. The traffic, at present is going to Mt. Vernon by way of Clear Lake, while this bridge is closed. |
UNDOCUMENTED FLOOD Highwater broke the dike at Milltown and cars unable to use road at high tide. This is the only article describing this event. Not listed on USGS or Corps flood list.
Bridge over Nookachamps just about done. |
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big meeting to be held to plan drainage district – land owners to discuss draining problems – thousands of acres to be drained, if plans are carried out; to meet at commercial club . . . The Sedro-Woolley Commercial club extends an invitation to all people interested in this drainage scheme to attend the meeting which will be held at the club rooms on Metcalf street. At this meeting the boundaries if the drainage district will be decided. The district, it is planned, will embrace all of the territory from Minkler creek to Austin, and from the Skagit river to the foot of the hill on the north. . . . |
Drainage District Planned
Minkler Creek to Austin and from Skagit River to foot of Dukes Hill. |
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Skagit River Causes Flood Skagit valley has been in the grip of a flood for the past week. Torrential rains and strong southerly winds, amounting to gales at times, preceded the onrush of waters from the melting snow of the Cascade mountains, that came pouring down the Skagit river in a volume that almost equaled that of the memorable flood of 1909, when the river rose to 26 feet 4 inches, just 1½ inches higher than the present flood measured. . . . The first break occurred at McKay’s place, Burlington. The low lying land was soon covered with water. On Tuesday morning the scene north of the city was one broad expanse of water, with dwelling houses, barns, hay stacks, fences and trees standing in it. From 3 to 6 feet of water was recorded in this section of the flood area, the lower floors of the houses being flooded, and the inhabitants taking to the second story. The flood waters reached as far west as Avon. At the North Fork near Conway the next break was reported. This break caused the flooding of Conway, Milltown, Stanwood and the Skagit delta. The whole region from Mount Vernon to Sylvana is all under flood waters. The highway both north and south of the city is impassable for anything but boats. . . . A number of houses between here and Burlington were reported to have been lifted from their foundations and otherwise damaged by the flood. The most serious reported damage was to the home of Lee Davis whose home floated off its foundation and broke in two. . . . The Great Northern railway has been out of service since Monday evening, but the company expects to have trains running again in a day or so. . . . The Interurban weathered the storm and flood pretty well. While regular service was interrupted, they managed to get one or more cars through every day. By today (Thursday) they expect to be running all trains on time table schedule, and have stages to Everett running Friday. Travel was interrupted by the washing out of a bridge just out of the city limits and damage to the bridge over Varney slough. . . . The dikes held fine and had not the water risen to such a high point, there would have been little or no damage. Below town, the dikes were patrolled by hundreds of men and it was only after the water had risen to an overflow, that the men deserted their posts and hastened to notify their neighbors that the water was coming. Burlington was the first place to get wet, a break in the dike causing the water to invade the “Hub City.” An heroic effort was made to prevent the break. . . . While the losses are many, yet they are mostly small. The main losses are where lands were cut into, stored products damaged, and some losses of livestock. It is believed, however, that the total losses will aggregate around $50,000, which with the lumber company losses, will approximate a hundred thousand or maybe more for this section of Skagit county. |
DECEMBER 12, 1921 FLOOD
USGS (Stewart) 240,000 cfs Concrete, 210,000 cfs Sedro-Woolley. At Mt. Vernon 1½ inches lower than 1909. 26.4 feet would be 34.4 feet at current gage. 3 feet lower than 1990 and 1995. 1st break in levees at Burlington but floodwaters only reached as far west as Avon.
Bridge over Gages Slough washed out. Again showing tremendous amounts of water that flow in this area.
Losses expected to only be around $100,000.
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Skagit River Floods Valley When Dikes Go--Much Damage To Farms And Some Stock Lost-- Dikes Gave Way Early Tuesday At 24 Ft 10 Inches Once more after 4 years of somewhat peaceful action the Skagit River late Monday night and early Tuesday morning, broke its bounds and inundated a large part of its fertile valley, with a heavy loss to the farmers, an estimate of which is impossible at this time. No fatalities have been reported but some very narrow escapes from the flood waters occurred. . . . Three days of heavy rains and warm rains beginning their work Friday, melted the snows in the upper Skagit region and as a result, the Skagit River began its rise with startling rapidity, reaching a point Sunday night which caused alarm to be spread over the valley and the residents of the lower lands prepared to move. . . . The river continued to rise until it reached a mark of 24 feet 10 inches, or two inches below that set in 1909. This was late Monday night. Then came reports of a break in the dike in Burlington and soon after the dike at Conway south of here broke. Both these town were flooded. About 4:30 Tuesday morning, the dike near Charles Wiles place, a short distance west from Riverside Bridge and on the south bank of the river went through. Within a few hours the flats between the bridge and Mt. Vernon were covered with several feet of water. Other breaks occurred at intervals south of Mt. Vernon at Pritchard’s, two below the Sheriffs place and two on the north fork. With the breaking of the dikes the river began to drop slightly. . . . Pioneers recall that only once have the flood waters of the Skagit reached the downtown streets of Mt. Vernon and this was in 1897. Other floods have occurred in 1906, 1909, 1911, and January, 1918.[5] |
12/12/21 Flood Event
Three days of heavy rains.
24 ft 10 inches would be approx. 32 ft 10 inches at the current gage. Two inches below 1909 flood. USGS says 141,000 cfs at Mt. Vernon for 1921. No figure for 1909.
Only time downtown Mt. Vernon went underwater was 1897. |
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Urges Action to Stop Floods
C.F. Williams of Big Seed Company Calls for Positive Prevention
I think, in fact know, and there are few who do not think as I do, that it is a pitiable shame and an unnecessary condition, for the good people of this section of Washington to be called upon to look forward to flood waters about every so often; a sort of periodical threat to wipe out many homes, destroy farms and livestock. . . . From what I can learn, folks who buy here after an investigation of climate, resources and local peculiarities, are not surprised when a flood is predicted; they do not get overly excited when a warning is sent forth that the dike here, or the dike there is in a weakened condition and likely to break. They take it as a matter of course, and even smile while it may mean, and in dozens of cases does mean almost total loss to them of this world’s goods. I admire their spirit and their nerve, but I do not understand or admire their patience.
This periodic inundation of soil and destruction of property, to say nothing about the uneasiness of mind and loss to merchants and others, is unnecessary, and ought not to be tolerated any longer than it is required to find a solution and put it into execution!
Mr. Meehan has his idea of how the water may be controlled. On the map he pointed it out to us. Whether it is feasible, possible or the best thing to do I am not prepared to say – but this I do truly believe: If there is no way to control this condition which prevails when a warm wind and much rain hits soft snow in the foothills and lower mountain regions, it will be one of the very few problems the Yankee mind has failed to solve!
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Great letter to the editor. Should be reprinted and made required reading for all public officials and citizens.
Meehan was the County Engineer. Although his plan is not identified here it is believed that “his plan” would have been the Avon Bypass as by this time he would have been talking to Herzog who worked for the GNRR who published his report in 1922. |
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Auto Traffic Halted
Burlington cannot be reached by machine at this time, reports state, even the Avon detour being impassable. |
Burlington was underwater during the 1921 flood due to levee breaks. |
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big flood inundates skagit valley
The Skagit lowland region is passing through another memorable flood period. In consequence of which thousands of dollars of property have been destroyed in the path of the flood. Six weeks of excessive rains, followed last Sunday night till Monday noon by compelling Chinook breezes at the beginning of which the Skagit River was ban full, opened the flood gates in the foothills, and mountains of water poured out to the sea, inundating the greater portion of the valley of the Skagit. The last crushing flood disaster, which inundated the valley of the Skagit occurred January 1, 1918[6]. The widespread destruction wrought then, if estimated in dollar losses, doubtless greater than that caused by the flood of last Tuesday.
The present diking system, so faultily constructed, useless and inadequate, never has nor could control flood waters when built on the banks of the river. . . . Doubtless a diked in basin a mile wide could function, safeguarding the delta region when flood waters pour to the sea.
Monday night, December 12, the dikes east and southeast of Burlington broke. Tuesday morning at six o’clock the flood water covered Fairhaven Avenue, and in part the residence districts of the city. At this time the entire lowlands lying east, west, south and in part northwest of Burlington were inundated. The depth of water is on relative, the lamentable fact being that the area of low lands covered with water was wide-spread. That certain spots escaped water, neither lessons the flood evil nor removes its threatening menace as the destruction wrought during the last three recurring flood periods of 1909, 1917 and 1921 encompass a wide area of lowlands, some districts suffering greater damages than others, the river in its flood course to the sea, evidently changing or seeking an outlet wherever river dikes could first be swept away. . . . While flood damages in Burlington have been large, the flood waters disappeared from the principal business and residence streets within 12 hours following the overflow.
The damage to the Great Northern and interurban right-of-ways was not nearly as great as that caused by the flood of 1918[7], yet the main line of the Great Northern will not be repaired until late next week. The main line of the interurban and the Sedro-Woolley branch are in operation and the Great Northern Sedro-Woolley Rockport branch of the Great Northern will be in operation by Saturday. |
12/12/21 Flood Event
Six weeks of excessive rains. Skagit Argus reported 1917 flood was caused by 4 weeks of excessive rains.
Most interesting. 1917 flood caused more damage than 1921 flood. Stewart said 1921 flood was larger. No doubt both flood events impacted by major portions of overbank storage being used up before flood started. Suggested channel be widened to a mile wide.
According to statement at end of article this must have been the most eastern section of Fairhaven as it states “flood waters disappeared from the principal business and residence streets within 12 hours following the overflow.”
Further evidence 1921 flood not as bad as 1917 flood. |
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Cold Adds to Flood Damage
County Commissioner J.Z. Nelson Says Loss More Than Half Million
Following close on the heels of the high water which last Tuesday flooded a large area of the fertile Skagit Valley, has come a week of extremely cold weather at least for this country.
J.Z. Nelson, member of the board of county commissioners, said yesterday that at first he had placed the amount of damage done to the ranchers, county property, and railroads at about a half million dollars…
East Burlington perhaps shows the most damage from the high water where the river overflowed Fairhaven avenue. W.H. Walker’s house on the south side of the avenue was overturned and split into two. Mr. Walker was in the house at the time. The force of the concussion turned his bed over, throwing him into about three feet of water. He was rescued in a boat after several hours waiting and calling for help. …
Train service over the Great Northern was resumed last night and the mail and freight will be received with somewhat more regularity. …
No action has been taken yet by the various diking districts toward repairing the dikes, nor have any meetings been called to discuss future work. Many farmers are talking of calling mass meetings to talk over the question of proper protection from floods and many different theories as to what should be done are being talked about on the street corners. Many favor the building of a spillway from the Avon bend to salt water in Padilla bay, while others say that to straighten the river at the Avon bend by cutting a channel through from south of Burlington to a point at Mount Vernon. Others declare that the Skagit river must be dredged from its mouth up to a point above Burlington, and still others say that the Seattle dam at Ruby creek will offer much protection, although when this project will be completed is doubtful.
Many declare that to secure prompt and efficient action regarding flood protection, all drainage and diking districts should be consolidated into one county-wide district with responsible men at the head of it. |
1921 Flood
Last Tuesday would have been December 20, 1921. Flood crested Tuesday, December 13, 1921. Must have meant last Tuesday a week ago.
At this time the levees were 4,000 feet back from their current location. He must have been living near the dike break.
This would be the current BNSF tracks. Means R/R repaired the tracks in just 9 days.
Avon By-Pass, “straighten the river” build dams and dredging.
Consolidate the dike districts. |
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skagit county flood loss estimated at half million dollars minimum -- more stories of damage up-river; roads wiped out; ferries and bridges destroyed; work of repairing flood damage starts; no report of drowning in entire skagit flood district; flood worst in skagit history While the loss to property in Skagit county, due to the flood, is estimated by the county commissioners at more than half a million dollars, only a small portion of this amount was incurred by the farmers of the county. In fact, most of the flooded land where the current was not swift, was benefited by the flooded land where the current was not swift, was benefited by the flooding and deposits of silt. . . . Abe Young, who lives near Sauk, was a heavy loser. His house and a barn filled with hay and about fifteen acres of fine orchard land were washed down the river. For a mile at the lower end of the Sauk river, is a continuous jam of logs and debris. Above the White place, the whole mountain slid in, carrying road and all. Several Indians lost their houses and their little farms. The water was 52 inches high in the Sauk store and did some damage to the bottom layer of goods piled on benches and showcases. . . . Miles of the road up the Sauk river was washed out. Mr. Thompson is doubtful if the old route will ever be used again. At present a new trail is being cut. When a new road is built, it will probably be constructed along the hill, out of danger of the river. . . . The damage in the southern part of the county and on the flats cannot be estimated yet as the land is still under water. It is thought that salt water dikes on the flats have broken recently. When these are repaired, it is probably that the water will have to be pumped out. . . . The farm of Mr. and Mrs. A.H. Hamburg on the river bank south of town, was hard hit by the flood. Mr. and Mrs. Hamburg lived for two days in fear of their lives. The flood either washed out or covered with logs practically all of their five acres. They lost their horse and wagon, about 100 chickens, their ducks and geese, and their big garden patch was totally destroyed. The house is filled with mud. Where the chicken yard used to be is a hole 15 feet deep and the entire place is a mass of wreckage. Most of their fruit trees and berry bushes are ruined. |
DECEMBER 12, 1921 FLOOD USGS (Stewart) 240,000 cfs Concrete (47.6), 210,000 cfs Sedro-Woolley, Corps 140,000 cfs Mt. Vernon.
Most of flooded land benefited from the flood!!
Lower end of Sauk River a continuous jam of logs and debris.
Sauk River road washed out.
Salt water dikes broken.
Hamburg farm hard hit. House filled with mud. |
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Biggest flood in skagit history say old-timers The flood of 1921 is the biggest flood in the history of the Skagit, according to old timers, who recall the floods of 1879, 1888, 1897 and on up to the big flood of 1909 and the 1917 freshet. Mrs. Dreyer, who lives west of town, tells of the big flood of 1888, when in some places the river backed up higher than this year. She says that not so much damage was done then because there were practically no dikes and the water spread over the lowlands more gradually. Measurements at the Dalles, near Concrete, show that the flood water this year reached a point two feet higher than at any previous time in the memory of the oldest settler. Charley Moses says that it was the biggest flood, with the biggest volume of water ever carried in the Skagit. At Van Horn the water was 14½ inches higher than it had ever been. In 1909 the river in the upper valley was only about two-thirds as wide as it is now. Hundreds of acres of land are being washed away every year, by both Skagit and Sauk rivers. W. A. Ellison says he has been on the upper river for 21 years and this is the biggest flood he has seen or heard old timers tell about. |
BIGGEST FLOOD IN HISTORY
DALLES TWO FEET HIGHER THAN 1909.
Charley Moses lived in valley through 1906, 1911, 1917 and 1921 events. He observed the height of the river in The Dalles in 1921. |
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flood will not hurt grain fields Very little damage has been done by the flood to the berry and grain fields, says County Horticulturist E. D. Hunter. In fact, Mr. Hunter states, the silt deposits was beneficial. Only where there was a strong current or where there was a strong current or where stands for a week or longer, there will be a possibility of loss. . . . |
Berry Crops Not Hurt In 1921 Flood
Silt deposits beneficial. |
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Huge Spillway For Skagit River Proposed To Prevent Flooding
Closely following the recent flood, naturally comes the discussion as to whether such destructive inundations cannot be prevented and what means could be used to accomplish their prevention. Comes now County Commissioner Zig Nelson with a suggestion, which deserves serious consideration, in the opinion of many. Mr. Nelson points out the fact that Sedro-Woolley is protected on account of the Sterling cut-off, which opens a straight course for flood waters past Sedro-Woolley, thus minimizing the danger to this community. Below the cut-off, the waters reaching the big bend in the river this side of Burlington, break out of the banks and continue on the straightest course, as the deep channel east of Burlington clearly shows. Nelson’s plan is to construct an immense spillway starting at the Sterling bend and continuing in as straight a course as possible to deep salt water, which he says is seven miles in a straight line from the bend, while the river meanders some twenty-one miles before emptying in to the Sound. |
1st Avon By-Pass Proposal
Commissioner Zig Nelson. The overflow channel he is describing would have been in the Strawberry Bar area of the Burlington Bend (a/k/a Sterling Bend). The deep channel he refers to is Gages Slough. |
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Fire First Gun in Flood Fight
Permanent Organization To Be Formed “To Improve Skagit River.”
The first gun in the flood fight against flood waters in the Skagit valley was fired Tuesday evening at a mass meeting of Skagit county citizens held in the court house at Mount Vernon. More than 250 gathered within the court room, the doors were locked and as many more were turned away. . . . Charles Nelson, pioneer and strong dike worker, was the first to be called on by the chairman for his views on what course should be taken for flood prevention. He states it would be useless to build more dikes but that to build jetties at the mouth of the river, dredge the outlets and straighten the channel would be his solution of the problem.
Peter Samuelson urged the consolidation of the diking districts, stating that to do so would save enough money to buy a dredge for the county and to keep it in use.
John Kill also urged that the diking districts be put under one head for more efficient work and to save the taxpayers more money. It was shown that there are now seventeen such districts in the county. He also said efforts should be made to secure the assistance of the federal government.
That the people of the county should take the burden of providing adequate protection on their own shoulders, was the opinion of H.L. Willis, who cited the accomplishment of the city of Gaveston [Galveston, TX], which built its mammoth sea wall by bonding its own citizens without any outside assistance. He urged the adoption of organized effort as soon as possible and concluded with, “Let’s do the job ourselves.”
Alfred Polson spoke briefly in favor of dredging the channel of the river. He was followed by Captain Siegel who said he had no solution but offered the information that in some twenty odd years the river bed has risen eighteen feet.
A tangible plan was shown by W. H. Franklin, who proposed that the channel should be straightened from Sedro-Woolley to its mouth. He had maps and drawings of this project and figures as to its probable cost. He declared that the Skagit would dredge itself if straightened. His estimated cost of the project was more than three and a half million.
O.J. Whitmarsh voiced his approval of going after federal aid as the Skagit was a navigable stream. Its channel should be straightened, he added.
H.A. McLean was finally prevailed upon to give his opinion and stated at the outset that he was first in favor of securing a practical engineer to handle the proposition. … O. Rudene spoke at some length urging that the county should procure a dredger and clean out the channel. Brian Dillon also spoke in favor of dredging the river and also suggested that the height of the dikes be lowered. He said it was better to get a little water more frequently than a whole lot at one time. |
Community Meeting
People turned away after 250 flooded courtroom.
No more dikes. Build jetties at mouth, dredge outlets and straighten channel.
Consolidate dike districts and buy a dredge.
Consolidate dike districts, get help from Feds.
“Do it ourselves.”
Dredge it. River “raised 18 feet in 20 years”? If that process continued that would put the level of the river about 92 feet above current location.
Straighten river, and it would dredge itself.
Straighten and get Fed help.
Hire an engineer.
Dredging. Overtopping levees. |
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Nelson Names the Committee
Seven Men Will Investigate the Problem of Flood Protection In Skagit County
…H.L. Willis, Mount Vernon, chairman; John Finstad, Conway; Charles A. Nelson, LaConner; Augustus Brawley, Mount Vernon; Hiram Stump, Edison; Charles Callahan, Burlington, and Will Knutzen, North Avon… |
FIRST FLOOD CONTROL COMMITTEE |
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Ruby Creek Dam As Skagit Aid
Seattle Engineer Would Show Pictures Here of Project
County Engineer Frank Gilkey is in receipt of a communication from C. F. Uhden, engineer in charge of the Ruby creek dam feature of the Skagit project now under construction by the city of Seattle, expressing appreciation of the interest being taken by Mount Vernon people in the project as it effects the flood situation of the Skagit river.
Mr. Uhden also expresses a willingness to come here in person and demonstrate the Ruby creek project to Skagit county residents through the medium of a lantern slide lecture and explain in what ways this dam may assist in controlling flood waters of the Skagit. |
Ross Dam impacts flood control. |
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City Club Into Flood Problem
Commercial Organization Will Confer With Seattle Engineer on Plans
The president appointed Frank Gilkey, county engineer, and Mayor Moody to confer with C.F. Uhden, who is the engineer in charge of the Ruby creek feature of the Skagit project, relative to the effect this dam will have on Skagit river floods. This appointment was made at the suggestion of H.L. Willis, chairman of the committee formed by County Commissioner Nelson to investigate the diking situation. |
Chamber of Commerce gets active. Endorsed building of Ross Dam. |
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Should be 1/19/22 CT |
big crowd listens to seattle experts discuss flood plan – dam said to be sure cure for skagit valley floods – engineers uhden and dimock of seattle, explain plans for huge dam: sedro woolley interested A large crowd gathered in the Rex theater in Mt. Vernon Tuesday evening to listen to the plans for a possible means of stopping floods by damming the water at its source. About three hundred were present. . . . Mr. Uhden, the engineer in charge of the big Seattle project on the Skagit river, told all about his work, illustrating with lantern slides. He said that Seattle is planning a dam 480 feet high, on Ruby creek, which will take ten years to build, according to present plans. If Skagit county men wish to raise money to pay for the work, a flood gate dam will be built instead of a solid crest dam as at present planned. He showed the possibilities of stopping flood which this dam would have. He said that the Skagit river had 100,000 cfs through Sedro-Woolley, while the flow through Ruby creek was 30,000 cfs. The last 20 feet of the dam will take care of one-half of this volume of water for three days, during a flood, and an additional 10 feet would take care of the remainder for six days. The engineers are agreed that this dam is the only logical solution of the flood problem. Mr. Gilkey said that his idea was to get federal aid to help build the dam with flood gates. It was stated that if the people of Skagit county wished to go in on the dam, and have Seattle change its plans, the work could be speeded up to take only five instead of ten years. Another statement made was that the damage in Skagit county for the last two floods was a million and a half dollars. |
Ross Dam
Flood control not in original plans. Seattle wanted Skagit County to get funding for flood gates.
Estimates of flood flows were obviously too low.
Damage in 1917 and 1921 floods only 1.5 million? That would convert to 15,463,917 2003 dollars. Of course with today’s development in the floodplain that figure would be increased several times over. (Source: Consumer Price Index) |
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Work For Large Flood District
Committee and Dike and Drainage Commissioners Plan Permanent Body
That an enlarged improvement district must be organized before any definite steps can be taken for protection against the high water of the Skagit river, was the opinion expressed at a meeting held here Thursday of the diking and drainage commissioners and the committee recently named to investigate means to prevent future floods. A vote of all present showed that this opinion was nearly unanimous. …
Through discussion it was found that it would be necessary for the community to secure some outside assistance and that before this could be done some sort of permanent organization must be formed. ….
Such an improvement district as has been suggested can be formed but it would be allowed only a small levy for its work which was shown would not be enough to do any great amount of flood prevention.
…
Allen R. Moore, Mr. Willis stated, is to appear before the committee tonight with his theory for the prevention of floods in the Skagit valley. |
This was the beginning of the River Improvement Fund. “Nearly unanimous.”
Get help from Feds.
River Improvement Fund not enough to do it alone.
Still don’t know what Moore wanted to do. |
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9/28/22 |
Hadley Working on River Control
Congressman Seeks Federal Aid to Curb Skagit; Asks for Data
I was not quite certain, but thought it might be possible to have the survey provided for in the River and Harbor Bill extended to include an examination and report by the engineers on the question of flood control. I therefore took that question up with General Taylor of the Board of Engineers of Rivers and Harbors who states it is his view that the examination and report as to flood control could not be made without authorization through the Flood Control Committee of the House, as contemplated in the bill which I have introduced and which is now pending before that committee.
…
…My own idea is that a showing should be made by persons personally cognizant of the facts covering the periodical floods, their frequency, the nature and extent of the same, the nature and extent of the damage sustained in floods of recent years, the conditions which make their recurrence probable, the extent of the area and some idea of the population affected by the floods, the measures heretofore taken by local citizens or authorities to afford protection against the floods and generally any facts which will support the necessity and reasonableness of the end sought by the bill.
Very truly yours, Lin. H. Hadley |
Congressman Hadley letter to Mt. Vernon Commercial Club.
Congressman’s efforts led to 1925 Corps of Engineers Report. SKAGIT RIVER, WASH., PE by Col. W.J. Barden, Corps of Engineers {published as House Document #125, 69th Congress, 1st Session} |
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Promise $35,000 For The Skagit
Government Would Ask Waivers For Any Possible Damages
“When the farmers residing south of Mount Vernon all sign a waiver of damages, stating that they will not hold the United States government liable nor responsible for damages which might arise from high water or other unexpected causes, the government officials will agree to the expenditure of $35,000 available for river improvement,” was the statement of Colonel Schultz, United States district engineer for the Pacific Coast, who was here on an inspection trip with assistant engineer H.J.E. Baker early this week.
The snagboat, Swinomish, was used for this special inspection tour which included the Great Northern bridge, North Fork dam and Skagit River bar.
The hope was expressed by the party that the matter of river improvement might be settled at once as it has been prolonged over a considerable period of time and is attracting much attention now particularly in view of the river and harbors appropriation bill introduced by Congressman Lin H. Hadley. |
No indication what the Corps was going to do. Later articles suggest that they wanted to dredge North and South Forks. |
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Will Get Data On Skagit River
U.S. Engineer Asks Senator Poindexter to Secure Information
United States Senator Miles Poindexter has been asked by Col. Edward H. Schulz, United States engineer in charge of river and harbor work in the Northwest, for all available information regarding plans for the improvement of the Skagit river, according to word from Seattle.…
When he returns to western Washington next week, Senator Poindexter will assemble data to show the locations to be improved, depths required and other facts and as soon as possible will confer with Skagit county people. On a recent visit to Skagit county Senator Poindexter inquired into the possibilities of flood control and protection of the mouth of the river, stating he believed the federal government should as rapidly as possible control the waters of the Skagit and prevent future damage by floods. |
This was the beginning of the Preliminary Examination published by the Corps January 31, 1925. Amazing, back then the Corps could do a prelim study in a little over 2 years. Today we call it a Recon Study and it took the Corps the same amount of time. |
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Begin a Survey of Skagit River
Data on Flood Conditions Will Be Gathered – Report To Commissioners
Steps are being taken by the Skagit River Committee toward getting a survey made of flood conditions. Yesterday the committee met with the Board of County Commissioners offering a report and suggesting ways and means of securing a survey. . . .
While there they conferred with Mr. Parker, head of the United States Geological Survey for this district. He emphasized the necessity of securing data as to the volume of water coming down the Skagit especially during the flood period.
He also stated that he had a man in his office who is an expert on this kind of work and he offered this man’s services to the county. He also could secure the data required, especially the volume of flood water, during last December. Many flood marks have been obliterated but this material should be gathered as soon as possible
…The data on the Skagit river which in past years has been collected by the Great Northern and Northern Pacific railroads, the War Department and Geological Survey will be assembled as the first step in making a survey of the river. H.L. Willis is chairman of the committee. |
Report must have been verbal as no hard copy was located in the State Archives of the County Commissioners meeting. The next day the Commissioners passed Resolution #1131 which stated:
WHEREAS, G.L. Parker has been recommended for this survey. NOW THEREFORE, It is hereby ordered that the County Engineer employ G.L. Parker at a salary not to exceed $250.00 per month to make such survey. All work to be done under the supervision of the County Engineer and payment for same made by warrants drawn on the River Improvement Fund. No mention of hiring USGS, just Parker. Other then this resolution no agreement between USGS and Skagit County was located. Interesting also is that article was published Thursday, November 9, 1922 and resolution was signed Friday, November 10, 1922. |
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To Investigate River Control
Large Party Will Go to Tacoma From Here December 1st and 2nd.
A large delegation of Skagit County citizens will go to Tacoma Friday and Saturday, December 1 and 2 to inspect the control work of the Puyallup River there. …Mr. [W.J.] Roberts is chief engineer of the project. His letter follows:
“Your question, ‘How much of the work on this small stream would be applicable to our very much larger river?’ My answer would be: All of it. That is, the three features which we most particularly emphasize, river clearing, channel dredging and bank protection, would apply with the same emphasis to the Skagit river as they apply to the White and Puyallup rivers.” |
We actually had a flood control committee that was involved. See 12/7/22 article on the “large delegation” that went. |
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engineer is hired for river survey The county commissioners this week employed Mr. Stewart, a government engineer, to make a survey of the Skagit river. Mr. Stewart’s salary is $250 a month, which will be paid out of the money to be raised by the 1 mill levy for river improvement. The new engineer is from the government office in Seattle, and is working under government orders. His work here will be under the supervision of the county engineer’s office. He is already at work testing the river and tributary streams for their flow and volume of water carried, and other data needed to determine flood remedies. |
James E. Stewart Skagit County paid Mr. Stewart directly therefore the County technically owns his work product. See 11/20/22 Argus article. |
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Are You Going to Make Trip?
H.L. Willis Urges Skagit County to Learn of Flood Control.
We in Skagit county are facing a similar but larger problem. For the past ten days the county has had an engineer from the U.S. Geological Survey at work on the upper Skagit near Concrete assembling data on the volume of last December’s flood. The object is to determine how much water came down upon us last December. For it is evident that we could make no adequate plans for taking care of any flood unless we knew about how much water was to be taken care of. When this new data of our recent flood is secured, all the other data on the flow and flood of the Skagit River will be assembled from their various sources. The general plan then seems to be to place all this data in the hands of a competent engineer and ask him to submit a comprehensive plan for the control of our river. If it seems necessary, this plan could be submitted to consulting engineers for their approval or rejection. When we get this far it will be up to the people of the county or the flooded area to determine what next shall be done. Then we shall have an authoritative, comprehensive plan under which not only we local people can work but which we can present with effect to the state or the U.S. government when we go to them for help. But let us never forget that we will get no help worth while from any source until we show that we are worthy of some help by beginning to help ourselves.
Every man or woman in Skagit county who is interested in the control of our Skagit river floods is not only invited but urged to go with this Skagit county delegation to Tacoma next Friday, December 1. … Let everyone remember that the only credentials he or she needs to become a delegate to this convention is an interest in the control of the Skagit river. Come, and get ready to give the old Skagit a wallop before he wallops us once too many.
H.R. Willis, Chairman River Committee |
Stewart’s field notes did not start until November 24, 1922. Skagit County paid Stewart directly, not USGS. According to Commissioners Journal, December 4, 1922 Skagit paid Stewart $91.67 for his salary, and $291.85 for expenses from the River Improvement Fund.
Skagit paid Stewart again on February 5, 1923, $250 for his salary and $60.03 for expenses. Referred to him as the “River Engineer”.
On March 5, 1923 Skagit paid Stewart $1.46 for expenses.
Since Skagit County paid Stewart directly and had no formal contract with USGS, and all his work to be done under the supervision of the County Engineer, this technically makes him an employee of Skagit County not USGS. Skagit should own his work product.
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Learn More of Flood Control
Skagit County Delegation Visits Puyallup River Project in Tacoma
On Saturday the party viewed the actual work on the Puyallup river under the direction of Mr. Roberts and Mr. Phillips, the engineers. It was shown that the cost of this project has already reached a million dollars.
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23 men went on the trip. Most from Mt. Vernon, 5 from Burlington, 1 from LaConner and one from Allen. |
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Litigation Over Drainage Ends
The litigation over the formation of Drainage district No. 19 which has extended over a period of six years has been ended. … District No. 19 takes in more than 6500 acres. |
6 years to form a Drainage District. |
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Hadley Asks For River Data
Committee in Congress Will Hear About Skagit Floods From Statistics
Saturday, W.R. Fowler, president of the commercial club, J.W. Collins, secretary, Freed Ornes and H.L. Willis sent what available data there was ready concerning the amount of damage that that had been done in past years by the high water. These men are now compiling statistics concerning the commercial use of the river from years ago. These are being brought up to date and will be forwarded to Mr. Hadley. |
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Send Flood Data to Cong. Hadley
Figures Show Enormous Loss in Damage and Cost of Protection Against the River
J.W. Collins on Saturday mailed to Congressman Lin H. Hadley available data on flood damage from the Skagit river. This data although not as complete as was desired, gives some convincing figures of the amount of water that has come down the Skagit in flood periods. Mr. Collins secured information from J.E. Stewart, an engineer who has been working for the past week or so collecting figures on past floods and their damage. He is working under the direction of the board of county commissioners. . . . Other information was secured from H.A. Herzog, chief engineer of the Great Northern; J.M. Clapp, of general engineering practice; H.L. Willis, chairman of the citizens’ committees; Capt. F.A. Siegel, of the U.S. snagboat, Swinomish; Frank Gilkey, county engineer; Judge Augustus Brawley, Auditor Walter Barrow and Assessor W.H. Whitney.
The report to Mr. Hadley first gives figures of flood periods as shown by the government station near Sedro-Woolley from 1908 and 1918, exclusive of 1909 and 1917. The station was discontinued in 1918. This shows four freshets came in November, two in June, one in January, one in April.
Mr. Stewart has obtained proof that this valley was visited by a flood in 1861 and there are figures for the fall freshet of 1894, 1896, 1897, 1906 and on up to 1921. The flood of 1909 was the largest flood of recent time.
…
As to the probable recurrence, the report states, “Engineers who are familiar with river control problems state that a history of any stream for a period of eighty to a hundred years will give reasonable data as to the probable events of the succeeding hundred year period.
The report shows that the twenty-one diking districts which take in approximately forty thousand acres of land. “There has been,” it states, an expenditure up to and including the year 1921, of $1,087,779 by the organized districts for flood control. There has also been expended by individuals and co-operative individuals not regularly incorporated an additional $900,000 bring the total expenditures for the flood protection by the residents of the Skagit Delta to the staggering total of $1,987,799.
The report tells of filling up of the Skagit at the mouth, which it says will force the abandonment of the diking system for protection. It states the South fork channel has filled 16 feet in twenty-nine years. |
Would be interesting to secure this “report”. Appears that Stewart gave him some figures. The fact that “He is working under the direction of the board of county commissioners” further substantiates that Skagit owns his work product. This confirms that Skagit County had the Herzog report recommending the Avon By-Pass. Somewhere in the archives there must be a copy of what Willis submitted. We have to obtain this. It will show what Stewart submitted.
Stewart wrote the following in his field notes about the 1861 flood: “all these lead to the assumption that the great flood was that of December 4, 1861. The old Indian who told Hart and others at Sedro Woolley in 1879 that the flood was when he was a boy either referred to another flood or they did not understand him.” (Source: Transcription of Stewart “flood notes” on 9/16/22 by USGS 6/30/23 re Reflector Bar near Marblemount) This was the only time the “1861” flood was ever mentioned.
This means Dike Districts spent 2 million in 26 years. Local cost of Avon By-Pass in 1936 was only 1 million.
16 feet in 29 years?? South Fork used to be pretty deep. Wonder where all that sand goes now. |
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Committee Has Skagit River Flood Data Following is a letter received by J. W. Collins, secretary of the Mount Vernon Commercial Club in reply to the Skagit flood data sent to Congressman Lindley H. Hadley recently: I have received your letter of the 17th instant enclosing separate communication furnishing requested data in the matter of the Skagit River flood control. . . . I appeared personally before the Flood Control Committee on December 14th in support of my bill, H. R. 12609. . . . When I appeared before the committee, one member of long experience in Congress suggested that I get in touch with General Taylor of the War Department on the question of the probable cost of the survey, as sought by the bill… |
Congressman Seeks Study of Skagit River |
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Flood Control Data Presented
Congressman Hadley Gives Skagit River Figures to Committee
I took the data you enclosed to the office of the Flood Control committee this morning and presented it to the chairman. |
Perhaps the Federal Archives will have the Willis report Congressman Hadley received. |
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River Hearing In Seattle Jan. 22
War Department Asks for Information on Puget Sound Waterways
“Information is especially desired as to the improvements proposed by local interests; the amount of present and prospective commerce; and the draft and tonnage of vessels using these rivers.” |
Corps wanted more information from locals. |
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Steelheads Are Plentiful
Word has been received at the game warden’s office that 20,000,000 sockeye eggs have been placed in the streams of Puget Sound. This has been done in recent weeks in an attempt to re-stock local waters with this fish. The regular game fishing season in Skagit waters opens April 15, and closes November 30. |
Article didn’t say how many were planted in the Skagit. Interesting that Skagit fishing season was only April through November. |
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river problems to be discussed soon at seattle meeting -- federal engineer to hold hearing jan. 22 -- skagit county river committee meets; will make recommendations to legislators at once The problem of taming the Skagit river is too big a proposition for Skagit county or for the State of Washington, the county river committee decided last week. Consequently the committee passed a resolution urging the Skagit members of the state legislature to memorialize congress for help in controlling the Skagit river. . . . The Skagit river committee urged the employment of an engineer of national reputation on river data and to suggest a feasible plan to control the river. The federal field engineer is busily at work collecting data but has not made his official report. |
River Problems Too Big For Locals
Engineer the article is talking about is James E. Stewart. |
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Show Tonnage at River Meet
Skagit Citizens Ready with Figures for U.S. War Department
The problems of the Skagit river were given a hearing Monday afternoon in the Seattle Chamber of Commerce before Col. Edward H. Schultz, representing the War Department of the United States. … H.L. Willis presented the report which had been prepared to show the tonnage figures on the Skagit river and also gave other valuable information. He stated that the farm products originating in this county could be estimated annually at 50,000 tons of oats, 30,000 tons of hay, 12,000 tons of potatoes, 18,000 tons of straw, and 10,000 tons of general farm products.
He declared that if the Skagit river was cleared of all obstructions an increased amount of tonnage could be handled each year. …
J.W. Collins, secretary of the Mt. Vernon Commercial Club, pointed out various phases in the written report given Colonel Schultz and spoke on the matter of dredging the lower end of the river.
Capt. H.H. McDonald, pioneer of Skagit river navigation, gave some interesting figures relative to the filling up of the channel from the mouth of the river. He stated that he had built several boats during the past years and each one had been constructed with a more shallow draft than the one previous in order that it might get up the river from the Sound. He stated that he had now reached the limit on this form of construction. …
Those who attended the hearing from this county included H.L. Willis, J.W. Collins, J.O. Rudene, W.E. Moss, B.D. Moody, J.B. Hayton, George B. Reay, W.H. Franklin, Swan Swanson, Charles Nelson, Charles Elde. C.C. Callahan, of Burlington, also attended the hearing. |
Interesting farm history.
Appears that dredging was primary recommendation. |
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Flood Control Bill is Drawn
Skagit River Included in Congressional Committee’s Report
The bill contains an appropriation of $4,000. …
A BILL Authorizing preliminary examinations and surveys of sundry streams with a view to the control of their floods. |
Congressman’s efforts led to 1925 Corps of Engineers Report. SKAGIT RIVER, WASH., PE by Col. W.J. Barden, Corps of Engineers {published as House Document #125, 69th Congress, 1st Session} which resulted in a recommendation of “national benefits are insufficient to justify the U.S. in undertaking such work (flood improvements) either alone or in conjunction with local interests, but are sufficient to justify cooperation by U.S. to the extent of securing the necessary data” (i.e. study it). First study dealing just with floods. |
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Survey Work On River To Be Continued The Skagit River Improvement committee, H.L. Willis, chairman, called upon the board of county commissioner’s yesterday afternoon and urged a one-mill levy to cover the costs of a survey of the Skagit river. The purpose of this levy would be to procure data to submit in an effort to secure federal aid. . . . James E. Stewart, expert engineer from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, has just completed a survey of the volume of water which went down the river in the flood of 1921. The river committee is now planning to have an expert engineer make a survey and present his findings to the government, in the hope of securing federal aid. This expense will be carried by drawing on the $20,000 fund. It is likely that it may require all of this amount to meet the expense of the survey. |
Flood Committee Wants Study of Skagit River
This is further indication that James E. Stewarts work product was unsatisfactory. See testimony of public hearing 11/26/24.
See also Argus and Courier Times articles on this subject. |
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Discuss River Problems Here
Two Committees Meet With The Board Of County Commissioners
The delegations asked that the board again include in the budget a 1-mil levy for river protection purposes, but were told that it was too late to include this in the budget for 1924.
…
E. Van Buren, chairman of the board, said that the board had discussed the Skagit River question when the budget was being prepared but as there was still about $20,000 in the fund created, the board decided there was no further action to be taken, as they had received no report of the survey work made by an engineer named Stewart. The commissioners hired Stewart when the fund was created by the 1-mil levy. |
HAD NOT RECEIVED REPORT FROM STEWART.
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county board leaves levy for river work out of new budget -- river committee and mt. vernon citizens protest omission of mill levy in budget for 1924; budget to be adopted at hearing monday of next week; current expense fund levy is less than last year The county commissioners in adopting a preliminary budget for county expenses omitted the mill levy raised last year about $22,000 to be used for river survey work and preliminary work toward solving the problem of flood protection on the Skagit river. The county river committee, of which H.L. Willis acted as spokesman, together with a delegation from the Mt. Vernon Commercial club, waited on the commissioners on Wednesday and made an effort to get a mill levy included in the budget, before it comes up for final hearing and passage on Monday of next week, October 1. . . . Mr. Van Buren stated that the commissioners felt that with $20,000 from the amount levied last year, still available, that there was no need for an additional mill levy this year, to add more money to the fund. He said that about $2,000 was spent last year for the federal government engineer who made a flood survey of the river some time ago, after the big flood. Mr. Stewart, the engineer has not yet submitted his detailed report to the commissioners. The reason for this, it was explained, was that he resigned from government service soon after finishing his work on the Skagit river, and had been employed by a private firm in the east. He has been making out his report as rapidly as he could under the circumstances. Mr. Willis asked the commissioners to employ a competent engineer to prepare detailed plans for the best way of handling a flood control scheme. The county, when it has a definite plan to submit, will then be in a position to ask for federal aid, he said. . . . The commissioners took no action in the river matter, except to say that they could not include an additional one mill levy at this time. |
Commissioners Leave Flood Control Out of Budget
No report from Stewart was given as justification.
Based on documents obtained from NARA it is believed that Skagit County received Stewarts report in October, 1923. It is known that the CT had his report in December 1923. See 12/20/23 CT article.
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Engineering Department Announces River Hearing In Mount Vernon, Nov. 30 The War Department of the United States engineering office, through W. J. Barden, colonel of the engineering corps, located at Seattle, has issued a notice of public hearing to be held in Mount Vernon, at the Commercial Club rooms, on Friday, November 30, at seven o’clock in the forenoon, at which time the Skagit river project will come up for discussion in all its phases. . . . The information especially desired by the engineering department, as combined in the special notice, calls for the following particular data and facts:
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Corps of Engineers Public Hearing |
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River Hearing Friday, Nov. 30
War Department Seeks Information on Improvement of Skagit
A public hearing will be held in the Mount Vernon Commercial Club rooms at 11 o’clock Friday forenoon, November 30, for the purpose of obtaining the views of interested parties in regard to the preliminary examination of the Skagit river. This announcement was made through the Argus today by the War Department of the United States. |
Corps wanted all comments to be submitted in writing. |
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Engineering Department Announces River Hearing In Mount Vernon, Nov. 30 The War Department of the United States engineering office, through W. J. Barden, colonel of the engineering corps, located at Seattle, has issued a notice of public hearing to be held in Mount Vernon, at the Commercial Club rooms, on Friday, November 30, at seven o’clock in the forenoon, at which time the Skagit river project will come up for discussion in all its phases. . . . The information especially desired by the engineering department, as combined in the special notice, calls for the following particular data and facts:
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Corps of Engineers Public Hearing |
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Skagit River Hearing Today Over one hundred citizens and farmers gathered at the Commercial Club rooms today in attendance at the river hearing under the direction of the United States war department. . . . No time was lost in getting the hearing underway. H. L. Willis represented the local river committees. He spoke at length regarding the need of immediate and permanent river improvement. . . . At the conclusion of the hearing, Col. Barden reviewed the situation, touching upon past floods, going back as far as 1815. He stated that the government does not consider the matter of river floods, but considers matters of this kind, from a strictly navigation standpoint. |
Corps Concerned With River Navigation Only
Proof that the Corps had Stewarts report by November 1923. See 11/26/24 minutes as to what Colonel Barden thought about Stewart Report a year after this meeting. |
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Need of River Improvement For Deep River Navigation Becomes Growing Necessity As to the character of the improvement desired, we may say in general that we want free and impeded access to the sea, in order that our rapidly increasing commerce may fully enjoy the advantages which our location very near salt water should give us. . . . We are a community of farmers and have not the skill or knowledge of hydraulic engineers. What we suggest therefore, in the absence of expert determination, is a result of our experience with the Skagit River for the past twenty-five years. The stoppage to navigation is caused by the formation of bars and the lodging of snags either at the mouth of the stream or along its source higher up. These same causes raise the bed of the stream and dam up the water during flood, increasing the high water menace. It seems to us therefore, that a free and open channel to the sea as well as the leesening of flood danger would both be accomplished by the prosecution of three general lines of work. First, beginning at deep salt water, two rock jetties should be built to the mouth of the river. . . . The second line of work must consist of removing the accumulations which now obstruct navigation. . . . The third line of work should be directed toward lessening the burden of silt and drift carried by the river. . . . To date all improvements have been with the idea of flood control alone. Thus there has been expended up to the year 1922, but not including that year, the sum of $1,987,799.10 for dikes and drainage ditches. These dikes have not attained the object for which they were built as during each flood of any magnitude they fall to confine the stream and are broken in numerous places. Since the 1921 flood there has been some attempt made to take up this river problem along comprehensive lines covering both phases. There is at present a considerable sentiment among the residents and tax-payers of Skagit County in favor of forming an improvement district covering all the territory threatened by the river and adopting some plan for dredging and widening the channel… . . . A very conservative estimate of farm production over a period of years indicates that approximately 50,000 tons of oats, 30,000 tons of hay, 12,000 tons of potatoes, 18,000 tons of straw, and 10,000 tons of general farm products originate in this valley annually. . . . Timber Shipments The annual timber shipments approach the imposing figure at 300,000,000 feet. . . . Navigation Now Difficult It is a matter of common knowledge that the Skagit is one of the great commercial waterways of the Northwest. . . . But it is also a fact and a matter common knowledge that the entrance to this waterway is rapidly becoming blocked by bars and obstructions so that at the present rate of filling a very few more years will see the South Fork of the river entirely closed to navigation. Capt. F. A. Siegel of the U.S. Snagboat “Swinomish” has filed a statement with the Board of Commissioners of Skagit County in which he alleges that twenty-nine years ago when he started to navigate the river it was difficult to find bottom with a pike pole at any point in the South Fork between Mount Vernon and Puget Sound. The bottom of the river has now filled to such an extent that at low tide only small boats or skiffs can travel the channel. There has apparently been a filling in for almost the entire length of the South Fork of some 16 to 18 feet. This condition can only be remedied by dredging. |
Testimony At Corps Public Hearing
Navigation hindered by formation of bars and lodging of snags. Free and open channel to the sea desired.
Recommended two rock jetties be built at mouth of river.
Dike and drainage districts spent $1,987,799.10 up to and including 1921.
Dikes did not obtain purpose for which they were built.
Wanted to dredge and widen channel.
29 years ago (1894) couldn’t find bottom of Skagit with a “pike pole” in the South Fork. Bottom of river now filled 16 to 18 feet.
Levees did not start being built along the forks of the Skagit River until 1883. (See J.O. Rundene Testimony, 11/26/24.) Clearly the argument could be made that the sediment being deposited in the channel was a result of the levees being placed on the edge of the river as the sediment used to flow out onto the floodplain. |
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Editorial: Need of River Improvement For Deep River Navigation Becomes Growing Necessity
At the hearing held by the United States engineering staff at the Commercial Club rooms last Friday, much data was submitted showing why the Skagit river should be improved. . . . Past experiences have shown exclusively that it takes a long time to get that little ball of red tape unwound, and then when it is unwound, so much of the financial aid which is supposed to mean so much is generally spent in minor red tape details, that the actual amount is reduced to such an extent that it is of little or no particular use; at any rate it becomes so reduced that the amount left is of little or no consequence. . . . The Daily Herald herewith reproduces extracts from the volume of data submitted at the hearing last Friday. It is important information and shows conclusively that the improvement of the Skagit River is an absolute necessity. |
Improvement Of Skagit River Is Absolute Necessity |
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Get Figures At River Hearing
Skagit County Men Show Need of Improving the Skagit River
Col. W.J. Barden, of the United States Engineer’s office in Seattle, was chairman of the hearing. A report prepared by the Skagit County River committee, and signed by H.L. Willis, of the committee,…
George B. Reah, county commissioner, emphasized the need for protecting the farmer from high water stating that the last high water had cost the county $100,000. C.C. Nelson also stated that this high water had cost Diking District No. 3, $24,000. Other talks on the need of flood protection were made by J.O. Rudene and W.J. Knutzen. …
Mr. Willis declared there were 120,000 tons or 8,000 car loads of farm products shipped by boat from this valley each year and that the dairy products alone were valued at more than two million dollars while the products of the seed growers would reach $200,000. J.M. Humphrey stated the dairymen’s plants shipped 8600 tons by boat in the first 11 months this year and that the dairy products shipped during 1923 would easily reach two and a half million dollars.
Captain McDonald said he planned to put on a larger boat and give daily service between Skagit points and Seattle. James O’Hearne, who said no represented the Tom Moore Booming company, gave 96 million feet of logs as the tonnage of his company last year. He urged the clearing of the South Fork of the river at the shingle mills to the south needed an outlet badly. …
In closing Col. Barden stated that the proposed dredging at the mouth of the river would be expensive and that this work would have to be kept up from year to year. He stated the high water in the past had been caused by the contraction of the river at the bridges and that the present system of dikes had also caused more contraction of the stream. The colonel also stated that the federal government at present was making no provision for flood control except on the Mississippi and the Sacramento rivers, and that the engineer’s office was confined entirely to navigation problems and that the hearing here would be considered only from that standpoint. … The opinion seemed to prevail that if protection against high water in the Skagit river was to be secured it must come from the county and state and not from the federal government.
The committee urged the building of jetties at the mouth of the river and the dredging of the river. |
Willis report was located and is published in its entireity. (See 11/26/24)
Farming history.
Logging history.
Dredging mouth of river. Bridge corridor needed widening. Levee needed to be setback.
Navigational problems only concern of Corps.
This is what final study in 1925 stated. Think their minds were made up before study was done? Jetties and dredging. |
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report of engineer gives a history of skagit river flood James E. Stewart, government hydraulic engineer employed about two years ago by Skagit county to investigate flood conditions along the Skagit valley, has just submitted a report on his findings of the “stage and volume of past floods in Skagit valley and advisable protective measures prior to the construction of permanent flood controlling works.” The report is as comprehensive as possible going back to the floods told of by the Indians in 1815. It is too long to publish in detail, but this article will give some of the main ideas embodied in Mr. Stewarts findings. “Since the arrival of the first white people about 1869,” says Mr. Stewart, “there have been six Skagit river floods whose discharge has exceeded 175,000 second feet at Sedro-Woolley. All of these floods have occurred since Nov. 15, 1896. The number of floods that exceeded 175,000 second-feet at Sedro-Woolley prior to 1869 is unknown, but the occurrence of two great floods has been discovered. The exact dates of these early floods are not known, but their stages and volumes have been accurately determined. . . . Then follows data on the floods, taken at various places along the river. The data shows that the floods of 1921 was the second largest since 1856, in Sedro-Woolley, the 1909 flood reaching 26.5 feet on the gage and 1921 flood, 24.3 feet. . . . In the light of knowledge of past floods it seems likely, says Mr. Stewart that floods like those of 1917 and 1921 may occur within the next five or six years. . . . The writer will make several suggestions as to inexpensive measures that should be carried out in the near future. They may be briefly outlined ass follows; install a flood warning system, delay diking off the Nookachamps district; protect certain danger zones removing drift from river channel below Hamilton and possibly near Lyman, and build protective dikes at Burlington and possibly Mt. Vernon; obtain additional hydrographic data; form a conservancy district.” Mr. Stewart gives data showing that rainfall for the two largest floods since data has been kept is much the same. At the Skagit power camp in 1909 for Nov. 28 and 29, the rainfall for the two days was 7.85 inches. At the Davis ranch on Dec. 11 and 12, 1921, the rainfall was 7.62 inches, while the maximum temperature in both cases was about 52 degrees. . . . Mr. Stewart recommends a delay in diking the Nookachamps district, as at present it acts as a storage reservoir during floods and has prevented much damage. . . . Burlington, he says is in danger from any size flood, and should be encircled by a dike, as a correctly built dike around Burlington would protect it against all floods. . . . Mr. Stewarts report contains a mass of data collected at various places along the river, and urges that many more of these stations be established. He says the matter needs further study before any large flood prevention project is undertaken, but that there is always a danger of a repetition of floods. |
James E. Stewart Mr. Stewart was hired in Nov. 1922. See 11/23/22 CT article.
“6 floods exceeded 175,000 cfs at Sedro-Woolley since 1896.” Clearly Mr. Stewart was using a different datum then is being used today. USGS has subsequently added 21.06 ft to Stewarts computations at S-W and 12.7 ft to Concrete. The reported magnitude of these floods has not reoccurred for the past 80 years. During the November 21 through 25, 1990 flood event 6 inches of rain fell at Marblemount, 15.5 inches of rain fell at Reflector Bar, 11 inches of rain fell at Glacier on the Baker River side and 11.3 inches of rain fell at Darrington on the Sauk River. The regulated peaks of 146,000 cfs and 152,000 cfs at Concrete and Mount Vernon respectively would have been 182,000 cfs and 180,000 cfs if left unregulated. One has to ask that if Stewart and USGS computations of the 1921 flood are to be believed, how did we end up with only 180,000 cfs unregulated flow with 15.5 inches of rain at Reflector Bar, and Stewart and USGS end up with 240,000 cfs and 225,000 cfs respectfully with only 10.21 inches of rain falling at Reflector Bar (Davis Ranch 7.6)? (Sources: Flood Summary Report, Nooksack, Skagit and Snohomish River Basins, November 1990 Events, Corps of Engineers, 7/18/91; (Stewart/Bodhaine Report, Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 1527, 1961) |
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high water floods many parts of district; railroad stopped After several days of rain and Chinooks, the river in all parts of the district, went over their banks in many places on Tuesday. A stretch of some 150 feet of the Great Northern near Hamilton was washed out, and the town of Hamilton was cut off from everything but telephone communication Tuesday morning. The bridge over the slough at Hamilton was washed out, and the bridge to the Lyman ferry at Lyman went down stream Tuesday. At the unprotected places on the river near the town of Hamilton and Lyman, big areas of land and trees were washed bodily into the river. In the Sterling district, families started moving out of danger Tuesday afternoon. The old road to Burlington was covered, and lowlands between Sedro-Woolley and the river were under water Tuesday afternoon. . . . Big areas of land in the Burlington and Sterling districts were under water Tuesday, and also in the upper valley. All sloughs along the Skagit river are covering the adjacent land, and the river is filled with drifting trees and debris. The river rose five feet Monday night. Tuesday night the river rose several feet more, covering the road between the trestle and the river bridge south of this city, and large areas of land. By Wednesday morning the flood had reached its crest and had receded from the road this side of the river. The Clear Lake Road near the Eldred place was under some four feet of water and impassable. |
UNDOCUMENTED FEBRUARY 12, 1924 FLOOD Neither the Corps of Engineers or USGS reported this flood event.
Flood was serious event in Hamilton and Sterling.
Levees broke in Conway and Burlington. (See 2/14/24 Argus article) |
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$6,000,000 in Giant Baker River Electrical Development Water power development of the Pacific northwest will receive great impetus in the announcement of the Puget Sound Power & Light company that it will immediately begin the construction of a 45,000 horsepower hydro-electric plant on the Baker River in Skagit County, representing an investment of $6,000,000. Foundations and approximately a depth of 50 feet of the dam are scheduled for completion this year and the entire work will be finished in 1925 – regarded by engineers as remarkable speed for the construction of such an important hydro-electric unit. . . . The Baker River is looked upon as one of the most interesting electric generating installations in all the northwest, so rich in water powers. . . . As it falls out of Baker Lake it passes through Sulphur canyon where there is a splendid potential development that will come as soon as needful following the completion of the present installation at Eden canyon, twelve miles below Sulphur canyon. Water from the impounding dam in these canyons will create a lake approximately eight miles long and reaching almost to the upper canyon. This lake will be 1600 acres in extent, storing 50,000 acre feet of water. . . . Next on the program of the Puget Sound Power & Light company after the announced development on Baker river probably will be the installation of a hydro-electric plant at Sulphur canyon almost as large as that near Concrete. The waters of the Baker river will then be utilized in two steps, the Sulphur canyon site having not quite the same amount of water available due to the fact that two or three tributaries flow into the Baker river between the two. |
Lower Baker Dam
Amount would be approximately $64,000,000 in 2003 dollars according to Consumer Price Index adjusting for inflation. |
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High Water Hits Lyman -- Ten Families Are Marooned As an aftermath of the high water of the last few days, the upper Skagit people are experiencing much anxiety from possible danger of landslides. This is particularly true of a small group of ten families, who are marooned on a small island across the river from Lyman, caused by the washing out of three bridges across the Skagit near Lyman, or their approaches. . . . The Lyman bridge extending from that city to Day Creek, was carried away Tuesday night, while the two bridges across Alder creek are rendered useless for the present, owing to their approaches having been swept away. . . . Several of the smaller homes within ten to twelve feet of the river have been moved. Men are hauling spruce trees and laying them along the river to prevent caving in of the land near the school building, and steps to prevent loss are being taken by residents of Lyman. |
UNDOCUMENTED FLOOD
See 2/14/24 CT and Argus articles. First documented February flood. |
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Water Reaches Rim of Skagit River
The stream nearly reached the flood stage of 23 feet in 1921. A break in the dike on Fisher’s slough south of Conway caused the water to back up toward that town and over the Pacific highway. Traffic however, was not impeded. Another break at Dry Slough caused the water to start over Fir Island… but not to any depth.
The outer dike near Burlington broke early yesterday morning and would have gone through the secondary dike but for the quick action of the residents in that neighborhood near Dr. Cleveland’s farm. Reports from Hamilton state that 400 feet of the Sedro-Woolley–Rockport highway and the Great Northern railway right-of-way had been carried away into the Skagit river by a landslide west of Sauk. …
This is the first time, according to old residents of Mount Vernon that the flood stage has been reached by the Skagit in the month of February. |
Amazing. This flood is not on anybody’s radar. Not reported by USGS or Corps yet according to this article almost as serious as 1921 at least in Mt. Vernon.
Dikes break in Conway and Burlington. Burlington has “secondary dike”? They must have been talking about the railroad grade.
First February flood. |
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sportsmen protest closing skagit river for fishing Effective April 1 and through the period ending May 27, the Skagit river will be closed its entire length from the government marker on saltwater, to the Canadian border to all sport fishing, according to the new game laws as issued by the State Game Commission. This announcement comes as a blow to the fisherman of the entire state. Hardest hit, are the residents of Skagit county who have fished the river the year around since white men first settled in the valley. With gasoline rationing pared down to two gallons per week, residents living in the towns and on the farms along the banks of the Skagit will now have to giver up their “backyard” fishing and burn their precious gasoline on trips to some lake in the adjacent area on and after April 2. . . . Oddly enough effective May 1, commercial fishermen will be permitted to pursue their fishing with gill nets in the waters of the Skagit river from the junction of the north and south forks to saltwater. |
Skagit Closed To Sports Fishing
Before this time Skagit was open year round.
Gasoline was rationed to citizens at the rate of two gallons per week.
Commercial fisherman were allowed to put nets in river from North & South Fork confluence to Puget Sound. |
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Writes About Flood Control
John Finstad of Conway Offers Material for Citizens’ Consideration
In recent years there has been some agitation for the purposes of controlling the floodwaters of the Skagit river, but as time passes on after a disastrous flood, the people of the valley easily forget that they ever had a flood, until another comes along. Then they will have meetings for some time figuring on dredging and straightening the channel, but in the end nothings come out of it.
Not considering the disastrous summer freshet in 1894 we have had six or seven fast winter freshets during the past 30 years. The highest one of these was the one of November 30, 1909, when about eight inches of rain fell in two days at upriver points. This flood measured about 220,000 second feet at Sedro-Woolley. Competent engineers claim that only about 150,000 second feet can pass through at the Riverside Great Northern bridge. Consequently about 70,000 second feet had to seek an outlet somewhere else. The February flood of this year was not considered dangerous but still it destroyed half a dozen homesteads at the Sauk delta and broke dikes at the Skagit delta to the value of at least $20,000, besides destroying several bridges at upriver points.
We have back in the mountains numerous large basins and deep gulches and valleys. Undoubtedly places can be found where a dam can be built equaling for storage purposes at least half a cube mile. The Ruby dam of the Seattle hydroelectric project is to be 480 feet high creating a lake about 25 miles long and five miles wide in most places Back of this dam the Skagit has a shed of about 1200 square miles or a little more than one third of the whole basin of the Skagit and its tributaries. Actual measurements at this dam site by U.S.G.S. shows the minimum flow to be 800 second feet and the maximum 50,000 second feet during 12 years of observation up to 1923. Supposing the upper 20 feet of this dam was reserved for flood control it would take care of the maximum flow of 50,000 for at least twelve days.
Stone & Webster are going to build a dam across the Baker canyon back of Concrete in the near future. Here another lake will be created up to six or seven miles long. If 20 feet was reserved for flood control at this dam, Baker river would be eliminated from any flood danger from that source.
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Tremendous letter to newspaper. Should be required reading for entire valley.
Hits nail right on the head.
These are Stewart’s figures. Eight inches of rain would not produce 220,000 cfs at Sedro-Woolley.
Flow figures are same as ones used by Corps and FEMA in 1979.
February flood “not serious: but yet destroyed bridges and broke dikes. No record of this flood in federal files.
Recognized dam storage at Ross. What USGS measurements at dam site?
Recognized dam storage at Lower Baker. Needed top 20 feet to be used for flood control. |
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will get data on skagit river
County To Establish Hydrographic Station at the Dalles Near Concrete
Work was started yesterday on the construction of a hydrographic station at the Dalles of the Skagit River near Concrete. The plans and specifications for the station were prepared by the county engineer’s office and were approved by the board of county commissioners at the regular meeting on Friday. . . .
The station will provide means of measuring the water of the Skagit river for its volume and velocity and will be of great value in giving records in the future fight to control the floods of the river. During past years there has been no accurate record kept of the river and engineers have no data upon which to base control measures. For this reason the board of County commissioners approved the plans of the county engineer. |
The county installed the gage at the Dalles.
Robert E. L. Knapp was the county engineer. He lived at 105 Snoqualmie in Mount Vernon with his wife Irene. Retired by 1948 and died in 1977. He is buried in Grand View Cemetery in Anacortes. The Kerns Funeral home handled matters.
“has been no accurate record kept of the river and engineers have no data upon which to base control measures.” They didn’t trust the Stewart Report.
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Would Restrain Net Fishermen
State Orders 167 Skagit County People Into Court on October 14
Notice of a restraining order and order to show cause, with summons and complaint are being served this week upon 167 fishermen who have been charged with operating in the protected area at the mouth of the Skagit river. The restraining order was obtained in the superior court here Friday and states that the fishermen were violating Order No. 8 made in June 1924 by the State Board of Fisheries. These fishermen are alleged to have used gill or drift nets. |
Were not allowed to fish within a distance of 3 miles from the mouth of river. |
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senator dill and black for river control . . . Both Senator Dill and Mr. Black dwelt upon flood control here and pledged themselves to the task of securing government aid in this huge undertaking. Senator Dill reiterated his stand in regard to river control when interviewed in this city today. He said that the valley needs protection from floods and that he would do all in his power to bring about relief. In this connection, Mr. Black also promised to produce results. |
Congressman Commits To Flood Control |
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fish case awaits high court ruling Continuance of the LaConner fish case until after the supreme court of the state has given a decision on a similar case, now pending in the higher court, has been announced. . . . 167 FISHERMAN CHARGED Notice of a restraining order and an order to show cause, with summons and complaint were served the first week in October on 167 fishermen, charging them with operating within the closed area at the mouth of the Skagit river. The fishermen were alleged to have used gill nets. |
Fish Lawsuit
167 commercial fisherman charged with using gill nets in mouth of Skagit River. |
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skagit river up 14 feet Rising rapidly, the Skagit river is fourteen and one-half feet higher today than it was at 9:30 last night. The Skagit began rising last night, due to warm winds of Thursday. Before it started to rise, the river was one-half foot below sea level; the lowest it has been this season. Boats on the river had difficulty in docking. The heavy rains of last night have had no effect thus far. It is not expected that there will be any flood danger. |
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river flood report to be made A public hearing will be held in the Commercial Club at Mt. Vernon, Washington at 1 p.m. Wednesday, November 26, in connection with a report on preliminary examination of Skagit River with reference to its floods which was directed by the Act of Congress of May 31, 1924. . . . While for accuracy of record all important facts and arguments should be submitted in writing, oral evidence will be heard. |
Corps of Engineers Public Hearing This was one of the most important meetings in Skagit County history. Copies of the minutes and testimony submitted have been obtained and are published in this index. |
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flood menace is told here Flood control of the Skagit river was urged this afternoon at a meeting which was held in the Commercial club rooms, this city. Col. W. J. Barden, Seattle , government representative, and his aides were in attendance at the meeting and heard the reports of the local committees in which the need for flood control was stressed. . . . Data gathered by the committee for the last three years was submitted to Col. Barden and his aides, which they took under advisement. A long report, prepared by H. L. Willis, chairman of the river committee, was submitted. The full report will be found on page three of today’s issue of the Daily Herald. In his report, Mr. Willis went as far back as 1894 when the damage caused by a flood here amounted to $1,500,000. A review of the floods since that time was made in the report, details of which are presented on page three, this issue. The report showed that floods here have cost the citizens thousands upon thousands of dollars. |
Corps of Engineers Public Meeting The minutes of this most important meeting were obtained from the NARA in Sandpoint Naval Air Station. Because of the importance of what was stated at this meeting, the minutes, Mr. Willis’s testimony, as well as the testimony of the County Engineer and farmer J. O. Rundene are included in this index. |
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Curb of Flood Waters Urged By Local Committee; Damage Estimates Are High Data gathered by several Skagit County committees over a period of several years was today presented to Col. W. J. Barden, Seattle, who was there for the river hearing. All the data asked for is included in a lengthy report submitted by H. L. Willis, chairman of the river improvement committee and which was turned over to Col. Barden. The complete report follows: |
See 11/26/24 H.L. Willis Testimony The MVDH published the entire Willis presentation. We obtained the actual copy of Mr. Willis’s presentation in the archives of the NARA in Sandpoint and it is reproduced electronically below. |
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minutes of corps of engineers public meeting “I would like to emphasize the point that Mr. Knapp brought out in his paper, that before any really scientific plan can be prepared for the protection of this valley from floods, it is necessary to have more authoritative information then we now have as to the amount of water carried by the river in time of floods. . . . The information that was collected by Mr. Stewart and given in his report to the committee was excellent so far as the data that he had to work upon permitted, but that data was necessarily more or less inaccurate. |
Colonel Barden Statement re Accuracy of Stewart Report
Stewarts “data was necessarily more or less inaccurate”. USGS and the Corps are still using the Stewart data in computing 100 year flood flows on the Skagit. |
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Testimony of H.L. Willis “As to the frequency, duration, and height of floods in the Skagit River, we refer you for greater details to the comprehensive report submitted to the Skagit County Commissioners by Mr. J. E. Stewart in 1922. A copy of this report was also filed with the U.S. Beological Survey.” |
Skagit County Received Copy of Stewart Report Mr. Willis’s report contained a couple of typo’s. The county received the Stewart Report in 1923 and was filed with the US Geological Survey department. |
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testimony of county engineer robert e.l. knapp “In accordance with the wishes of this Citizens Committee above mentioned, a hydraulic engineer of wide reputation, Mr. James E. Stewart, was employed and in the fall of 1922 and the winter of 1923, he made a thorough preliminary examination of the valley and river system, and his exhaustive report is now on file in my office. “He has recommended, first that a flood warning system be installed; second, that the diking off of the Nookachamps be delayed; third, that certain danger spots be protected; fourth, obtain additional hydrographic data; and fifth, form a conservancy district.” “The first recommendation has not as yet been carried out. Chiefly because of the limited funds at hand. The second recommendation has been carried out. The third recommendation has to some extent been carried out. Drift barriers have been built near Lyman, and a jetty built some little distance below Lyman. The fourth recommendation we have been very active in fulfilling because it is in direct line with the original wishes of the Citizens Committee on flood control.” . . . “I will give you a brief outline of such work as we have done in gathering additional hydrographic data. Because of the limited funds available in time past, such technical data as has been gathered in this vicinity, has been very meager and calculations of stream flow are at best only an estimate and accurate to within only 10 to 20%. The technical data so far gathered, has been done entirely by the USGS Department of Water Resources, and they have had to rely upon intermittent gage readings, observations and recollections of residents, and more or less disconnected precipitation records.” . . . “Consequently, in order to secure definite and accurate stream flow records, it is necessary to install good reliable equipment and take measurements in a systematic manner. For this purpose and acting upon the recommendation of Mr. Stewart, the Board of County Commissioners in the spring of 1924 instructed the county engineer to proceed with the construction of a suitable installation for the purpose of gathering accurate stream flow records. |
County Engineer Needs More Accurate Data In Which To Gage Flood Heights
County Engineer had Stewart Report.
County delayed diking off Nookachamps.
Stewart calculations were “only an estimate”. Relied upon intermittent gage readings, observations and recollections of residents, and more or less disconnected precipitation records.
Needed gage in Dalles in order to secure “accurate stream flow records.” |
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j.o. rundene testimony . . .I have lived in Skagit County forty-nine years and am familiar with the flood conditions, experienced in the Skagit Valley and particularly the LaConner flats, so called, during that period of time; that the first freshet and flood from the Skagit River that I recall, occurred the last of May in 1882. At that time there were no dikes on the Skagit River, but the land bordering on the same extending upward to the foothills and the foothills themselves were all covered with a heavy growth of fir, cedar and spruce. The water at that time covered the LaConner flats and stood on my farm three feet deep for a period of about two weeks, the depth of the water varying during that period of time. . . . In 1883 I commenced to build dikes along the North Fork of the Skagit River. These dikes were gradually increased and work was done on them continuously until 1895, when I retired as Commissioner, and at that time it appeared to me and I thought the dikes were sufficiently high to protect the land against extreme high water at all seasons and during all flood conditions. . . . As this condition has increased the size of the dikes have also been greatly increased, until at the present time the dikes are at least three times as large as they were in 1895, when they were considered sufficient for all possible purposes. There were other freshet of lesser consequences during the intervening years, but the next time at which the entire country was covered with water, as I recall it, was in 1909. At that time the dikes broke at various points on the Skagit River and North fork flooding the entire country between Mt. Vernon and LaConner and between Burlington and the mouth of the Samish River at Edison, being territory about ten miles square, to a depth of from two to eight feet of water. There was water in the vicinity of my place, about six feet deep, for a period of two weeks or longer, the water standing on the land for a period of a month or more. The next large freshet was in 1917, occurring in December and the entire country above referred to was again covered with water to a depth of from two to six feet, the water remaining on the land until after Christmas time. The next large freshet was in 1921 on New year’s day. The entire country was again covered to a depth of from two to six feet and the water remaining on the land over a period of two weeks. . . . |
Local Farmer Tells of Flood History
Lived in Skagit since 1875. In 1882 there were no levees.
Began building levees in 1883 along the North Fork of Skagit River.
He blamed logging for increasing the amount of run-off in floods.
1909 flood broke North Fork levees and flooded everything from Mt. Vernon to LaConner.
1909, 1917 and 1921 floods all deposited 2 to 6 feet of water on his farm. |
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Tell of Skagit Flood Damage
Citizens Appear Before War Department Engineer With Much Data
Citizens of Skagit county appeared before Col. W.J. Bardon, District United States Engineer of the War Department yesterday in the Mount Vernon Commercial club rooms and presented evidence of past damage by Skagit river floods. The hearing was called by the War Department officer “in connection with a report on preliminary examination of the river as directed by an act of Congress of May 31, 1924.”
The Skagit river improvement committee composed of representative men of this county with H.L. Willis as chairman, prepared data which was presented at the hearing, calling attention to the report filed with the county commissioners by J.E. Stewart in 1922, a copy of which also was filed with the U.S. Biological Survey.
The report states the “cost of dikes already constructed together with repairs and enlargements has, to date, exceeded 1 1-4 million dollars.” …
“The era of power development for electrical purposes into which we are now entering seems to give hope along a practical line for flood relief. There is at present one large dam on Baker river in process of construction. Another is projected in the Skagit at Ruby creek. Still another on the Sauk river has been discussed. If arrangements could be made with any or all the builders of these dams to hold always available the upper ten feet of the dam for flood storage the greater part of our flood menace would seem to be gone. Such storage for 48 hours would hold back the crest of the flood and give time for run-off. It is the crest of the flood that breaks the dikes and does the damage.”
The reported quoted in detail from the report made two years ago by J.W. Collins, secretary of the Commercial club which stated that the flood of 1894 damaged crops in the valley approximately 1 1-2 million dollars. The flood of 1897 also did great property damage and in 1906 the loss was estimated at $250,000 while that of 1909 was placed at 1 1-2 millions. The flood caused estimated damage at $500,000 in 1917, according to Mr. Collin’s report.
After the 1921 flood H.L. Devin of Sedro-Woolley prepared a detailed report with the following figures:
Public road and bridges………………………$ 75,000 Buildings…………………………………......... 30,000 Loss of logs and bolts………………………… 105,000 Merchandise and personal property………… 45,000 Dikes, ditches and drain tile…………………. 100,000 Crops, harvested and unharvested ………… 30,000 Live stock………………………………………. 55,000 Drainage land and future crops………………100,000 Loss of wages…………………………………. 15,000 TOTAL $505,000
“There are also intangible losses. Among these are many thousands of dollars of trade and merchants either through the sudden cutting off of the transportation or through the crippling of the customer’s ability to buy.
“The total losses from all floods in the past fifty years have been enormous; yet as the valley becomes more highly developed each succeeding flood is likely to be more disastrous than the last. The damage to the present valley of such a flood as that of 1820 which was 40 per cent, greater than that of 1909, can hardly be conceived. While we yet have some property to protect it behooves us to seek out some practical method to curb this flood menace which is already lurking in the mountain ready to burst upon us.”
Several citizens gave oral testimony as to the damage caused in past years by the overflowing the Skagit river and Robert E.L. Knapp county engineer appeared before the engineer and gave further technical testimony concerning the floods of the river. He also told of the county’s work in establishing a hydrographic station on the upper river by means of which accurate data of the flow of the river and its rise and fall may be kept. |
This means that they published Preliminary Report (Recon Report) in just 7 months from the time they got authorization.
Note date of report. 1922. This is a typo. Report was actually given to County sometime after September 1923. In any event destroys USGS argument that early reports were just drafts.
Lower Baker not completed yet. Recognized impact of dam storage on flood control. Upper ten feet should be used for storage.
Also need to find Collins report.
Flood damages.
Statement had to come from Stewart. |
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High Winds and Heavy Rain Cause Skagit River to Rise Continued heavy rains and Chinook winds during the last twenty-four hours have caused the Skagit river to rise rapidly and today the high water conditions have assumed a serious aspect. Since yesterday noon the river here has risen about six feet and observers today claim that the water is rising about three inches an hour. At one o’clock the river was nearing the eighteen-foot mark. . . . Several of the old timers say the conditions are just about right for flood. Crest of the high waters has not been reached, they declare. . . . Telephone reports received by the Daily Herald this afternoon from Lyman were that the road between that place and Hamilton was under water. . . . Late reports received by the Daily Herald were that part of Hamilton is under water. School was dismissed and the desks and other equipment are being moved from the building, it was reported. |
DECEMBER 12, 1924 FLOOD
Flood would have been on December 12th and 13th, 1924. USGS and Corps reported flood carried 92,500 cfs and reached 32.44 feet at Concrete. No figures for Mt. Vernon.
Part of Hamilton underwater. Dikes broke at Dry Slough on Fir Island. (See 12/18/24 Argus article.)
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Weakened Dike Is Washed Out Seventy-five feet of diking were washed out near Skagit City this morning and as a result several hundred acres of lowlands are flooded. The break was in the same place as that of the last big flood. Late reports received here were that the water had not yet reached the road, but that unless the river goes down, the highway will be covered. Weak construction of the dike is believed to have caused the washout since the river was four feet from the top. . . . Hamilton reports the river dropping and it is said the water is now off the road between Hamilton and Concrete. |
Skagit City Dike Washed Out |
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High Water In Skagit County
Heavy Rains and Warm Winds Again Send Stream to the Flood Stage
Heavy rains and warm winds caused the Skagit to rise rapidly Friday and Saturday, the stream reaching the 20-foot mark at the old gauge across the river from the Mission theatre. With the sudden drop in temperature however, the stream began to go down. Dry Slough southwest of Mount Vernon was unable to hold the flood and the water soon covered the farming district of Fir Island with from one to two feet of water. Water also backed across the pavement between Mount Vernon and Conway and south of Milltown. Traffic, however, was not interrupted. |
Flood would have been on December 12th and 13th, 1924. USGS and Corps reported flood carried 92,500 cfs and reached 32.44 feet at Concrete.
Dikes broke at Dry Slough on Fir Island. |
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farmers consider plans for new drainage district here A meeting of farmers of this district to consider a new drainage project will be held in the Sedro-Woolley Commercial club rooms on Saturday afternoon of this week at 2 o’clock. County Agent Bergstrom is in charge of the meeting and is developing plans for the proposed district. This matter was brought up in 1922 and is being considered again because certain farmers have asked for relief from the excess water in this district. . . . The proposed drainage district extends about to Cokedale on the east, including the Northern State hospital lands; goes up to Duke’s hill on the north, to the edge of town on the west and as far south toward the river as drainage is needed. . . . Those who oppose the drainage district because they say their land does not need drainage, will not be included in the proposed district, if drainage will not benefit them, Mr. Bergstrom said today. He estimates that the district will include between 4500 and 5000 acres in this district, and believes that enough of the farm owners in the district feel the need of drainage, to make the organization possible. |
New Drainage Project 5,000 acre drainage district boundaries were Cokedale on the East including Northern State, Dukes Hill on the North, Sedro-Woolley to the west and south to the Skagit River. |
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river is washing land away rapidly; threatens highway During the past month or two, more than an acre of land has been washed into the river, from the farm just west of the Northern Pacific railroad bridge south of town. . . . Besides the washing away of this good farm land, the most serious menace is the dry bed of an old slough, which has been partially filled in, and is now exposed, or soon will be, to the full current of the river at high water. If the river is permitted to wash much more land away, the backwater will go up this slough at high water, and flood the pavement even worse than it is now at high water. . . . |
Erosion Near Sedro-Woolley
Acre of ground washed into the Skagit just west of NPRR bridge south of Sedro-Woolley (adjacent to Highway 9 bridge). |
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county’s “big snake” officially measured
The mighty Skagit had itself officially measured, Monday, by the county engineer’s office, at the county gauging and measuring station, at Concrete. The county, the City of Seattle and Stone & Webster all keep a wary eye on the writhing monster, and its changes in mood are reported to Colonel Barden, district engineer of the U.S. War Department and G. H. Parker, district engineer of the U.S.G.S., in the form of cryptic, tabulated statistics. . . .
The most menacing period on record was in 1921, when the snake lashed its tail and ran amuck, and a wide area was flooded. That time 240,000 second feet of water raced by the observation station. |
This article strongly suggests that although gage was installed on 7/31/24 it was not operative until sometime in 1925.
This was directly from Stewart. Gage didn’t go in until 1924. |
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skagit county leads nation in soil test
Seven Year Government Probe Brings District Handsome Tribute From Gunderson Farm First Seven and Last Two Out of Twelve Won Locally; Gunderson Farm 100 Per Cent
The United States government has just admitted that Skagit county is the finest farming community in the nation, bar none. In a series of soil tests extending over the past seven years, . . . Skagit county soil won nine out of 12 points. An assay of soil taken from the Gunderson estate, south of Clear Lake, was found to be 100 per cent perfect for general agricultural purposes. It was the only soil given a perfect rating. |
This would be Nookachamps soil. |
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hearing on Padilla bay dike districts A hearing was held before a jury in superior court Wednesday, on the proposed Padilla Bay diking district. The jury returned a directed verdict assessing damages and benefits of the proposed project. The estimated benefit to owners of lands in the territory which it is proposed to drain was $1,900,000. There were 126 property owners involved. The estimated benefits were about $200 an acre, and the nominal estimate damage, $1 an acre. It is said that there are over 10,000 acres now under water, that will be drained for cultivation. It is proposed to drain Padilla Bay, which means that the water between the Samish Camp Fire grounds and Hat island will be drained, laving the camp’s point of land, with water only on one side. Bay View will be left miles from any water, if the plans are carried out. . . . |
Padilla Bay Dike District
Proposal included draining Padilla Bay. |
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great baker river power plant nearing completion – lake shannon newly created 7-mile lake Washington’s newest hydro-electric project, the great Baker River plant, is rapidly nearing completion. . . . In honor to William D. Shannon, the man who has had entire charge of construction, the lake formed by the dam thrown across the Baker river will be known as “Shannon Lake.” The lake will be more than seven miles long and will contain sufficient water to cover 70,000 acres one foot deep … The surface area of the lake will be 1,780 acres and it will be 405 feet above sea level. Baker River rises among the glaciers on the south slopes of Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan, in Whatcom county. Near the foot of these peaks a glacial moraine backs up the river to form beautiful Baker Lake, the elevation of which is 664 feet above sea level. . . . It (the dam) contains more than 220,000 cubic yards of concrete masonry. Back of this gigantic dam will be Shannon Lake, the reservoir that will store the flood waters of the river which will develop eventually 80,000 horsepower for use throughout western and central Washington. . . . Construction was started April 1, 1924. |
Baker Dam Just About Completed Shannon Lake named for William D. Shannon, dam engineer and project manager.
Glacial moraine formed Baker Lake. Need to determine how much water was in Baker Lake before Upper Baker dam was built.
Lake Shannon reservoir “will store the flood waters of the river”. They built a dam in 18 months. |
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drainage expert to visit skagit A.B. Crane, drainage specialist, will pay Skagit county a five day visit from October 23 to 28 inclusive, and all farmers in the district desiring advice on their farm drainage problems should apply at once, . . . he has spent 36 days assisting individual farmers in working out their farm drainage problems. 57 of the farmers applying for this work have been given personal assistance in planning their drainage systems, these 57 farmers represent a total acreage of 2,729 acres. |
Drainage
57 farmers represented 2,729 acres. That would be an average of 48 acres per farm. Farms were a lot smaller back then. |
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Huge Artificial Lake Is Formed Forming of the huge artificial lake to be known as Shannon lake at the Baker River project was started this week when the Baker river was turned against the power dam at Concrete. During the first day that the course of the river was turned to the lake, the lake rose eleven feet. The huge artificially constructed lake is eight miles in length with a maximum width of about a mile. Its depth approximates 200 feet. The dam is 245 feet high from bedrock to the top of the flood gates, and is 450 feet ling. . . . Construction of the dam started about eighteen months ago, on April 1, 1924. |
Lake Shannon Begins To Fill
First day lake rose 11 feet. |
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Skagit Lowest In 30 Years, U.S. Men Busy The Skagit River is now at the lowest stage of flow that it has been for almost thirty years. This startling fact was revealed today by a group of eight field engineers of the United States geological survey who have been obtaining measure on the river discharge measurements. . . . Reports from the Upper Skagit district state that the river in that district shows less channel depth this month than at any time during the past twenty-seven years. In places the waters are so low that it is possible to cross the river, hopping from boulder to boulder without getting one’s feet wet, according to C.H. Park, supervisor of the Mount Baker National forest, whose office is in Bellingham. The situation in the Skagit river has reached a most serious condition. It was brought out in the investigation which is being conducted by geological surveyors that the river bed in many places has raised twenty feet between here and the mouth of the river. This condition alone is cause for alarm. |
Skagit River Very Low
One has to wonder how much the filling of Lake Shannon had to do with the low levels in the Skagit. Previous 10/24/25 article states Baker River rose 11 feet in one day. |
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huge lake is now forming behind dam
Reservoir of Water 250 Feet Deep and Eight Miles Long Is Filling Power Plant is Ready Massive Concrete Wall Is Anchored Into Solid Rock of Canyon Above Concrete
Mt. Vernon will have light and power from the new Baker River power plant of the Puget Sound Power & Light Co., for a Christmas present. . . . lake eight miles long and 250 feet deep. |
Lower Baker Dam Completed.
Expected to take 6 weeks to fill up. |
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power from baker river plant ready for use here this week Marking a new era for electric light and power in this part of the state, the current generated at the new Baker river power project, recently completed by Stone & Webster, will be turned into the Sedro-Woolley sub-station this week. The water of the river, back of the recently finished dam has risen 160 ft. on the dam to the intake, and the power turbines in the power house have been turned over and tested, so everything is in readiness to start operations. |
Baker River Dam Goes On-Line
Water rose 160 feet behind dam. |
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more “puget power” Baker River is harnessed to add its age-old strength to the upbuilding of the Pacific Northwest. The surge of 40,000 horsepower today augments the surging might vibrating in our transmission lines and serving 350 cities, towns and communities in Washington. The investment of over eight thousand citizens of Western Washington in our securities has aided in making this plant possible. . . . Concrete dam 245 feet high. Impounding 70,000 acre-feet of water. Creating “Lake Shannon”, 8 miles long. |
Advertisement By Puget Power 245 feet high?? See 5/5/27 CT article. It says dam was 260 ft high. |
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$200,000 Being Spent To Raise Baker River Dam This enlargement of capacity is being accomplished by increasing the height of the Baker River dam by 33 feet from its present 260 feet to a total of 293 feet, and making it one of the highest concrete structures of the kind in the world. |
Dam Gets Height Extension |
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skagit valley warned to prepare for flood! flood danger here seen in big snowfall
Warm Rain Or Chinook Is Feared – Late Spring Swells Danger Bridge Weakens Dike Great Northern Structure Acts as Partial Dam, Mt. Vernon Engineer Points Out
Judge Crookston urged that the Puget Sound Power & Light Co. be requested to lower the level of the water in Lake Shannon, behind the Baker River dam, so the lake could absorb the surplus which will come down when the warm weather sets in. He said that conditions now are similar to those in the spring of 1894, when the Skagit Valley was flooded. The difference now, he added is that the forests on the hills which formerly retarded the rush of melted snow have been removed; therefore the danger is more acute. . . .
I do not wish to assume the role of a harbinger of disaster,” said Mr. Moore today, “but those citizens of the Skagit Valley whose homes and live stock are protected from floods by dikes, should understand that the stage is partly set for a more than ordinary flood. The mountainous district to our east has as heavy a snowfall as I have seen in 15 years, with much of it recent or new snow, which is rapidly melted by a warm rain or Chinook wind, and as the spring is far advanced we can expect a sudden change. “Lake Shannon, the result of the dam at Concrete, will be of benefit during a flood, although the Baker river only represents one fifth of the total water in the Skagit river. Such a lake retards the water to some extent, lengthens the time of passing and thereby lowers the peak of the flood.
“One of the unfortunate conditions permitted by the government engineers is the diagonal position and oversize substructure with riprap, which carries the Great Northern railroad bridge, north of this city. This substructure obstructs one-sixth of the waterway at or near a sharp bend in the river, which causes repeated failure of the dikes above the aforesaid bridge.” |
This is only the second mention of the Spring flood of 1894 I have seen. The other was as follows: “The Winter floods previous to the Spring flood of 1894 was about 2 feet higher, but they were never as high or no indications of them being so, excepting the one big flood the Indians tell about. The Winter Floods since that time (1894) were always higher. The more they diked the river close to it, the higher the floods have been.” (Source: Letter to Stewart from Joe Hart, 6/21/23)
Storage in Lake Shannon.
Logging contributes to flooding.
Most snow since 1912? If correct would tend to support theory 1917 and 1921 floods were caused more by rain then snow.
Value of storage.
Interesting. Very interesting. Not the log jams impeding the flow but the rip rap around the piers. Impedes one sixth of the flow. Now here’s an argument that we haven’t heard before. |
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height of big baker river dam to be increased 33 ft. The Puget Sound Power & Light Company is expending $200,000 according to announcement just made by President A. W. Leonard, to practically double the water storage capacity behind the great Baker River concrete dam at Concrete in Skagit County. . . . This enlargement of capacity is being accomplished by increasing the height of the Baker River dam by 33 feet from its present 260 ft. to a total of 293 feet, making it one of he highest concrete structures of the kind in the world. Water storage in Shannon Lake created by the building of the Baker River Dam two years ago, is now 10,000 acre-feet but will be increased to 130,000 acre-feet by the heightening of the dam. . . . The Baker River sockeye salmon have a reputation far and wide as among the most toothsome of the salmon tribe. But for the construction of this salmon ladder and railway for the salmon they could not have survived the installation of this mighty dam. A force of some 200 men is at work on these improvements at Baker river. |
Lower Baker Dam Raised
Dam completed in 1925 at a height of 260 feet. Added another 33 feet.
10,000 acre-feet is a typo. Should be 70,000 acre-feet. (See 11/26/25 CT article.)
Baker River Sockeye was a much sought after fish. |
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Wants Upper Skagit River Bed Cleaned -- River Not Navigable Except During High Water Season A committee will also be selected to confer with officials of the power company with reference to the use of the Baker river dam for flood control of the Skagit river. President John Brisky of the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce read a letter which he received from Hugo Bauman of Rockport with reference to the condition of the Skagit river during low water. Bauman said it was impossible to navigate the river between Sedro-Woolley and Rockport during low water because of snags in the bed of the river. He urged that the matter be taken up with the government and that a snag boat be put to work, claiming that if the river is navigable the year round, the Rockport community would benefit as well as the county as large. |
Lower Baker Flood Control Sought
River impossible to navigate during low water between Sedro-Woolley and Rockport. Wanted snag-boat to work upriver. |
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danger of skagit flood believed to be averted
Judge J. M. Shields recalled that Indians used to point to a bald spot on the hills back of Big Lake as a flood barometer, declaring that when it was covered with snow at this time of year, it was time for dwellers of the flats to caulk the seams in their row boats, but that when the snow disappeared, the flood danger would be past. Judge Shields said this morning the snow was almost gone.
It was announced that the Puget Sound Power and Light Co. expects to lower the level of Lake Shannon, behind the Baker River dam, within a few days. With the lake down it will act as a safety valve should sudden hot weather bring down the snow water. However, it is believed that the gradual rise in temperature the pas week has had the effect of melting a considerable amount of loose snow and thus removing some of the danger. |
Need to see if this landmark is still there.
Lake Shannon to be lowered in May. Too late but lowered anyway. |
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stone-webster will spend over $2,000,000 near here – over a million and a quarter will be spent at concrete and almost another million dollars on transmission lines; new projects announced officially; big crew working out of sedro woolley Insuring a large additional payroll for Sedro-Woolley, during the next few months, the Stone-Webster ‘Co. announced today its plans for improvements in the Baker River power plant at Concrete, and the transmission lines through Sedro-Woolley, amounting to an expenditure of more than $2,000,000. . . . During the year 1927 the height of the Baker River dam was increased about 33 feet enlarging the storage capacity at that point from 70,000 acre feet to 130,000 acre feet, while the generating capacity was increased at the same time from 40,215 horsepower to 53,620 horsepower. |
More Improvements to Lower Baker
New transmission lines and improvements to power plant. |
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high water in skagit streams causes damage Warm winds and rain Wednesday following several days of warmer weather caused the Skagit river and its tributary streams to overflow in several places east of this city, blocking the road west of Hamilton and undermining the Great Northern track between Lyman and Sedro-Woolley. Other damage all along the river between here and Marblemount was reported, but so far the main river had not flooded any territory. Backwater and high water in the creeks was responsible for most of the damage, together with slides along the road. . . . Grandy creek is a foot higher than it has been in years, and washed out the dam at the fish hatchery at Birdsview. |
JANUARY 12, 1928 FLOOD USGS 95,500 cfs at Concrete (32.9), no figure given for Mt. Vernon or Sedro-Woolley.
Very small flood event. |
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seattle chamber to help get Skagit river relief The Seattle Chamber of Commerce, answering appeals from C. E. Bingham of this city, and Sibert Eaton, local farmer, is making an effort to get federal aid in the fight against the Skagit river. C. C. Finn, prominent Seattle businessman, was in the city this week, investigating conditions of the Skagit river near here, on behalf of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce river and harbor committee, and will make an effort to obtain a federal survey of the river. . . . He was much impressed with the fact that hundreds of acres of fine farmland are being washed down the river, and that the banks need protecting and the channel needs straightening. The recent high water did much damage. The big barn built by Henry Cooper at Lyman many years ago, was washed into the river yesterday. The barn stood originally on a farm of forty-five acres and only three acres are left now. County roads are being undermined my the river, and the channel near Burns’ bar, east of this city, is threatening hundreds of acres, and if permitted to continue, may finally threaten the city of Sedro-Woolley. |
Seattle To Help Study Skagit
Seattle Chamber of Commerce to help get federal aid to “study” Skagit River.
Barn at Lyman fell into the river. Used to sit on 45 acre farm. Only three acres left. |
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h.m. eakin consulted by congress on flood help H.M. Eakin of this city, who is recognized as a national authority on river flood relief methods, has during the past few weeks been consulted frequently by Congressmen, on his plan for stopping floods in the Mississippi river basin. . . . Eakin, who as a United States geologist, had many years of practical experience in river affairs and is the author of textbooks and encyclopedia articles on the subject, had had a recent article of his in the Thrift magazine, quoted in over 150 daily papers of the United States. . . . “Nearly everyone knows something of the levee method of controlling flooded streams, but not so many know of the science of river morphology, which aims at so regulating the force of waters that the river could not overflow its banks.” . . . He views the construction of higher and higher levees as useless, because in time the river will deposit between them sufficient silt to raise the level of the water as high as they can be built. . . . “The dynamic method of control involves the management of stream energies to regulate erosion. We have in the river itself a powerful engine of construction and destruction, the natural activities of which are largely adverse.” |
A Real Local Expert
One has to wonder why local forces didn’t spend more time with Mr. Eakin. We had a real expert in river morphology living in Sedro-Woolley and his name doesn’t ever appear on any flood related document yet reviewed. Skagit County missed a golden opportunity. |
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Flood Control Action Taken by Skagit C.C. -- Resolution Asking Federal Aid is Passed Unanimously Renewed activity in an effort to obtain federal aid for flood control of the Skagit river took the form of a resolution, which was unanimously adopted at the monthly meeting of the Skagit County Chamber of Commerce held at the Rexville grange hall last night. The resolution was present by H. M. Eakin, Sedro-Woolley, who is recognized as a national authority on flood control. . . . A portion of the resolution follows: . . . “Whereas, particularly in the case of the Skagit river, business and property of extraordinary value per square mile over an area of large extent have repeatedly been subjected to disastrous overflow. Whereas the major floods of the Skagit, although the river is only a hundred miles long, may equal in volume an eighth or more of the total volume of a major flood on the Mississippi. . . . Whereas the drainage capacity and regiment of the Skagit is deteriorating seriously from causes entirely unrelated to the activities and responsibilities of the people occupying and using the lands so menaced. Whereas, taxation to support protection work has fallen heavily and is a serious burden upon such individuals and communities. . . . Therefore, be it resolved that a memorial of these facts be presented to our congressmen and senator in Washington, D.C. to assist them in enlisting federal support of flood control works on the Skagit river.” |
Skagit County Chamber Of Commerce
Chamber was trying to help County obtain federal aid for flood control.
Chamber felt drainage capacity of river had decreased. |
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Fraud Charged In Election of Dike District -- McBee Contests Election of F.N. Haley in Padilla District The action which was filed by Attorney Henderhon, alleges that Haley was elected through unlawful and fraudulent means. At the election in question, Haley received 33 votes for commissioner, while Mr. McBee, who is still serving as a commissioner, was given five votes. McBee complains that Haley deeded a small portion of land to each of 31 persons, in exchange for their votes. . . . All 31 people voted for Haley, but they were not qualified to do so, according to McBee, for the reason that they were not property owners. He claims that Haley actually owned the property and that since, the 31 people held their small portions in trust for Haley’s use. According to McBee’s complaint, there were only five qualified to vote. Two of these were Mr. and Mrs. Haley and McBee was a third. Had the election been legal, according to McBee, he would have received three votes to Haley’s two. . . . The Padilla project was formed for the purpose of reclaiming 10,000 acres of tide lands. A million-dollar program was in prospect, according to McBeen. |
Dike District Fraud
Only 5 people lived in District. 38 people voted. |
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crew at work on river protection; plan new bridges Under the direction of Skagit county engineer’s office, a crew of men have been doing river bank protection work east of Utopia. Piles are being driven in the slough at the bend in the river and rip-rap work is being done as an added protection. . . . Possible methods of straightening the Nookachamps bridge on the Clear Lake road are being considered in the county engineer’s office. Several plans have been presented, but no decision as to which one will be adopted has been made. |
County Crews Working In Utopia Skagit County crew working in Utopia to prevent further bank erosion. |
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raging skagit rips out boom
Machinery Arrives At Newhalem For Third Unit Of Gorge Power Plant The Skagit river which has been raising steadily the past week, reached almost flood stage Monday night. During the night the water rose eighteen inches which is almost unprecedented for early fall. The great wall of water at the Diablo dam site washed away three lengths of boom and did damage estimated at several thousand dollars to equipment. |
Flood reached 74,300 cfs at Concrete at level 29.94. |
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Plan new jetty for ross slough to stop flooding One of the greatest menaces to farm land in the upper river valley, the washing away of land by Ross slough, in the Utopia district, may be eliminated if the present plans of the county commissioners are carried out. After a survey by County Engineer Knapp, the county board this week, voted an emergency appropriation of at least $5,000 to be expended at once in the construction of a jetty across the head of Ross slough. . . . The board voted to take the money for this work, from the river improvement fund of some $9,000 which has been idle in the bank for several years since its appropriation. |
Ross Slough Jetty
County Engineer Knapp recommends jetty across Ross Slough. Commissioners vote emergency appropriation of $5,000. |
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Skagit is mecca of many anglers |
Fish |
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water arrives none too soon
Anacortes Gets First Drink From Skagit When Supply Is Almost Depleted
The 250 horsepower inductive motor in the pump house at Avon began forcing water through the huge main to Anacortes late Friday afternoon at the rate of 2,400 gallons per minute. . . . The city has accepted the water from the river, but has not accepted the new pipe line as yet or made final settlement with the contractors. The water is being treated with chlorine gas as it comes through the intake pipe into the pump, after going through the sand filter. In Anacortes it is variously treated to insure as nearly 100 per cent water as is possible to obtain. . . . New water system cost the City of Anacortes around $700,000 |
Anacortes Water Treatment Plant goes on line. |
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flood control will not be assured until ruby creek dam is finally completed says engineer
Present dams on the upper Skagit River would not provide flood control for the Skagit Valley in the event of a flood like that of 1917 or 1921. . . A big flow of water would fill the Diablo basin in one day, and would continue over the dam with the same disastrous effects as in previous years, said Smith. Existing dams serve a good purpose in holding back sudden small freshets and also tend to maintain a higher water level in the valley during extremely dry years, but no safety from heavy floods can be felt until the completion of the Ruby Creek dam, the final unit of the Seattle project.
The completion of this dam will render impossible even such floods as the one in 1815, which Indian tradition has it, submerged much of the Skagit Valley to a depth of fifteen feet, the engineer believes. It is hoped by the city of Seattle that money can be obtained from the national government to assist with the construction of Ruby Creek dam, which is now being delayed on account of financial crisis. At the present outlook, the dam may not be built for five or even ten years . . . People of Skagit Valley will be appealed to for aid in an effort to get such an appropriation on the grounds of flood control. |
Statement attributed to Glen Smith, assistant to J.D. Ross.
Talk about a sense of false security. Seattle City Light must have also had a copy of Stewart’s work. Ross dam was completed in 1949.
Skagit County was promised more flood control then they received. |
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Flood Danger Is Not Feared In This City That Mount Vernon and its surrounding community is in no immediate danger of floods from the Skagit river was the information learned today in the county engineer’s office, which keeps an accurate check of the height of the river. . . . However, this condition will be changed within the next twenty-four hours when a rise of about six feet is predicted as a result of the heavy winds of the last day. . . . A flood condition is not prevalent, it was learned, until the river rises to a point of 20 feet or more. The Skagit has not been near that point since June 1931, when it rose to 18.7 feet. In May the river height was around fifteen feet and sixteen feet on several occasions, and in January, a year ago, the river rose to 20 feet in one day. |
Flood Danger Point Was 20 ft On Gage
Last threat was June 1931 when river got to 18.7 feet which would be a 26.7 foot river on todays gage. |
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raging skagit breaks through dikes
Delta Farmers Greatest Sufferers from Freshet Although Several Breaks Occur, Only Comparatively Small Area Is Inundated – Losses of Cattle and Poultry Small – Roads Suffer Some
Unable to withstand the pressure of the mighty Skagit, swelled by rains and melting snow, dikes broke at three widely different places during the week-end, allowing flood waters to inundate more than 12,000 acres of farm land in the lower valley, resulting in considerable damage to property. . . .sections where the water had previously been held at the very top of the dike, were perilously near a break this time on account of a weakened condition of the dikes, which have been neglected somewhat because of confidence in present dams to hold back floods, it is said.
The first break occurred about eleven o’clock Saturday evening in front of Phil Iverson’s farm, which is located on Skagit Island, between Fir and Skagit City. . . . This break, together with three others along Dry Slough, which runs across the island completely inundated the large Skagit delta, about 5,000 acres of farm country bordered by the two forks of the river and the bay. Two of the breaks occurred early Sunday morning at the Ed Good and I.R. Hallen farms; the other the same afternoon, at Mrs. Sadie Polstra’s place. Water has been running out into the bay through the salt water dikes which broke several places near John Wylie’s farm and were cut elsewhere.
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February 27, 1932 Flood Event
USGS and Corps records state this flood crested 2/27/32 at Concrete at 39.99 on the gage with 147,000 cfs. Greater then the 1951 and 1975 floods but less then the 1980 flood at least at Concrete. Both the 51 and 75 floods produced more water at Mt. Vernon then Concrete. 1980 was less water at Mt. Vernon.
Feb 27, 1932. Fir Island was still called Skagit Island.
NOTE: Article was continued on page 4. Need to obtain copy.
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flood damage estimated to exceed $100,000 in county rush repairs to highways as flood waters recede; normal traffic announced in most sections; detour arranged while fill is repaired here; thousands watch flood waters on rampage Bridges at several points were damaged or removed by the raging waters of the Skagit Saturday and Sunday when the breaking dikes and back water sent a yellow flood over nearly 20,000 acres of land and forced many residents to abandon their homes in search of safety on nearby high points of land. . . . In the valley proper no loss of life has been reported, and the accident claiming four lives at Diablo, just as the waters threatened, remains the major incident of the highest flood waters since 1921. . . . Bridge Out Knapp reported the Diobase creek bridge washed out, sixty feet of span and an equal amount of trestle, the forty foot truss over Hanson creek on the river road tipped over, slides on the Van Horn and Faber hills, damage of fifty feet of the west approach of the Jackman creek bridge, and a wash-out on the German Prairie road west of the Samish school, where the bridge over the Samish remained intact. . . . Following the slide above Newhalem the Skagit began rising slowly, but the condition was not believed serious until late Friday night, when flood conditions were approached. Friday night and Saturday morning the water rose at an amazing rate, with lowlands along the river being flooded. Fill Damaged -- . . . Constant rumors of danger to two dams in the Skagit and Baker river power projects resulted in an alarm that one of the dams had broken, and many residents of Hamilton, Lyman, Sedro-Woolley and Mt. Vernon removed to higher ground with emergency rations. It was reported a man coming down the river had given the false alarm, and Lyman was almost deserted by the exodus that followed. Responsible agencies spiked the rumor within an hour, and the bolting residents for the most part returned to their homes. Dams Are Safe -- Consequent investigation disclosed that flood gates on the dams were not opened and that flood waters poured over the tops of the dams. At Baker River before the flood, water was 36 feet below the top, and at the peak of high water flowed nine feet deep over the top of the dam. At Diablo gates were left open until engineers were certain that a flood was imminent, and then closed the gates Friday afternoon. Early Saturday morning the water flowed over the Diablo spillways, when no more water could be retained. . . . The same authorities also explained the fact that while flood waters at Mt. Vernon reached within inches of an all-time record, the peak at Sedro-Woolley was from four to five feet under the record. This was due to the fact that previous floods had removed two curves below Sedro-Woolley and shortened the river’s course nearly one half mile. This makes the river almost straight from Burn’s bar three miles west and the effect had been to lower the river bed here nearly four feet. Dikes Broken -- Shortly after noon Sunday the dike south of Burlington gave way and the Great Northern fill broke at 12:45 to release a yellow flood through Varney’s slough and Gage’s Lake to inundate the section between Burlington, Avon and the Bay View ridge. . . . Breaking of the dike at Conway relieved the pressure in this district late Sunday afternoon, and a large section in the lower end of the county was covered with water. Alarm Is Given -- . . . Residents of the Nookachamps district were taken from their homes when back waters filled this section, and the two branches of the creek flowed back on their courses. |
FEBRUARY 27, 1932 FLOOD USGS 147,000 cfs Concrete (39.99), 157,000 cfs Sedro-Woolley, no figure for Mt. Vernon. Flood was larger then 1951 flood.
Bridges over creeks washed out.
Slide at Newhalem.
Rumor that dam had broken. Lyman almost completely evacuated.
Flood gates on dams not opened.
Water rose 36 feet in Lower Baker then 9 feet flowed over top of dam. Diablo gates closed then water flowed over spillways.
It is believed they are talking about Debay Island cut-off as Sterling cut-off happened in 1911.
Dikes broke in Burlington. Water flowed down Gages (Varney) Slough.
Conway dikes broke.
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Burlington Escapes Flood Which Takes Big Toll In Skagit County And State
Break in Railroad Fill Saves Flood In Streets; Efforts of Volunteers Keep Dikes In Town Solid
While many parts of Skagit County and Western Washington suffered heavy damages from flood waters last Saturday, Sunday and Monday[8], Burlington, on three sides, emerged practically untouched and losses in the immediate adjacent country were comparatively light. West Conway, Skagit City and up-river communities suffered most from rising waters of the Skagit River, which flooded an extensive countryside for the first time in ten years. The great power dams in Baker river and the Upper Skagit and rather elaborate diking systems in the lower valley, proved only partial protection from a mighty river filled to overflowing, after two days of warm Chinook winds had melted snow in the mountains. . . . Anxiety was felt for a few hours following the break in the dike south of town Sunday noon, but was dispelled when the Great Northern railway fill gave way, allowing the water to sweep over the fields to the West and Southwest. Strong Chinook winds of Thursday and Friday filled the Skagit to the top of its banks, and Saturday water began overflowing and covering the land up to the dikes. Shortly after midnight Saturday water had risen to a height of less than two feet from the top of the dike east of Burlington. Sunday morning, with water backed up from the Burlington dikes to Clear Lake, a distance of between six and seven miles, the situation became dangerous. The dike was becoming soft in many places and the water continued to rise gradually. Old-timers expressed the belief that there was more water back of the dikes than in any previous flood. A screaming fire siren at 12:10 Sunday noon announced to Burlington that a dike had been broken. Water came crashing through in torrents at the LeMar place, nearly a mile south of Burlington. . . . The flood, temporarily checked by the railroad fill and quickly filling to a depth of three and four feet the fields near the break in the dike, rushed north, emptied into the sloughs, and backed up into Burlington. . . . A few minutes after the river broke through the dike, water began to seep through the base of the G. N. fill a mile south of the depot and by three o’clock broke through, lessening the flow into the Burlington sloughs, but sweeping the fields westward. . . . The water level at the dike east of Burlington was down 54 inches Monday morning, and by ten o’clock cars were getting through water on the blacktop road to Bay View. Traffic began making use of the highway between Burlington and Mount Vernon by three o’clock. |
February 27-29, 1932 Flood
First major flood in 10 years.
Dams and dikes proved only “partial protection.” Two days of warm Chinook winds.
Dike broke “south of town”. GNRR fill broke allowing water to move south and west.
Water two feet from top of dikes east of Burlington.
Water “backed up” from Burlington dikes to Clear Lake. “More water back of the dikes than in any previous flood.”
First flood early warning system? Dike broke one mile south of Burlington and waters “rushed north”.
So in 24 hours the floodwater was gone? |
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3/4/32 |
II. let’s keep the dike
We can be glad now that somebody knew enough to say no to the idea advanced a year or so ago, of grading down the dike at the Fairhaven avenue crossing. Burlington would still be drying out, instead of being practically the only town in the valley that did not get its feet wet. Dikes may be eyesores and nuisances to drive over, but they are mighty handy when the water comes a-rolling.
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This sounds like Fairhaven used to go over the dike. Today it has been graded down and goes through the old dike. |
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men, not steam shovels, ought rebuild levees
Farmers Ask Contractor To Put Aside Machinery As Soon As Possible Willing To Pay More Needed Work at Water Plant Up To City of Anacortes – Want Additional Dolphins
Local men and teams must be given as much of the dike reconstruction work at the Varney break as is possible, it was the opinion of almost a hundred farmers in diking district No. 12, assembled in a special mass meeting at the Avon school gym Monday evening. . . . Championing the demand that residents of the district, badly in need of employment, be given work on the dikes, Joe Hall urged that every dollar possible be given for the work of men and teams.
The Commissioners were requested to consult the City of Anacortes about urgent repairs to the fill which replaces the dike around the pump house at Avon. Considerable dirt was washed away from the small trees used in constructing the fill.
Claud Davis Construction Company has also been awarded the contract for rebuilding the dike in front of the Iverson place, where there is a break more than 500 feet long and 25 feet deep in places. The cost of this will be approximately $9,600 at 40 cents per cubic yard there being about 24,000 cubic yards of dirt to replace. |
Local farmers needed work.
Avon Bend damaged.
Iverson place was located on Skagit Island between Fir and Skagit City. |
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Jupiter Pluvis Shatters Record With March Floods Flooded fields and basements filled with surface water attested a record breaking rainfall of 11.15 inches for the month of March in this vicinity. Harry L. Devin, official weather observer here, can find no counterpart of this in the more than 40 years since he first began observing weather conditions in this district. The average for March over a 33-year period is a precipitation of 4.30 inches. The first week of March this year was far under this average, with .33 of an inch. As the month progressed the rainfall became greater, to end with a 42-hour deluge Tuesday and Wednesday, to set a new record. |
Lots of Rain in March 1932 Jupiter Pluvis was the Supreme God in ancient Roman days comparable to Zeus in Greek mythology. The name translated into “Rain Giver”. Most rain in 40 years according to H. L. Devin. 11 inches in Sedro-Woolley. |
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Dike Repairs Being Rushed To Completion -- Night and Day Shifts Kept On Job To Make Dikes Safe If County Experiences Chinook With large crews of laborers working night and day, the danger of additional flood damage, should the Skagit river rise suddenly again is fast being minimized, Clause O. Davis, contractor in charge of repairing two dikes, told the Daily Herald today. Mr. Davis holds the contracts for the replacement of the dike west of Conway, and the dike south of Burlington, which collapsed during the recent freshet flooding thousands of acres of farmland. Twenty men, working on ten hour shifts, have placed the Burlington dike beyond the danger mark. It would require a 12-foot freshet to wash out the new dike, Mr. Davis declared today. The hole in the dike west of Conway will be closed tomorrow, halting the flow of water for the first time since the freshet. More than 50 men have been working 10-hour shifts on this job. This dike will be safe from high waters within forty-eight hours, Mr. Davis declared. |
FEBRUARY 27, 1932 FLOOD USGS 147,000 cfs Concrete (39.9), 157,000 cfs Sedro-Woolley. (See 3/3/32 CT and Argus articles)
Burlington dike raised to 12 feet. |
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skagit might obtain government river dredge
Suction Dredger at Grays Harbor Been Idle for 2 Years, Says Gaches Would Cost Nothing Dirt Could Be Used To Widen Dikes, Restore Banks That Have Been Washed Away
It is quite possible that Skagit County can obtain without cost, a government suction dredge for use in the Skagit River channel if the county will make concerted appeal to the proper authorities in Washington; it is the opinion of Charles Gaches, local farmer. . . . The rapid depositing of sediment in recent years has resulted in bringing the river bottom up to a level almost as high as the farming land, especially along the South Fork, and increased the necessity of building higher and higher dikes all along the lower end of the valley. At the same time the river has been cutting away the banks, making it more easy for high water to undermine and come through on the inside of the dike as happened during the recent freshet, it is explained by the local man.
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Dredging.
Where in the South Fork is the river as high as the adjacent land?
Cost of dredge was $150 per day but hadn’t been used in 2 years. |
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Diablo Project Is Blamed For Flood Damage -- Flood Gates of Dam Were Opened At Wrong Time, Dike Districts and Farmers Charge In Claim Alleging the flood gates on Diablo dam were opened at the crest of the recent high water, thus releasing an additional torrent of water in the already bankful Skagit river, causing dikes to break in many places, four Skagit dike districts, and three individual farmers today filed claims aggregating $53,315 against the City of Seattle. The claims were rushed to Seattle today so they could be filed before the thirty-day limit expires. List of Claims Following is the list of claims filed against the City of Seattle, owner of Diablo Dam, which is a part of the city’s power development on the upper Skagit. Dike district No. 2, located on the west side of the Skagit river and north of Fir – Claims damages in the amount of $17,500. Dike district No. 13, located between Dry and Brown sloughs on Skagit delta, west of Fir – Demands $4,000 damages. Dike district No. 186, located between Fresh Water and Dry sloughs on south side of pavement, west of fire – Demands $6,500. Dike district No. 12, located south of Burlington – Demands $10,000. Phillip Iverson, farmer living northwest of Fire, demands $2,925. Iver Iverson, same locality, demands $7,650. John Leander, same locality, demands $4,000. Water Held Back On February 23rd, according to the complaint filed with the City of Seattle, the reservoir behind Diablo dam was approximately half full of water, the amount being between 35,000 and 40,000 acre feet of water. At that time, the flood gates of the dam were not opened, although the water was continuing to rise, the complaint states. |
Diablo Dam Alleged To Have Contributed to Flood Damages Dike districts and 3 farmers file claims with City Light.
Crest of the flood happened on February 27th. This means that Diablo filled from being half full in 4 days. |
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ross ridicules skagit claims for damages J.D. Ross, city light superintendent, today declared “ridiculous” claims for $53,315 damages against the City of Seattle, filed with the city comptroller today by four Skagit county diking districts and three Skagit county farmers as a result of floods in the county late last month. . . . “The dam held back the first on-rush of water down the river,” Ross said. “As soon as the lake back of the dam rose to the height of the flood gates, we began releasing the water gradually. Only a part of the gates were opened, just enough to prevent the water from overflowing the top of the dam. This controlled the flood, releasing it only as fast as the river could carry it away. The damage to the dikes down in the valley occurred after the crest of the flood had passed at Diablo. It was simply a case of where the river could not hold the water which poured into it from numerous streams below the dam, in addition to carrying the controlled flow through the flood gates. |
City Light Denies Liability
Water was not released until water got to the flood gates. Blamed “other streams” (Sauk, Baker, etc.) |
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Damage claims total $98,825
Farmers and Dike Districts File Claims vs. Seattle For Flood Damage
Claims of Skagit farmers and diking districts against the city of Seattle for flood damages alleged to have been caused by letting water from flood gates in Diablo dam at a crucial time during the recent high water, thereby causing the dikes to break, have mounted to $78,825 during the week. The filing of these claims is merely a preliminary action. It does not constitute a suit, but protects the rights of those claiming damages to sue at a future date. According to law, it is necessary to file claims of damages within thirty days of the time when the damage is done in order to bring suit against a municipality. |
Dike districts 2, 18, 12, and 13 filed claims along with several individuals. Need to find out what happened to these claims. |
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more dredges needed editorial Once more the feasibility of a government dredge, available for extensive channel work in Washington’s troublesome rivers, has been demonstrated by a freshet, which stopped just short of inflicting real damage in the Skagit Valley. Dikes have risen even higher, yet each freshet has found them practically at the same relative height. The explanation offered by men long experienced and by engineers has been that the bottom has constantly kept pace with the elevation of the dikes.
If this is true (and we have no reason to doubt our authority) a partial remedy, at least, is likely to be had by the deepening of the channel. To bring this about it would seem wise to ask congress to reinforce the government’s present Sound equipment with one of more dredges so that rivers, such as the Skagit, may have a larger measure of flood relief. Another thing we have learned is that the power dams are not the protection engineers promised. |
Dredging editorial.
Bottom of river rising as fast as dikes.
Recognizes dams did not stop floods.
See 1/7/32 article. |
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june snow scene near sedro-woolley -- local man photographs snow field near here These two views show from ten to fifteen feet of snow not then miles from Sedro-Woolley in Montborne prairie. They were brought here by Norman Fladebo and show him and John Fladebo. The upper view shows snow almost fifteen feet deep, covering thousands of acres, and the other shows Fladebo, at the edge of the prairie snow field, with rifle stretched, to show the depth of the snow. The pictures were taken a few days ago. Fladebo reports the snow deeper than in the big snow year of 1916, as he walked completely over the top of a tree which he had notched then. Thar’s snow in them thar hills. |
10-15 ft of Snow Near Sedro-Woolley
Amazing there wasn’t a huge summer flood this year.
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Want Skagit Power At Same Rates As Seattle Will Get Skagit and Whatcom counties, in which Seattle will get electric power, when the big water power project on the Skagit river is developed, should get power for the same rates as Seattle manufacturers, according to local men. The Commercial club will take the matter up with the local Congressman, and with Secretary Lane. As the source of this power is in the two counties, it is felt that they should not be deprived of the right to use some of it, at the same rate which Seattle will charge to users in that city and district. |
Skagit Wanted Same Electric Rates As Seattle |
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Several Farms, Highways Are Under Water -- Skagit Recedes After Rising With Unprecedented Rapidity; Highways Reopened; Dikes Guarded During Night After threatening another serious flood in Skagit county, swirling waters of the Skagit river began to recede this morning, and the dread menace of the last twenty-four hours began to disappear as rapidly as it had overtaken this community. Rising with unprecedented rapidity, the Skagit river had reached a height of 23 feet on the county’s gauge last night, where it remained until this morning, when the drop started. . . . The Nookachamps community, which bore the brunt of the flood early this year, was partially under water again today, following the breaking of the newly built dike, the Herald was informed. The water was not high enough to enter any of the farm homes and little or no damage was done, it was declared. The new dikes south of Burlington and west of Fir were said to be holding up well under the new pressure, but seepage from the new dike in Dodge Valley had flooded the Art Anderson and F.X. Thein farms, it was declared. . . . County roads were flooded in the vicinity of Hamilton yesterday, but autoists were able to get through with difficulty. |
NOVEMBER 13, 1932 FLOOD USGS 116,000 cfs Concrete (approx 36 ft on gage), 125,000 cfs Sedro-Woolley.
23 feet in Mt. Vernon would be 31 feet at today’s gage or a little less then 1975 flood event.
See 11/18/32 BJ article. They blamed Baker dam for flood waters.
Dodge Valley flooded. |
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flood waters visit skagit
Second Inundation in Nine Months Covers 2,000 Acres In County
Scarcely nine months after one of the most disastrous floods the Skagit Valley has experienced in recent years, rivers and streams of the County, swollen by continual heavy rains, were again on the rampage, breaking dykes and flooding farm lands in several sections. |
November 13, 1932 Flood
Mostly flooding was limited to Nookachamps and Dodge Valley. River reached 116,000 cfs at Concrete which was approx. 36 ft on gage. |
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skagit river floods – editorial With high water threatening the Skagit valley, the people again turn their attention to the river and flood damages. If a bad flood occurs during the next few days, there will be meetings and resolutions concerning getting flood relief and loss of many thousands of dollars to property and business; the water will go down and interest in flood relief will subside until the next flood comes along. . . . We will think of flood control now, but when the danger is gone, we forget floods and turn to thoughts of more pleasant things, consoling ourselves with the idea that there probably will not be another one for many years. It may take a real catastrophe to get real flood relief for the Skagit. |
Flood Editorial
For the past 72 years no truer words have been written about the Skagit River flood issue. Hopefully, in 2005 that is about to change. |
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heavy rains close roads The heaviest rainfall in the history of Sedro-Woolley, fell here Wednesday night, according to H. L. Devin, official government weather man here for 36 years. Between 6 p.m. Wednesday night and 9 a.m. Thursday morning, there was a total of 2.25 inches of rainfall, which followed 1.83 inches Wednesday up to 6 p.m. . . . Heavy rainfall during the past few days brought the river almost to flood levels, closed the road between here and Concrete, and caused sloughs to overflow in many places. Many roads were closed Sunday, including the Pacific highway at Silvana, but cooler weather brought the water down. The river rose eleven feet Sunday, but at last reports, had gone down five or six feet, in spite of continued rain. According to statistics of H.L. Devin, local government weatherman, November is twice as wet as usual. October rainfall was 6.31 inches here as compared to the normal 4.8 inches and the November rainfall up to November 15, was 6.4 inches as compared to the normal of 6.74 inches for the entire month. |
NOVEMBER 13, 1932 FLOOD USGS 116,000 cfs Concrete, 125,000 cfs Sedro-Woolley. Close to a 1975 event.
Heaviest rainfall in history of Sedro-Woolley? 4 inches in 24 hours. |
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Major Flood Fear Passes, River Drops Continued rise of the Skagit river during more than forty-eight hours came to a halt in Mount Vernon today, giving hope that the flood danger that has hovered over this community would soon pass. . . . The river had reached a height of nearly 23 feet on the gauge here this morning, two or three feet from the danger mark. . . . A log jam east of the Great Northern bridge at Riverside was causing some worry and a crew of men remained on guard throughout this morning. It was said blasting might be restored in an effort to break the jam. . . . The rise of the Skagit river was the most abrupt in the memory of old timers. Between Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock, until this morning, the river had risen a total of fifteen feet, according to records kept by the county engineer’s office. The rise was caused by a deluge of rain and melting snows in the Cascades. An inch and a fourth of rain fell between Saturday morning and this morning, the county records showed. |
Log Jam On Great Northern Bridge
River came up very fast. |
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11/18/32 |
High Waters Appear Again
The big rise in the Skagit took place Saturday night and Sunday morning, when in the space of 15 hours, the water rose 14 feet, some hours gaining more than a foot. Besides rains and a Chinook wind which melted snows, opening of the Baker river dam caused much of the rise, it was understood. |
November 12 & 13th 1932 Flood
Blame placed on Baker dam. |
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Flood Control Needed
High waters from the Skagit, Samish and other rivers caused considerable damage this week in Skagit county farms. It would seem that with low prices, a scarcity of markets and money, and poor weather, farmers could well be spared the loss of property and livestock from floods. Perhaps the cheapest way out of flood dangers is a spillway system of controlling high water, as suggested recently by Jim Squires of Samish. Two floods in a single year should make us think over things like that. |
Overtopping levees. |
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Record Rain In 12 Hours At Sedro-Woolley The most rain to fall in twelve hours in the history of Sedro-Woolley fell here Wednesday night and Thursday morning totaling 2.25 inches, according to H.L. Devin, official government weatherman for the past 36 years. The entire precipitation for the 24 hours was not extraordinary, however. . . . Hansen Creek, which runs through the Northern State hospital grounds, backed up due to a log jam at the Great Northern railroad trestle, flooding much property, including the large berry ranch of George Andrick. |
Most Rain In History Of Sedro-Woolley
2.25 inches in 12 hours???
Hansen Creek log jam causes back-up. |
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Local Farms Sustain Big Flood Losses Congressman Wallgren Asks $1,500,000 For Skagit Heavy losses from the recent flood waters along the Skagit river makes the cause for government control more urgent than ever before. In one bend of the river in the Utopia district, fifteen acres of land have been washed away from the farms of Carl Johnson, James Atwood and Oliver Buchanan since the first of November. This is merely one case in which improved farm land has been washed away. William Wulff of the same district was forced to move his residence after the last freshet. Several other homes in the immediate vicinity are in grave danger from each succeeding flood. |
Erosion Problems
Utopia area looses another 15 acres of land. |
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New Dredge For Skagit An appropriation of some $100,000 was made this week from the state’s recent relief bond issue, to purchase a dredger for the Skagit river. W.R. Morgan, county welfare commissioner, headed a delegation to Olympia the first of the week, and obtained this appropriation as the first step in a program of flood control on the Skagit. The new dredge will be equipped to build dikes and to work both along the bayfront and the river. It is estimated it will take ten men to run it, and it is believed that CWA labor can be used. A plan of reorganizing dike and drainage districts to facilitate the work of rebuilding dikes, will be discussed soon. |
“New Dredger”
No record located that “dredge” was ever purchased.
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flood control fate rests on dike election
Consolidation of Districts in Skagit County Is Started Avon takes the Lead All Dike Districts Must Unite If Aid From Federal Government Is Sought
May 6 may determine the fate of flood control in the Skagit Valley. On that day the diking districts will hold their annual election; and, if present plans are carried out, consolidation will also be submitted to the voters. Petitions asking for consolidation election are already being circulated. Avon has taken the lead and will hold a mass meeting tomorrow night to consider the proposal. . . . “Under the law, the county can get state, federal and county aid for flood control, but consolidation of diking districts will be necessary,” Mr. Welts asserted. . . . The program involves building up the bayfront dikes, the Skagit River dikes and the straightening of the Skagit River. Fifty thousand acres of land and 10,000 people are involved. . . . “If you don’t unite now, just forget eve5r trying to get help in the future, because you can’t get it as individuals,” Will Hayton warned.
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R. V. Welts was local attorney.
Strengthen sea dikes, strengthen river dikes and straightening of the river. “Huge tides” motivated this effort.
Article was continued on page 4 which was not copied. |
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Farmers to Vote on Merging All 16 Dike Districts for Dredging
A mass meeting of property owners in Diking District No. 12 will be held this Friday evening in the Avon gymnasium, M.F. Snelson, chairman of the board of diking commissioners announced this week. Action will be taken on the proposal to merge all 16 diking in the county to obtain federal aid in one big flood control project. Meetings will be called in all diking districts to obtain the sentiment of the people in each toward the general project. If the consensus of opinion is favorable, an election will be held to vote the project through. |
Merge the dike districts. |
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Dike District Votes Against Merger Plan--District No. 3 Unwilling To Join Consolidation Plan Without More And Definite Information First concerted opposition to merge all the dike districts of the county in an effort to draft a flood protection program that might result in federal, state and county appropriations was heard at a meeting of farmers of dike district No. 3. at the Finn hall at Lower Cedardale yesterday afternoon. A motion was adopted to delay signing a petition, which provided that a special election be called. Considerable sentiment was expressed against the consolidation plan, several speakers saying they could not see that the district would derive any benefits. It was then decided to “table” the proposal for consolidation, at least until definite information is forthcoming.
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Dike District 3 Kills Consolidation Plan
Merger would have allowed flood protection plan resulting in Federal, State and County funding.
Several other districts had approved the plan. |
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sixty miles of dike built by 1,015 men; cost, $160,000 According to a report issued from the office of the superintending engineer, C.A. Strong, work on the Skagit County dikes, if no unforeseen interruption occurs, will be completed by May 1st. . . . The allowance made by the CWA authorities for the entire repair and reconstruction project are $59,424.00 for equipment rental, and $14,000.00 for materials and supplies. The number of men approved for the work is 1,206; the total number of work hours, 332,018. At the present time there are approximately 1,015 men on the job. The field forces are divided into three divisions geographically, each under a division superintendent. The CWA approved a total length of dike work in Skagit County of 328,000 feet or approximately 62 miles, of which 253,434 feet had been completed up to April 19. Work is progressing at the rate of about 8,000 feet per day. |
Skagit County Dike Work
According to this article the average wage paid to the dike workers was approximately $3.83 per hour.
62 miles of levees worked on. |
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Flood Control Action Urged At Conference -- United Plea May Go To Federal Official Asking Survey of All Rivers In Washington OLYMPIA, May 11 – (AP) – Washington flood control groups were urged here today to unite behind a program calling for a survey of all rivers in the state, whether navigable or non-navigable, as the first major step necessary in bringing permanent flood control to the state. A statewide river survey, with the federal and state governments cooperating, was advocated before a flood control conference here by Howard A. Hanson, Seattle, president of the Puget Sound flood control association. . . . Hanson pointed out that without a river survey a permanent flood control program could not be developed. Under existing legislation no federal funds can be spent on river surveys except on navigable streams. |
All Rivers In State Proposed To Be Surveyed
All navigable rivers. |
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dredge necessary for flood control, says james squires
. . . But let us not forget that no matter how high our dikes are built, if these two rivers get “out of control” (Skagit and Samish) like all of us have seen them do in the past, we will have the same old trouble, only worse. In my opinion there are two things to be done, the necessity of which is so self-evident that no proof is required.
Those two things are: dredge and straighten these two rivers properly, and construct adequate spillways. |
Letter to the Editor printed on the front page. Squires was from Bow.
“no proof required”
Dredge, straighten and overtopping levees. |
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flood expert gives county chamber, talk col. hanson, speaker at big meeting here; local boy talks Col. Howard A. Hanson of Seattle, head of the state flood control council, gave an interesting talk to the Skagit County Chamber of Commerce at their monthly hour here Tuesday evening, in the crypt of the Episcopal church. Some fifty business men from all parts of the county attended the meeting. Col. Hanson for years has been attorney for King county and Pierce county in their flood control work on the White, Green, Puyallup and other rivers, and is a recognized authority on both the engineering and legal ends of flood and erosion control work. He was introduced to the audience by A. G. Mosier of this city, Skagit county member of the state flood control council. The speaker told of the need for a state and national program of flood control, and explained the policy of the federal government which refuses to spend any money on rivers beyond their limits of navigation, regardless of damage done by the river. |
State Flood Control Council
Speaker stated that Federal government refused to spend money on flood control, only river navigation. |
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hansen creek work to start; more projects -- local plan board has promise; to grade streets here Work will be started at once on unfinished CWA relief projects in this county, according to information received by the county project manages. The dredging of Hansen creek will be the first to be resumed here, and will probably start next week. . . . The WERA will appropriate $1,000 for rental of a gas shovel to use on Hansen creek, and $864 for employment of non-relief shovel operators. There are no shovel men available from the relief rolls. Twenty men from this list will be put to work on the grading work in addition to the shovel men. The total cost to complete the work is estimated at $6,200. |
Hanson Creek
Hanson Creek dredged. |
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Grocery Store Ads |
Can’t buy dog food for a nickel any longer. |
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filling in creeks (editorial) Quick action by citizens in the middle of the night in cutting a channel thru the county road north of town, saved hundreds of families here from being flooded out of their homes. The channel was cut at the place where the county engineers replaced a creek and bridge with a dirt fill and small culvert. This disastrous policy was followed in many places in the county in past years, and has cost thousands of dollars and much trouble. |
Culverts and Fill
It would appear that culverts and fill across streams and creeks are an invitation to drainage problems. |
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Skagit River Still Rising At Concrete Water Coming Up At Rate of Three Inches An Hour At Concrete; Danger Mark Draws Near . . . This afternoon the river was within three feet of the point reached at the last flood here two years ago. . . . Readings at the county gauge south of the city docks at intervals today were: 8 a.m. – 23 feet, 2 inches. 10:45 a.m. – 23 feet, 8 inches. 12:30 p.m. – 23 feet, 10 inches. 1:30 p.m. – 24 feet. 2:30 p.m. – 24 feet, 3 inches. Early this morning the river was said to be rising two inches an hour at Concrete. The flood gates were opened on the Baker river dam at Concrete yesterday, and huge quantities of water poured from that point and later reached the Skagit. The amount of water coming over the dam was said to have slowed down considerably this morning, indicating it had been colder in the upper stretches during the night. . . . Many acres of farm land in the northern part of the county were flooded by the Samish. It was said the Samish flood was the worst in years. Wednesday night the water rose to three inches deep over the floor in Joy’s store at Allen and was level with the floor yesterday. The Pacific highway was covered with water to within a mile north of the Triangle service station in that section of the county. At Sedro-Woolley serious flood damage to property was saved early Wednesday morning when a group of citizens in the north end of town gathered under the direction of E. C. Carr and cut a channel through the old grade road northwest of town. A four-foot culvert with which the county had recently replaced a bridge, proved inadequate for rapidly rising waters which soon flooded the homes in the surrounding districts, and but for the prompt action of the men in cutting the channel a serious flood menace would have threatened, putting the entire north end of the city under from three to six feet of water, with perhaps several feet in the business district. |
JANUARY 25, 1935 FLOOD USGS 131,000 cfs Concrete (37.9), no figures for Mt. Vernon. More than 1975, less than 1979.
24 feet at this gage would be 32 feet at todays gage.
Water flowed over the top of Lower Baker Dam.
Samish River flood worst in years.
Sedro-Woolley business district flooding averted. This flooding would most likely have been from Brickyard Creek and not the Skagit River. |
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Danger of Serious Flood Is Lessened As River Starts Receding--Danger Not Yet Over, But Hundreds Breathe Easier; River At Highest Point Since 1917; Dropping Rapidly In Eastern Section of County; Scores Labor To Stop Dike Breaks Hundreds of residents in many sections of lower Skagit breathed a little easier this afternoon when it became apparent that the threat of the worst flood in years was gradually passing. . . . It was believed the high point in the river had been reached early this afternoon, and the Skagit was expected to start receding later today. At 2 o’clock, river watchers said the Skagit was no longer rising. The county gauge was out of sight, but it was estimated the river had reached a height of 28 feet, which is within a very few inches of the high in 1917 when sections of the county were visited by disastrous floods. The river was at least a foot higher than three years ago when dikes broke at various places causing the inundation of hundreds of acres of farm lands. All that saved a recurrence of the flood of late February in 1932 was the strengthening of the dikes under the CWA program, many declared. . . . There was only one actual dike break, which occurred on the south bank of Freshwater slough, south of Fir. … was flooding approximately 25 acres of land near the Island Gun club. |
Gage Out Of Site – Estimated 28 Feet
1917 flood a little over 28 feet. That would be a little over 36 feet at todays gage, which would be the same as the first flood in 1990 and less then the second flood in 1990 and the 5th flood in 1995.
One dike break….Freshwater Slough. River a foot higher then 2/27/32 flood when many dikes broke (USGS 147,000 cfs Concrete 39.9 ft, 157,000 cfs Sedro-Woolley.)
No question levees raise the level of a flood event. |
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1/26/35 |
county cities recover from flood scare – dike breaks northeast of burlington, but flood is averted; much damage is done to roads, bridges Mount Vernon and other Skagit county towns were almost back to normal today after experiencing the worst flood scare in years. . . . Roads and bridges were damaged to the extent of several thousand dollars, but the exact amount cannot be determined until a survey is completed. . . . Excitement during the high water reached its peak at about 3:30 Saturday afternoon when Burlington residents prepared to “move out” when it was learned that the dike had collapsed near the Cleveland ranch, northeast of Burlington. Hundreds gathered at Varney slough, a short distance east of the Burlington hospital, to watch the water as it roared down the passage. It was feared that the water would run down the Burlington main street from that point, but the receding of the river saved Burlington from inundation. The water reached within a few hundred feet of the hospital, but most of it raced down the slough, . . . |
JANUARY 25, 1935 FLOOD EVENT USGS 131,000 cfs at Concrete (37.9), no figure for Mt. Vernon.
Cleveland Ranch is located adjacent to Lafayette Road where road is the dike.
“Varney slough” is today referred to as Gages Slough. |
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1/26/35 |
what river did The Skagit river, on its rampage last week, rose approximately 18 feet to one of the highest points in years. Gauges were out of sight, but it was estimated that the river has reached the 28-foot mark. . . . Here’s how the river acted last week, readings being taken at the county gauge each morning at 8 o’clock: Jan. 21 – 10 feet 10 inches Jan. 22 – 11 feet 8 inches Jan. 23 – 16 feet Jan. 24 – 17 feet 8 inches Jan. 25 – 23 feet 2 inches Jan. 26 – 28 feet (estimated) Jan. 27 – 25 feet 2 inches Jan. 28 – (Today) – 21 feet |
Mt. Vernon Gage Readings
If 28 feet is accurate (at the Moose Lodge in downtown Mt. Vernon) then this flood would be comparable to the first flood in 1990 and the October 2003 flood event. Given the condition of the levees in 1935 it is believed highly unlikely that the river reached this level. |
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1/26/35 |
marblemount isolated 5 days Marblemount, situated ten miles east of Rockport, with its population of approximately 40 people, was completely isolated from the remainder of the world for five days during the severe weather of the last week. . . . The Skagit river was almost solid with ice in many places. Snow, which had fallen a few days previously, was blown into high drifts Friday and Saturday. Sunday the weather moderated, and an additional two feet of snow fell, rendering travel impossible. . . . Newhalem has reported six feet of snow and is entirely isolated. |
Skagit River Almost Solid With Ice
Newhalem had 6 feet of snow. |
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flood control measure is now on file . . . The rules committee introduced a flood control act, giving the state, through the department of conservation and development, full regulation and control over all waters in the state. The state hydraulics engineer would have authority to reject or approve plans for any structure to be built over or across any flood plain or floodway of any stream or body of water. As soon as funds are available the state is ordered to make a study of flood control needs. |
State Takes Control Of Floodplains
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city will seek assistance from diking districts Enlargement of a diking district to include all of Mount Vernon, as proposed yesterday by Mayor C. W. Vaux has been found impossible, and city officials will now seek the cooperation of commissioners of dike districts already formed to bring about a program that will include strengthening in dikes within the city limits of Mount Vernon. . . . He said something would have to be done or Mount Vernon will face a disastrous flood in the future. . . . South Mount Vernon, including the business district, is in dike district No. 3, of which Edor Bergstrom, Peter A. Lee and Victor Lillquist are the commissioners, while west Mount Vernon is in district No. 1, . . . |
Mt. Vernon Mayor Wanted All Of Mt. Vernon To Be Included In Dike District
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car goes off broken dike; 2 drowned
Mrs. Harry Dimmick, Small Son Succumb At Break Near Burlington Road Not Barricaded Husband, Exhausted As Efforts Under Water Fail, Narrowly Escapes
Tragedy brought indirectly by the high waters of the Skagit River took the lives of a young mother and her three-year-old son early Tuesday night when the automobile in which they were riding slowly vaulted over the edge of the broken dike-road between Burlington and Sedro-Woolley and buried itself in about fifteen feet of water. |
January 25, 1935 Flood Event
Flood crested 1/25/35 at Concrete 131,000 cfs, 37.9 on gage.
Flood related death. Dike break was on Lafayette Road. |
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lower valley farmers keep dikes secure
Constant Patrolling Wins Over Turbulent Waters Of Rising Skagit 3 Breaks Reported Damage is comparatively Small – Samish floods Northern Part of County
Combined efforts of more than 1500 lower Skagit valley residents to effect a 60-hour constant patrol of the river dikes during the highest stages of the Skagit proved effective despite the fact that the river rose to the peak obtained during the flood of 1922. Stronger dikes constructed during past year by the dike districts also proved instrumental in checking the turbulent waters that rose to within inches of the dike tops Saturday afternoon. . . .
Two breaks were reported south of Mt. Vernon, one at the freshwater slough and the other between Brown and Dry sloughs. . . . The County recordings of the river taken each day last week show the unusual speed in which the river rose. On Sunday the reading was 7 feet, Monday and Tuesday 10 feet, Wednesday 16 feet, Thursday morning 17 feet, Friday 23 feet, Saturday 28 feet. |
Since there was no flood in 1922 assume they meant 1921. Same level?? Dikes broke south of Mt. Vernon, Freshwater Slough, and between Brown & Dry Slough. Also broke in Burlington on Lafayette Road. (See previous article.) This strongly suggest flood in 1921 not as great as Stewart said it was. |
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three skagit cities have flood scares; danger past The present flood danger in Skagit county is now ended, but three cities, Mt. Vernon, Burlington and Sedro-Woolley, had some bad moments. Sedro-Woolley was not threatened so much by the river as by high water from the hills north of town, which for two days surrounded several hundred homes and would have flooded the city, but for blasting out the old grade road in the middle of the night. . . . Saturday night was the flood crisis in Burlington and Mt. Vernon. At Burlington Saturday afternoon, the siren sounded an alarm to bring more help on the dike northeast of town. This time the dike held and it was thought the danger was past. However, a real break occurred Saturday evening and Burlington citizens prepared to move out. . . . The flood reached the Burlington hospital, but the fact that the river was receding at the time, prevented any inundation. The creek just east of Burlington washed away part of the road. The big break on the dike near the old Cleveland place, took away a large stretch of highway. |
JANUARY 21, 1935 FLOOD USGS 131,000 cfs at Concrete (37.9). No figure for Sedro-Woolley or Mt. Vernon.
Sedro-Woolley blows up old grade road.
The Burlington dike they are talking about is Lafayette Road where it takes a 90 degree bend and parallels Highway 20.
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1/31/35 |
two drowned in road hole Victims of a tragic aftermath of the high waters, Mrs. Harry Dimmick and her three-year-old son, Perry, were drowned Tuesday evening when the car in which they were riding, plunged off the road into the opening caused by high water, near the Cleveland ranch northeast of Burlington. Harry Dimmick, the husband and father, was able to free himself from the auto, which was submerged in 15 or 20 feet of water, and is recovering from shock and bruises. |
Flood Deaths
This is why people shouldn’t drive around road barricades during flood events. Both of these 1/31/35 articles have now helped us locate the Cleveland Ranch which is mentioned in many flood articles. |
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A Flood Control Plan Flood control talk again takes the spotlight, after the highest water seen in Skagit county in years. A year from now, with more melting snow in the hills, we’ll probably still be talking, with nothing more accomplished. A three-point practical control plan that would cost certainly no more than is now being spent, is here presented by The Journal as something to start from: 1. Secure co-operation in some way with the power dams up river to help regulate the volume of water in the river. At periods of low water in winter or spring, water in these reservoirs could be lowered; during periods of heavy thawing there would be room to hold much water while the river was naturally full. 2. With the money being spent this year and next by diking districts, buy or build a Skagit River Dredge that would remain constantly in the Skagit, digging a channel deep enough to carry the water out, straightening out the stream by taking out the bends, and putting the rich silt where it will do the most good. 3. With the foregoing dredge, build strong emergency dikes equal distant from the river banks all the way down. This would eliminate the wide places and “bottlenecks” in the present dike system, which so often causes breaks and weak spots in the dikes.
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3 Point Suggestion to Flood Control
Have dams lower levels (more storage).
Buy a dredge., straighten river.
Build more dikes equal distance from the river edge (setback levees).. |
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one million for skagit dikes to be asked – congressmen to go direct to president to present his views on flood relief in this state Plans to carry the program of Washington state for adequate flood control of its rivers to President Roosevelt were disclosed today by Representative Wallgren (D-Wash.). . . . In addition to the projects which Wallgren said had been classed as meritorious, he said other projects totaling $10,520,000 should be started. . . . $1,000,000 for Skagit river flood protection for delta by raising levees to 11 feet. This latter project, Wallgren said, was listed by the engineers as being justified as an unemployment relief project. The same classification was given for bank protection on the stream at an estimated cost of another $100,000. |
Raise Levees To 11 Feet The levees in 1935 were quite a bit smaller then they are today. In fact, in 1952 the levees “varied from 5 to 10 feet high”. (Source: Corps of Engineers Report on Survey for Flood Control of Skagit River and Tributaries, February 21, 1952) This proposal would have made levees uniform in protection but far below what we have today. |
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county faces damage suit over deaths – gilbert retained by dimmick and says suit will be filed for $25,000; county is blamed Skagit county will probably face a $25,000 damage action as a result of the accident nearly a week ago which snuffed out the lives of Mrs. Myrna Dimmick, 22, and her three-year-old son Perry. The Daily Herald obtained this information today from Attorney Warren Gilbert, who admitted he is preparing to file a claim against the county in behalf of Harry Dimmick, husband and father, who narrowly escaped the same fate as the two others. The two were killed when the auto which Dimmick was driving plunged into the water-filled gap left by flood waters on the Burlington-Sedro-Woolley combination dike and road. . . . “We believe someone is responsible for the failure to provide a proper barricade and light to give the motorist notice of the danger ahead,” explained Gilbert. “The family realizes that money cannot compensate it for the loss of the mother, son and grandchild, but they fell that the county should pay a reasonable compensation for the loss they sustained,” the attorney added. Reports at the time of the accident were to the effect that a sawhorse with a couple of boards on it served as the only warning of the 100-foot gap in the highway ahead. Dimmick said he drove around the sawhorse and his wife exclaimed: “There’s been a little washout.” A few hours later, county officials erected a permanent barricade, making it impossible to drive within several hundred feet of the water-filled hole. |
County Blamed For Flood Deaths
Woman and son were drowned when husband drove around flood barrier into river near Doc Clevelands Ranch on Lafayette Road.
This is why people shouldn’t drive around flood barricades. |
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dike union is urged to get federal aid – burlington c.c. wants dike organization similar to union high schools; dredger also proposed A super organization of all county diking districts, so that the county can appeal to the federal government for aid in curbing the flood waters of the Skagit and Samish rivers, was proposed at a meeting of the Burlington chamber of commerce here last night, and the group adopted a resolution asking the state legislature to pass the necessary laws to make this possible. The proposal, as outlined at last night’s meeting, does not mean that the dike districts would consolidate, which was described as virtually impossible. The idea is to organize a dike union, similar to union high schools. This would give all the dike districts an organization which could go to the federal government for aid. At present, no single district is large or strong enough to carry any weight in appealing to the government, it was pointed out. . . . Another flood control measure was advanced at the meeting by W. D. Knipe, well known local man. He proposed an investigation to determine the feasibility of the county bounding itself to the extent of $100,000, or the amount necessary to purchase a dredger for use on the river. He said various districts which use the dredger could be assessed a certain amount for operation expenses and depreciation. The dredger would not only deepen the channel, but at the same time it would aid in strengthening the dikes. In this connection, Knipe said it would permit the building of sloping dikes to that the pressure of the river during high water would not undermine. |
Proposed Formation Of Dike Union
Consolidation of dike districts “virtually impossible”.
“Dike Union” would have allowed dike districts to go to federal government for aid.
Proposal to purchase a “dredger”. Like the proposal to form a dike union it never happened. |
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flood loss in skagit place at two million The survey of the Skagit river flood damage, which has been carried on during the past few weeks under WERA funds, has found an estimated loss of more than two million. This amount was given by farmers and others as actually lost to them over a period of years and is some half a million dollars more than the figures turned in to the federal government some months ago, before the survey was made, as the Skagit flood loss. . . . While figures given to the men making the river survey have not been given out in detail, many thousands of acres of fine Skagit farm land are reported washed down the river with many more threatened. |
Damages in 1/25/35 Flood 2,000,000 loss in 1935 would equate to $27,000,000 in 2003 dollars using the Consumer Price Index inflation factor. By comparison the November 1990 floods caused 39,800,000 in damages. (Source: Corps of Engineers, Letter Report, Alternatives for Compensation for Flood storage Capacity, Upper Baker Reservoir, 22 January 2003 Review Copy) |
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2/7/35 |
flood gates at dam aided high water control
Current Belief That Gates Caused Excess Water In River Refuted
Management of the gates in the Puget Sound Power and Light Company’s Baker River dam during the recent high water was a matter of much conjecture on the part of the public. Many people had the suspension that the gates were open that critical period and consequently swelled the already threatening stream. Statements by Harley LaPlant, Lyman Lumberman, and Fred Slipper of Hamilton made in Mt. Vernon a few days after the high water were a direct refutation of this suspicion. They told the Argus that the contrary was true and requested that the facts be given to the people in all fairness. A statement to the press made this week by the Puget Sound Power & Light Co. tells just how the gates were handled. The statement follows:
“With Skagit suffering from the effects from the most disastrous flood it has experienced in recent years, . . . More than a week before the flood, according to Mr. Hatcher, the lake level was lowered gradually from an elevation of 435 feet to an elevation of 429 feet, thereby providing storage for part of the tremendous volume of water brought down by the rapidly melting snow. He stated that plant records indicated that 1,247,000,000 gallons of flood water were stored on Thursday, January 24th; 1,247,000,000 gallons on Friday January 25th; and on Saturday January 26th, 1,355,000,000 gallons were stored instead of being allowed to sweep over the dam and through the valley.”
All gates on the dam were closed from 5:30 p.m. to 8 o’clock p.m. Saturday in order to lessen the flood at high tide, and during this period and additional surplus, estimated at 620,000,000 gallons was stored and held until the receding tide permitted its discharge. At no time, according to Mr. Hatcher, during the entire flood period did the flow of water released at the dam equal the tremendous volume poured into Lake Shannon from above. This clearly demonstrated, he said, the value of the dam and the lake in minimizing property damage as a result of the flood.” |
Local residents blame Baker Dam for flooding.
How Baker Dam (Lake Shannon) was operated in January 25, 1935 flood event. Lowered lake level 6 feet. Need to break gallons down to cfs. This analogy is bogus. Without dam in place most of that water wouldn’t have been there to begin with.
January 26, 1935 is day after flood crested.
Can we use this demonstration now? |
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2/7/35 |
skagit river floods cause 2 million loss
Early Estimates Fail To Cover All Damages Substained Federal Aid Probable Wallgren, Schwellenbach Promise Shrauger That Aid Will Be Given
The survey of the Skagit river flood damages, which has been carried on during the past few weeks under WERA funds, has found an estimated loss of more then 2 million dollars. This amount was given by farmers and others as actually lost to them over a period of years and is some half a million dollars more than the figures turned in to the Federal government some months ago before the survey was made as the Skagit River loss. |
2 million since when? Article did not state when survey began. |
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river survey shows losses The survey of the Skagit river flood damages, which has been carried on during the past few weeks under W.E.R.A. funds, has found an estimated loss of more than two million dollars. This amount was given by farmers and others as actually lost to them over a period of years and is some half a million dollars more than the figures turned in to the federal government some months ago, before the survey was made, as the Skagit flood loss. . . . While figures given to the men making the river survey have not been given out in detail, many thousands of acres of fine Skagit farm land are reported washed down the river, with many more threatened. |
River Erosion
$2,000,000 worth of farmland lost.
“thousands of acres” washed down the river.
This would beg the question of how has this impacted the previous studies of the hydraulics of the river. |
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Power Dam Held Up Flood Waters
With Skagit County suffering from the effects of the most disastrous flood in recent years, and with flood control one of the principal topics of discussion throughout the state, as well as locally, the following figures furnished by C.K. Katcher, superintendent at the Baker River plant of the Puget Sound Power and Light Company, are of particular interest. More than a week before the flood, according to Katcher, the lake level was lowered gradually from an elevation of 435 feet to an elevation of 429 feet, thereby providing storage for part of the tremendous volume of water brought down by the rapidly meting snow. At no time, according to Mr. Katcher, during the entire flood period, did the flow of water released at the dam equal the tremendous volume poured into Lake Shannon from above. This clearly demonstrated, he said, the value of the dam and the lake in minimizing property damage as the result of the flood. |
January 25, 1935 Flood
PSPL lowered Lake Shannon 6 feet more than a week before the flood. This is same data given to Mt. Vernon Argus. |
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2/8/35 B.J. |
Reader Suggests Hydraulic Dredge Instead of Dikes
The Journal’s discussion of flood control in the Skagit valley, started last week, brought many comments and the first of a series of letters from readers. The letter, written by a Burlington man who for the present desires to remain anonymous, is printed below. In our cussing and discussions on this problem of river control…there is one law that may not be violated with impunity; i.e. water in seeking its own level follows the line of least resistance. Formerly this river shaped its course along the line of the least resistance, occupied that course until by deposition the accumulated particles of mountain that course became untenable, then moved over to a new bed. Hence the fairly level area extending from Blanchard south for miles. Then comes puny man. Now we have no fault to find with the pioneer who diked his land with a dike a foot high, extending from spruce root to spruce root. As a matter of expediency this was an acceptable plan. However, since the bottom of the river at Conway has now become elevated by deposited silt until it is above the extreme high water mark of forty years ago, having added elevation at an average rate of six inches per year. It seems reasonable to suppose that the present bed will soon become untenable, for the water is now finding its line of least resistance through and not between the dikes, and we have long since reached the limits of that method of flood control as an expedient. With the increased erosion to be expected with the removal of timber from the upper areas that dike in another forty years will be approximately fifty feet high. Then when she breaks, as she surely will, LOOK OUT BELOW! For every annual six-inch addition to the lower dikes at least an equal amount must be added to the dikes farther up. Why not put in some good substantial control gates in the river dikes which will permit of an ordered and orderly flow into Varney slough and such other depressions as may serve as setting basins, thus securing for our use this valuable silt deposit, thus raising the level of the land and adding fertility, permitting the excess water to pass out through the saltwater dikes through well constructed automatic flood gates of ample capacity! |
Dredging
A more profound observation has never been observed in Skagit County.
Bottom of river coming up 6 inches per year.
Dikes by 1975 should have been 50 feet high if his theory was correct
Overtopping levees, flood gates and use Varney (Gages) Slough to disperse flood waters. Much more viable than is dredging the river. |
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2/8/35 B.J. |
Why Any River Dikes?
People who really know the Skagit river seem to agree that the whole valley would be much better off if there were no river dikes at all, provided the bed of the stream could be kept deep enough and straight enough. A dredge is needed to do that job. Not impeded by dikes, ordinary winter high water would help, not hurt, the Skagit valley. Dredging the river and perhaps small dikes would protect the crops from spring freshets that would do harm. Leave the river alone and it rises at least half a foot a year at the mouth. Under our present system, dikes must be raised, too, every year. The dikes have never yet held the river at flood stage and when they do break, look out below. The whole argument points to spending dike money on a dredge and getting at the bottom of the thing. What do you think?
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NO DIKES!!
Dredging and small dikes.
Look out below!! |
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city ownership of dikes here is again debated Now arguments for city ownership of all dikes within Mount Vernon, in the event the dike commissioners do not order them repaired sufficiently to prevent a disastrous flood here, were heard at last night’s meeting of the city council. Thomas K. Chambers declared he was certain the dike commissioners would cooperate with the city, but if they don’t, he said he was inclined to support the attitude of Mayor C. W. Vaux, that it might be best for the city to take over the dikes and maintain them. . . . The discussion arose after passage of an emergency ordinance whereby the city will furnish $2,313.39 on a WERA project for work on the dikes now owned by the city. The city owns and maintains the dike between Montgomery and Myrtle streets, two blocks. . . . |
Mt. Vernon Wanted To Own Dikes In City Limits
City apparently owns the dike between Montgomery and Myrtle Streets. |
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plan flood relief (editorial) Apparently the forgotten Skagit farmer, whose valuable land has been washing downstream for years, is to be remembered. The Puget Sound Flood Control Council was instrumental in having legislation passed to permit counties to form districts to raise funds for stooping erosion and floods, and the big federal appropriation for public works, including a huge amount for flood relief work. . . . Congressman Wallgren has taken the lead in flood and erosion control work at Washington, D.C. and through his efforts it is expected that $1,500,000 will be appropriated for the Skagit. This will be the first time that much has been done to stop erosion, which goes on at low water even more than during floods. |
Erosion Control Proposed
It appears that the Congressman fell short of his desired amount of $1,500,000. See 10/31/35 CT article. |
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flood control program takes new life here
Ninety Representatives Attend Meeting at Courthouse—Immediate Action Is Advised—Investigating Engineer Praises Skagit County
B.H. Allen, special investigating engineer from the department of conservation and development . . . told the gathering that he was deeply impressed with what he had seen of Skagit County. “I believe this is the most fertile and beautiful farm country I have ever laid eyes on; it is beyond anything I have imagined; it more than lives up to its reputation,”
Attorney James G. Smith advised immediate action looking toward the formation of a district, which would include all the dike and drainage districts and eliminate the costly method now employed. . . . Attorney R. V. Welts presided and put the question of organization to speakers from every district represented and received favorable replies from every one. Not one dissenting opinion was expressed. |
Consolidation of dike and drainage districts. |
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flood expert here to see river farms – concrete spillway to be built south of town Inspection of all parts of Skagit county endangered by Skagit river floods or erosion is progressing, with Mr. Allen, the federal expert, to spend the next few days in this district as the guest of County Commissioner Hugo Bauman. He has already inspected the other two districts in the county. Bauman will take Allen to the various places along the river, such as Utopia, Hamilton, Lyman, Sterling and wherever the river is cutting into land or threatening to do so. . . . Commissioner Bauman announced that a spillway will be built at once, south of Sedro-Woolley, on the fill between here and the river bridge. . . . The plan is to surface the roadway with concrete and also to put concrete along the sides, and for five feet along the bottom, so flood waters cannot undermine the fill. |
Concrete Spillway South of Sedro-Woolley
Although no proof has been located that this “spillway” was ever constructed it is believed that the location the Commissioner was talking about was located at the end of Township Street near the current Riverside Park, and would have served to allow floodwaters to flow into Beaty slough near the Weyerhaeuser mill. |
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drainage and road surveys to start here – to be first wera job bauman reports; to work on river The big drainage district project north of Sedro-Woolley and the completion of the Arlington road survey, have been approved by the state W.E.R.A. heads and will be the first work done in this district under the new relief work project plans, according to County Commissioner Hugo Bauman, who, with the other two commissioners, spend Tuesday in Olympia, conferring with state relief heads. Approximately $19,000 will be required for the drainage system to be developed to drain a big area north of the city. |
Drainage Projects Proposed
“North of the City” at that time would have been near the bottom of the Dukes Hill area. |
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fund is ok’d for raising skagit dikes – chairman of flood control committee confident congress will pass bill appropriating big sum The house flood control committee today approved a bill authorizing an appropriation of #340,000,000 for flood control activities. . . . Projects included: . . . Skagit river and its tributaries, Washington, raising of flood protection levees on the delta to 11 feet to prevent erosion, cost $2,000,000. . . . |
Congress Okay’s Rasing Levees to 11 Feet in Delta.
See 2/5/35 MVDH article. Cost increased to $2,000,000. |
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flood district hearing to be held in July – sisson arranged for official hearing here; report of engineer shows need of immediate control measures A public hearing on the formation of a flood control district in Skagit county will be held in Mount Vernon either July 1 or 2. Grant Sisson, a member of the state’s flood control commission for Skagit, disclosed today. . . . The proposed district will embrace all of the county east of Swinomish channel. . . . Formation of the county’s first step in compliance with rules laid down to obtain federal aid for flood control. . . . Engineer’s Report Given B. H. Allen, flood control engineer of the state department of conservation and development, recently made a survey in this county and a copy of his report to E. F. Banker, state director of the department, has been sent to Mr. Sisson, Allen had the following to say: “About ten days was taken covering the area west of Sedro-Woolley in county district Nos. 1 and 2. A flat bottom boat was used on the South and North forks of the Skagit river and every dike and drainage district covered. There are now organized 11 drainage districts and 15 dike districts, having a combined area of 39,222 acres. Outside of these organized districts there are privately operated districts kept up by the farmers of an estimated 15,000 acres, making a grand total of 54,222 acres. The population of all this area is 25,000 (estimated). During the past 10 years there was levied upon these organized dike and drainage district the sum of $36,319 per annum, for damages arising from floods. $75,431 in 1934 “The past year, 1934, this assessment amounted to $75,431.65. The average levy for 1934 for dike and drainage districts was about 43 mills. This does not take into consideration the money spent unorganized districts by private owners. . . . What Should Be Done 1. Dredging of lower channels of river. A dredge operating in lower channels would deepen same, thereby releasing pressure upon dikes and supply the necessary material for broadening and strengthening dikes. Sloughs at the western ends of the North and South forks of the Skagit river should be cleaned out to allow free passage of water. This work should be carried out to deep water. 2. Bank Projection. Bank protection should be started as soon as possible to save existing banks and the erosion of acres of valuable bottom land now in danger of being carried away at the next stage of high water. . . . 3. Cooperation of Shannon and Diablo dams at peak of floods: This is shown by the graph compiled by the U.S.G.S. of the high water of 1932 in the flood of February 27, when the peak of 182,000 cubic second feet, a control of 61,500 cubic second feet. . . . Nookachamps creek, running from Big Lake to the Skagit river, offers another possible storage reservoir. . . .” |
Another Flood Control District Proposed
District needed in order to obtain federal aid.
54,222 acres covered by dike and drainage districts containing 25,000 people.
Average sum levied was $36,319 per year.
In 1934 that soared to $75,431.
Report recommended dredging lower channels of river (north and south forks), erosion control bank protection; Shannon and Diablo dams should be used for flood control; and use storage in the Nookachamps. |
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flood control aid sought by commissioners
Two Resolutions Mailed To Olympia This Week—Skagit, Samish Named Receives $2,000,000 District Will Meet In July—County Chamber Discusses Subject
Resolutions were passed this week by County Commissioners which ask the Federal Government for funds with which to finance flood control projects on the Skagit and Samish Rivers. The Commissioners signed the instruments Monday and the Auditor was instructed to forward them to the State Director of Relief at Olympia as soon as possible. . . . The Skagit River project as outlined in the resolution lays the river bank out in sections, giving the engineers estimate of the cost of each. The resolution states that the County agrees to pay 5% of the cost and will furnish all the right-of-way and will assume responsibility for damages and that it will operate and maintain the work after completion. Part of the right-of-way has already been acquired, says the resolution. . . . The Skagit River project calls for 2,000 feet of 1 foot rock rip-rap to cost $20,000; 12,000 feet in Avon Bend to cost $120,000; the Burlington Bend, 3,400 feet, to cost $34,000. Other stretches of bank, totaling more than 4,000 feet are estimated at $405,250. An appropriation of $2,000,000 for the raising of the flood protection levees on the delta of the Skagit river and its tributaries was included in the $340,000,000 House Bill at Wash. D.C., late last week . . . A public hearing for the formation of the flood control district will be held in Mt. Vernon, either July 1st or 2nd, it was announced this week by Grant Sission, a member of the state Flood Contorl Commission for Skagit. After the hearing the district will be permanently set up at an election which will be called in this district to vote on the proposal. “This election is of vital importance to everyone in the County,” Sisson told members of the Chamber of Commerce at a meeting in Concrete Tuesday evening. He denied that an immediate bond issue would be forced upon the people, stating that in any event County Commissioners may not exceed 2 mils for flood control purposes. . . . E.F. Banker of Okanogan and George Moore of Seattle also spoke on the subject. Moore spoke on the proposed Ruby dam, which, he stated, “would permanently solve the Skagit flood problem.” Moore presented figures and data concerning the Skagit that members of the Chamber had never heard before. Banker told that it would cost the County, state or federal gov’t 14,500,000 dollars to control the Skagit. |
E.F. Banker was state director of Conservation and Development, the forerunner of the State Department of Ecology. Must assume Moore was from Seattle City Light. Would like to find what figures he presented. Does Chamber of Commerce keep any archives? |
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$850,000 required for skagit work projects
Flood Control Proposals Will Use $578,000—Highway, Bridge Construction Will Require Remainder—Will Employ Many
Expenditures of more than $850,000 in Skagit County were requested this week by the board of county commissioners when approximately 35 federal emergency relief project applications were announced. . . .$578,000 requested for 25 different river projects. Ripraping with rock and brush constituted the improvements for the entire expenditure of $578,000. The largest project is that of a 12,000 foot west bank on the river at the Avon Bend.
A complete flood survey reveals that the following expenditures could be made: Mt. Vernon waterfront, 2000 feet, $20,000; river banks at Riverside bridge, 2,000 feet, $20,000; 3,400 feet southeast of Clear Lake, $34,000; 1,500 feet south side of Burlington Bend, $15,000; 2,600 feet opposite side of Burlington Bend, $26,000; 4,000 feet east of Burlington, $36,000; 3,000 feet northeast of Clear Lake, $30,000; and three projects at Lyman totaling 92,000. Four projects for Hamilton total $88,650,; . . . |
Rip-rapping and brush mat placement. |
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this district to get aid in flood control -- $300,000 to be spent on river east of here, plan Using figures prepared by the recent survey of the Skagit flood area by state experts, the county commissioners have filed a detailed description of the proposed work with the United States engineer in Seattle. . . . According to the report, some $160,000 would be spent on riprap work along the river at Mt. Vernon and the Riverside bend; on the Burlington bend, where the flood broke through east of that city, $75,000 is to be spent in riprap work to strengthen the banks. In the vicinity of Sterling, some 4,000 feet of riprap at an estimated cost of $36,000 is provided for. |
Flood Control Projects Planned $160,000 riprap Mt. Vernon $36,000 riprap at Sterling $130,000 riprap Skiyou[9] $66,000 riprap Utopia $63,000 work at Lyman $25,000 work at Hamilton $75,000 work at Burlington Bend |
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u.s. engineers recommend new river cut off
Proposal Calls For Canal From Avon Westward To Padilla Bay Request Reservoir Dam in Upper Skagit Country Advised By Federal Government for Flood Control
A $4,740,000 canal leading from Avon westward into Padilla Bay, augmented by power reservoirs in the upper Skagit country, has been named as the most feasible method of flood control for the Skagit river and its Tributaries. The recommendation was made by Thomas M. Robins, colonel of the United States Army Corps of Engineers in a news release . . . The construction of the channel westward from Avon was recommended as essential and it would be started at once.
“This report finds that the best plan for flood control on the Skagit river is to construct a by-pass, leading from the river near Avon into Padilla Bay, and to provide storage in connection with proposed power developments on the Skagit river system at the Ruby, Cascade, lower Sauk, and Baker lake dam sites. Provision of storage cannot be undertaken at this time because the proposed power developments ar not now warranted, but the by-pass should be built as soon as practicable because this work alone will afford much needed protection.
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AVON BY-PASS
With the exception of the Herzog report this is the beginning of the Avon By-Pass saga.
Even with By-Pass storage still needed behind dams. |
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$13,500,000 project for skagit river
Calling for expenditure of $13,500,000, a construction program for City Light’s Skagit project including the Ruby reservoir and dam to be financed through a government loan and sale of utility bonds was disclosed here today following a meeting yesterday in Seattle.
Clearing Ruby basin to elevation 1,600 feet, $1,250,000; constructing the Ruby dam to elevation 1,500 feet, $7,750,000; transmission line from the Gorge plant at the Skagit to the south substation in Seattle, $2,500,000; . . . houses, etc. at Gorge and Diablo, $97,940. |
Ross dam constructed with federal loan. |
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flood control district o.k’d by plan council Organization of a flood control district in Skagit county, embracing all the territory east of Swinomish channel, has the backing of the Skagit county planning council. The group, meeting in the office of Welts & Welts here last night, approved unanimously a motion to recommend the formation of a legally organized district. Senator W. J. Knutzen moved for approval and was seconded by Harold McFarlane. |
Countywide Flood Control District
See 1/20/35 MVDH article. |
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flood district is approved at public meeting here today
Election Date Will Be Set As Soon As Necessary Field Work Is Completed, E.F. Banker Tells Group—All Of Skagit Except Islands Included
E.F. Banker, state director of conservation and development, told a gathering of about 150, mostly farmers, that as soon as the date of the election has been fixed all the data relating to Skagit river flood control will be turned over to the county commissioners, who will have complete charge of all future steps. His department will after that have no more authority in the matter. The district will comprise all Skagit County except the islands. All the land within this area, both bottom and high land, would be levied upon to finance such a flood control project, as may be adopted. A.G. Moser of Sedro-Woolley was the only objector. He thought the drainage area in the district should include only the Skagit and Samish rivers that the Nooksack and Stillaguamish, which are separate projects and outside, ought to be eliminated.
Senator W. J. Knutzen . . . suggested Skagit County Flood Control district as the official title, and so it was written in the minutes. . . . E.R. Pierce, representing Blodell-Donovan timber interest, asked permission to enter a protest against the inclusion of certain timber lands in the district. . . . Mr. Banker interposed with the opinion that to exclude any special areas within the district would cause confusion and would complicate the running of the boundary lines. He said the tax would fall lightly on timber and that there was nothing to fear by timber owners. |
FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT
Why would District include Snohomish and Whatcom county? Nooksack and Stillaguamish don’t flow into Skagit. |
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go into court TACOMA, Oct. 23. –(AP)– Canvassing of the returns and certifying of the results of Tuesday’s special election to determine whether or not a flood control district shall be established in the Puyallup valley, apparently overwhelmingly approved by voters of the district, was restrained by Superior Judge Ernest M. Card today on petition of the Weyerhaeuser Timber company, St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber company, Milwaukee Land company and the Northwestern Improvement company. . . . In the meantime the ballots will be impounded by the auditor as they are received from the election boards and held pending the outcome of the injunction proceedings. |
Puyallup Valley Flood Control District Challenged in Court
Weyerhaeuser filed suit to prevent formation of flood control district as they would eventually also do in Skagit County. |
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ruling given Flood control districts, the attorney general’s office has decided, may not properly spend money to drain lands, except to make outlets for flood waters. The opinion, written by Assistant Attorney General George C. Hannan, was given to Director E. F. Banker of the department of conservation and development yesterday. The department had asked whether the law was broad enough to include drainage. |
Attorney General Rules F/C Districts Cannot Spend Money on Drainage Projects |
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flood control district will rest on voters
Special Election Will Be Called December 3 to Determine Issue Notices Are Posted Entire Mainland of County Is Included In Proposed District
Proposals for the organization of a flood control area in Skagit County to be known as the “Skagit County Flood Control District” will be placed before registered voters of the affected localities at a special election which will be held on Tuesday, December 3. . . . The order for the election was made by E. F. Banker, director of Conservation and Development for the state of Washington . . . |
District received a lot of hype in local press. |
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u.s. engineer lists projects for work here – major portion of $358,100 fund to be expended on skagit from burlington; samish river gets $104,500 An offensive on the Skagit and Samish rivers, with scores of men taking up various implements as cudgels in the fight against future floods in the county, is soon to be underway. . . . Federal funds amounting to $358,000, obtained through the works progress administration, will be expended in building up and strengthening the existing banks of the two streams in the hope that this method will contribute immeasurably in controlling the waters of the Skagit and Samish rivers, which in the past have caused thousands of dollars of damage in their wild rampages through rich farm lands of Skagit county. Projects are outlined . . . 1. Clearing and snagging and brush revetment of the Skagit river in Township 35, in the amount of $216,600. 2. Work on the upper Skagit from Hamilton to Marblemount, with some work on the branches in the delta area below Skagit City, with the exception of the North Fork in the amount of $104,500 3. Work on the Samish river from its mouth to Friday creek, and also a limited amount on Friday creek, in the amount of $104,500. . . . He also revealed that the projects as outlined, are the original ones planned by the corps of U.S. engineers, who have previously made an exhaustive survey of the flood situation here. . . . At the county engineer’s office here, it was said corrective measures will undoubtedly be taken at Hamilton, Lyman, Utopia, Sterling and immediately northeast of Burlington, where the river condition was described as “serious.” . . . Clearing and snagging of the river, as mentioned by Col. Wild, was declared here of much importance. What method will be employed in this work was not revealed. . . . The Skagit county planning council had previously asked $2,000,000 for dredging in North Fork and South Fork and main channel of the Skagit river, and had requested $1,000,000 for sloping and riprapping banks to prevent soil erosion. The council had also petitioned for $275,000 for dredging and building adequate dikes on the Samish river. Flood control has been designated as the main objective of the planning council. |
WPA Federal Projects Funded For Erosion Control Work on Skagit and Samish
Hamilton, Lyman, Utopia, Sterling, Burlington. Friday Creek, all to receive erosion control projects.
Dredging of North Fork and South Fork not included in funding. |
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Big sum for skagit flood work, voted – to spend $358,000 for river control; to start soon According to word received from Congressman Mon Wallgren … some $1,700,000 for flood control work in his district has been approved by federal works program officials and will be available in a short time. Of this sum, $358,000 has been allocated for work in Skagit county. . . . A. G. Mosier, local engineer, was sent yesterday by the Sedro-Woolley Chamber of Commerce to confer with Col. H.J. Wild, United States district engineer in Seattle. . . Mosier was informed that the money would be spent at all points along the river, as recommended by the recent Skagit river survey, made for the state planning commission by government engineers. . . This report includes the Lyman and Burlington bends and other dangerous points on the upper river, and according to Mosier, these places will evidently be included in the work, rather than having all the sum expended on the lower river. |
Money for Flood Control
Work proposed for Lyman and Burlington Bend area. |
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flood control election dec. 3 vital to county
The future of flood control in Skagit county will be decided at a special election Tuesday, Dec. 3, when voters of the county will indicate their wishes on the proposal of forming a giant, county-wide flood control district as provided by the 1935 legislature. Voters will mark their ballots “For” the proposition or “Against” the proposition, indicating whether or not they wish the special district formed. Territory included in the proposed flood control district, and in which people will vote at this election, is all of Skagit county mainland, Fidalgo Island excepted. The district, if approved by the voters, will not take over the present diking or drainage districts and will not support them, Kloke said. The law does state that if the big district should want the use if present ditches or dikes, paying maintenance costs, etc. The board of county commissioners will become directors of the new district, with the auditor as ex-office clerk. The only money-spending power they would have, would be a maximum levy of two mills on assessed valuation of property within the district. A maximum levy of five mills could be made, but only by majority vote by the people at a special election. No levy would be made, of course, until some flood control plan had been worked out with army engineers, etc., Kloke said. |
Future of flood control at stake.
All of Skagit County in District.
District would not take over dike or drainage districts but also would not support them. Unfortunate the newspaper did not finish the sentence |
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11/15/35 |
flood control election dec. 3 vital to county
The future of flood control in Skagit county will be decided at a special election Tuesday, Dec. 3, when voters of the county will indicate their wishes on the proposal of forming a giant, county-wide flood control district as provided by the 1935 legislature. Voters will mark their ballots “For” the proposition or “Against” the proposition, indicating whether or not they wish the special district formed. Territory included in the proposed flood control district, and in which people will vote at this election, is all of Skagit county mainland, Fidalgo Island excepted. The district, if approved by the voters, will not take over the present diking or drainage districts and will not support them, Kloke said. The law does state that if the big district should want the use if present ditches or dikes, paying maintenance costs, etc. The board of county commissioners will become directors of the new district, with the auditor as ex-office clerk. The only money-spending power they would have, would be a maximum levy of two mills on assessed valuation of property within the district. A maximum levy of five mills could be made, but only by majority vote by the people at a special election. No levy would be made, of course, until some flood control plan had been worked out with army engineers, etc., Kloke said. |
Future of flood control at stake.
All of Skagit County in District.
District would not take over dike or drainage districts but also would not support them. Unfortunate the newspaper did not finish the sentence |
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flood control district is debated here – planning council and newspaper men confer on proposal; council to issue statement A speedy publicity campaign to inform the public about the proposed Skagit county flood control district, on which the people of the county will vote next December 3, was agreed upon by the county planning council at a meeting in the office of Attorney R. V. Welts here last night. . . . Carol Brider, farmer member of the council, who resides near Sedro-Woolley, reported that the people are complaining that they don’t know enough about the proposed flood control district, and that those who live on upper land won’t vote for the plan. Mr. Welts president of the planning group, explained that individual groups have been fighting floods in the county for the last fifty years and that a plan is now available where all people in the county living east of Swinomish channel can cooperate in bringing about permanent flood control. He argued that floods affect everyone, whether they live on the flats or on the upper land, since a flood on the flats, causing thousands of dollars in damage, cannot help but injure those living on hill land. |
Countywide Flood Control District
Voters to have say on December 3rd on formation of proposed district.
2 weeks before election, voters not educated on what district could do.
“Floods affect everyone.” Even people who live on the hills. |
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need for flood control – federal and state aid at stake in election planning council says A statement pointing out the need for organizing a flood control district in Skagit county, upon which the eligible voters residing east of Swinomish channel will make a decision December 3, was issued today by the Skagit county planning council. [Council’s statement follows] The Planning Council believes the formation of our flood control district is the most important thing this county has attempted to do. The Skagit and Samish rivers have always presented a serious problem. Through the years, instead of growing better, the dangers have constantly increased. Something must be done or the entire valley faces disaster. In the past we have tried to work single-handed. This has failed. Can’t Succeed Alone The land in this valley has been reclaimed from overflow by rivers and salt water at tremendous cost. Fifty years ago the individual tried to dike and drain his land. In a few years he learned that he could not succeed alone. His neighbors joined with him and formed dike and drainage districts designed to protect and reclaim small isolated units. . . . We have recently realized, through the flood of two years ago, when over 20,000 acres were under salt water and through the fact that each winter we now have floods from the Skagit and Samish rivers, that we must have help. Cities Are Menaced As we have been building our dikes, the timber has been logged from our hills. They are now bare. The no longer hold back the rainfall and melting snow. This water comes into the rivers more rapidly than before. At Hamilton, Lyman, Sterling and a hundred other places on both the Skagit and Samish rivers are each year washing away acres upon acres of land. This silt has filled up the mouths of the rivers and the river beds. The dikes cannot hold back the flood waters. Each year the condition is growing worse. . . . At Sterling the Skagit has so changed its course and is so rapidly cutting away the river bank that it will soon force a new channel north of Burlington through the farming country to salt water. . . . Realizing that something must be done, the last legislature passed a series of laws known as the flood control legislation, which permits formation of large flood control districts practically county-wide. . . . The federal government has recognized the fact that the problem of controlling rivers is too large even for the community or the state to handle and is entering this field and lending federal help. . . . The federal government does not recognize and will not recognize an application of an individual for flood control aid. The existing dike and drainage units are so small and so scattered that neither the state nor the federal government will recognize them as agencies through which to work in attacking a problem involving a whole valley or a whole river. . . . The proposed district upon which you will vote December 3, embraces all of Skagit county except Fidalgo island. To avoid the cost of setting up new machinery and a completely new set of officers, the law makes the three men elected as county commissioners, by vote of that election, the directors of the district. The law specifically limits the power of the district, when formed, to tax any land. This act leads: “Any flood control district may raise revenue by the levy of an annual tax on all taxable property within such district, . . . Such levy not to exceed 2 mills on the dollar in any one year.” . . . How long would it take you to lose $2 if Burlington, Sedro-Woolley, Hamilton, Lyman, Mount-Vernon were flooded by the Skagit river? . . . In 1909, the flood in this valley did approximately $1,000,000 of damage. In 1917, the damage was at least $300,000. . . . In 1917, the county, because of flood, spent over $100,000 in repairing bridges and highways. . . . There has never been a flood in this valley that has not cost the county itself, for the road and bridge and highway repair, at least $25,000. . . . No tax levy beyond 2 mills can be made by the directors under law, without submitting the matter to a vote of the district so formed. . . . Levy Is Explained The fact that the directors have power to levy 2 mills does not mean that they must levy that much. That is the most they can levy in any one year. . . . |
Proposed Flood Control District To Include All Of Skagit County Except Fidalgo Island
Dangers from floods have increased over time. Entire valley faces disaster.
1932 and 1933 floods showed locals they needed help from State and Federal governments.
Blamed increased flooding threat on logging of the hills, “They are now bare.” Logging caused melting snow and rainfall to enter the river “more rapidly than before”.
Were afraid of Skagit cutting “new” channel north of Burlington to saltwater. This is where Skagit used to flow several thousand years ago. (Source: Prehistoric Settlement Changes In the Southern Northwest Coast, A functional Approach, Gail Thompson, 1978)
District would have had County Commissioners as officers. Could only levy “2 mills” maximum in any given year ($2 per 1,000 of evaluation).
(See 11/27/24 Argus article re damage figures.) |
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flood control plans presented to voters by planning council
Attorney R. V. Welts Outlines Proposition In Detail For Skagit Residents’ Study Before Special Election Which Will Be Held Tuesday, Dec. 3
The Planning Council believes the formation of our Flood Control District is the most important thing this county has attempted to do. The Skagit and Samish Rivers have always presented a serious problem. Through the years, instead of growing better, the dangers have constantly increased. The land in this valley has been reclaimed from overflow by rivers and salt water at a tremendous cost. Fifty years ago the individual tried to dike and drain his land. In a few years he learned that he could not succeed alone. His neighbors joined with him and formed dike and drainage districts designed to protect and reclaim small isolated units. Neighboring farmers formed similar districts; each trying to protect its property, regardless of what happened to the adjoining district. We now have 27 independent diking and drainage units. Through the years they have spent over $1,000,000 of the taxpayer’s money for protection. . . . We have recently realized, through the flood of two years ago, when over 20,000 acres was under salt water, and through the fact that each winter we now have floods from the Skagit and Samish rivers, that we must have help. As we have been building our dikes, the timber has been logged from our hills. They are now bare. They no longer hold back the rainfall and melting snow. This water comes into the rivers more rapidly than before. |
(NOTE: Article was continued on Page 3 and was not copied. Must obtain.) |
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11/22/35 |
Taxpayers to Discuss Flood Control Vote
Tax payers of Skagit County will convene in a special meeting of the Skagit County Taxpayers association next Tuesday night, Nov. 26, in the Burlington city hall, D. W. Barclay, president announced yesterday. The coming flood control election Dec. 3, and reports from the state taxpayers’ association meeting this Friday and Saturday at the Washington hotel in Seattle, will be discussed. The regular meeting night of the association is next Thursday, and the date is advanced to Tuesday because of Thanksgiving. |
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several more projects for skagit o.k’d New Skagit county WPA projects amounting to $50,486 have been approved, it was announced in Seattle today... . . . Among the projects approved, three were listed for Mount Vernon. They are $16,257 to reconstruct the Skagit river dike here, $9,729 to improve the dike here, and $384 to construct storm sewer and improve Division street. In the list was also $7,774 to improve drainage ditches at Burlington, and $12,000 to construct a school building at Burlington. Superintendent Oliver Hazen said Burlington has no school and building tennis courts, etc. |
More WPA Projects Approved
Dike reconstruction, storm sewers and drainage ditches. |
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taxpayers to study flood control plan Following a lengthy discussion in Burlington city hall last night, members of the Skagit County taxpayers association agreed that a committee should make an investigation of the proposed flood control district in Skagit county and issue a statement on the subject prior to December 3 when residents residing east of Swinomish channel will vote on the proposal. |
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voters to consider flood control Federal Funds Available For Flood Expenditures
The dikes cannot hold back the flood waters. Each year this condition is growing worse. The problem is not that of the farme5r who owns land, but the problem of every business and every man who has investment in Skagit County because the life and continued existence of the entire community is dependent upon its solution. |
This article reprinted portions of the 11/21/35 article. |
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flood control election dec. 3 vital to county; skagit voters have first chance to begin permanent river control plan; will save millions
Most far-reaching, most important of all action ever taken toward permanent flood control in the Skagit and Samish valleys is next Tuesday’s special election at which Skagit county will decide whether or not it wishes to join hands in one organization that will be able to obtain sensible, permanent control of flood waters in the future. Voters will vote for or against the formation of a “Flood Control District” comprising all of Skagit County except the islands, as specified in flood control laws passed by the last legislature. This district would be able to “talk business” for state and federal aid, where small districts and communities are not recognized.
Advocates of the measure point to the following reasons:
1. This is the first opportunity Skagit County has had to start a comprehensive flood control plan that will eliminate the hit and miss expensive methods now being employed by individuals and small groups. 2. Other counties of the state have already adopted such measures overwhelmingly and Skagit County with the worst flood problem of all should do something likewise. 3. While a new organization is set up, no new officials or overhead is allowed under this plan. The county commissioners will become directors of the flood control district, at no extra pay. 4. Only money-spending powers of the flood district will be in the district, which could amount to only $30,000 in the whole district if a plan is found which such money could be used. 5. Local dike districts have had to dig up far more than $30,000 to pay for damages from one flood, and then had nothing but repaired dikes for their money. 6. Lower district assessments will result as soon as the rivers are put under permanent control as local districts would have no more expenses. 7. If nothing is done to control the Skagit, that stream will change its course and destroy millions of dollars in property in cities and farms.
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FLOOD CONTROL ELECTION
Most far-reaching action ever taken.
Formation of Flood Control District.
First opportunity for Comprehensive Flood Control Plan. In 2004 we now have a draft of a Comprehensive F/C Plan.
County Commissioners to control District.
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voters will decide issue on Tuesday – safety and prosperity of county depends on solution of flood problem, council says in statement Declaring that the safety, the prosperity and the future development of the entire valley depends upon the solution of the flood control problem, the Skagit County Planning Council today issued a final appeal for approval of the proposed flood district in a special election to be held Tuesday of this week. “We must recognize it (flood control) as a county-wide problem and organize ourselves into a legal unit large enough to be effective and large enough to be recognized by the state and federal government,” the council’s statement said. . . . Indications point to a big vote due to intense interest taken during the last few days in the proposal to form a district. A committee of the Skagit Taxpayers association openly opposed the plan on their belief it would give the commissioners to much taxing power. . . . “Every possible safeguard was written into the statute to limit the taxing power of the commissioners of such a district. The statute forbids the directors to levy a tax beyond 2 mills on the dollar in any year. That means the board has no power to assess in any one year more the $2.00 on farm or other property having a valuation of $1,000. It is true that the timber interests have been outspoken in their opposition to the formation of a district. They feel that if the district is formed they will be called upon to help pay the bill which the farmers are paying today. The planning council adopting this matter of flood control as its major objective. It did so because it felt that the solution of the flood problem was the most important thing confronting this valley. It felt that we have tried for 50 years to let the farmer solve this problem alone. He has failed. He will continue to fail, because it is too big. The safety, the prosperity and the future development of the entire valley depends upon its solution. . . . The opponents of flood control offer nothing constructive, but merely wish to leave the situation as it is. Something must be done. Do you realize that the taxpayers, instead of paying 2 mills a year on the dollar, in various localities are paying as high as 280 mills on the dollar for flood protection? Following is a list of the levies in the 20 dike districts of the county for 1935: Dike District Levies Mills No. 1 15.00 No. 2 60.00 No. 3 24.90 No. 3 9.80 No. 5 30.10 No. 8 103.00 No. 12 19.83 |
Countywide Flood Control District
Endorsed by Skagit Planning Council.
Expected a “big vote”.
Timber interest outspoken in opposition to formation of District.
Farmers tried for 50 years to solve problem but failed because problem too big.
Some dike districts paying 280 mills per year.
A mill is one dollar per 1,000 dollars of assessed valuation.
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few votes are being cast on flood control Lack of interest in today’s election to determine whether most of Skagit county shall organize itself into a flood control district was indicated this afternoon. A check of the Mount Vernon precincts showed that only 73 had turned out to make their choice up until after 1 o’clock this afternoon. |
Few Voters To The Polls For Flood Control
Lack of interest in flood control district. |
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flood control district carries – timber companies attack district in court – district wins by margin of 1,134 votes – residents of district vote 1,901 to 767 in favor of united flood control program By a vote of nearly three to one, Skagit county residents residing east of Swinomish channel yesterday decided to carry out an organized effort to control flood waters in this section, which in recent years have caused damages running into the thousands of dollars. . . . Only 2,688 voters out of the 12,754 citizens registered in the district, marked ballots in yesterday’s election. Points west of Swinomish channel, including Anacortes, the county’s largest city, are not included in the district, and as a result did not vote. . . . Of the three cities, Burlington made the best showing, 300 residents of that city voting favorably, and only 42 against. In Mount Vernon, 290 voted for the district and 91 against, while at Sedro-Woolley, 170 favored the issue and 84 opposed it. . . . La Conner, Hamilton, and Concrete backed the district by substantial margins. |
Countywide Flood Control District Passes by 3 to 1 Margin, However:
Only 2,688 voters out of 12, 754 took the time to vote. 1,901 in favor, 767 against.
All cities voted in favor of District except Anacortes which was not included in District boundaries.
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flood control district carries – timber companies attack district in court – two companies say election is null and void – sound timber and weyerhaeuser claim banker was without authority; district not economically sound, claimed Alleging that yesterday’s flood control district election was null and void, the Sound Timber company started an action in superior court here today in an attempt to prevent final organization of the district. . . . The action in court here was directed at E. F. Banker, head of the state department of conservation and development, and head of the state flood control boundary commission, and Auditor C. P. Kloke, Commissioner Hugo Bauman, and Prosecutor Richard Welts, members of the county election board. . . . The lengthy complaint filed in court here sets forth that Banker did not find that the proposed plan was economically feasible, nor adopt a comprehensive plan. It goes on to claim that “Banker acted in excess of his authority and jurisdiction in recommending that the said district be created for the stated purpose of creating an agency that may enter into contracts with the state and federal governments for funds, if available, to carry out a complete plan of development of control works for flood water protection.” Continuing their complaint, the two timber companies assert that the state flood control boundary commission found that $508,000 could be raised by assessment, whereas the cost of the proposed work would be $2,426,852. The theory was used that the state would contribute 25 per cent of the cost of the improvement and the federal government 50 per cent, the companies maintain. |
Timber Companies Immediately Sue To Stop Formation Of District
Allegations against state agency was that they failed to adopt a comprehensive plan, failed to ensure that the district was economically feasible, and that agency acted in excess of his authority.
Timber companies showed that only $508,000 could be raised by District where the cost of the proposed work was $2,426,852. Even with the state contributing 25% and the federal government 50%, the assessment would not be enough.
So no one made the suggestion to cut back the size of the project? |
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court action halts flood control work Timber Companies Restrain Election Board From Certifying Returns to State Voters Want District Flood Control Plans Carry, 1891 to 767 at Tuesdays Election
Final organization of the flood control district was abruptly stopped Wednesday morning shortly after announcements had been made of the district victory when the Sound Timber company and the Weyerhaeuser Timber company took legal action in the superior court here. . . . The complaint holds the election null and void on the alleged grounds that E. F. Banker, director of state conservation and development, had acted in excess of his authority in recommending that a district be created. The two companies further claim that the district is not economically feasible since the federal PWA refused to make any contribution for flood control work and that no such funds will be available.
The cost of the improvement is estimated at $2,426,852, of which $508,000 may be raised by assessment, complainants say. The remainder would have to come from state and federal sources. The complaint also asserts that the district gives the commissioners power to subject the property of the two companies to double taxation in contravention to the fourteenth amendment to the U.S. constitution |
No article at least through 1937 was identified which reported the outcome of this legal dispute, however, since the District was never formed and it was never mentioned again in any article, it must be assumed that the timber companies prevailed. |
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Flood control district wins county’s vote – entire election is now being contested by timberman Local citizens showed their approval of flood control work in this district by a vote of 170 for the proposal and 84 against, when they visited the polls Tuesday. The vote was light throughout the county, unofficial results showing 2,669 ballots cast out of a possible 12,754. Because of court action being taken by the Sound Timber company and the Weyerhaeuser Timber company alleging that the election was null and void, the election board is temporarily prevented from canvassing the vote and certifying the returns to state officials. . . . Both companies own large tracts of timber in Skagit county which they claim are “far above a possible overflow,” yet were “arbitrarily, capriciously and fraudulently included” in the district. |
Flood Control District Vote
There were 12,754 registered voters in Skagit County in 1935. Only 2,669 of them voted in this election.
Weyerhaeuser and Sound Timber fled suit to invalidate the election and were ultimately successful in defeating the formation of the district. |
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Flood Control Wins, Then Blocked by Injunction Timber Companies Allege Plan Would Tax Unfairly
By a vote of nearly three to one, Skagit County voters said “yes” to the proposition of forming a giant flood control district for permanent work on rivers and salt water problems in Skagit county. County totals were 1,901 approving and 767 against the district, giving a margin of 1,134 votes. Even while ballots were being counted, however, flood control organization struck a legal snag. Early Wednesday morning two timber companies obtained a temporary restraining order against county and state officials completing the organization. Judge Geo. A. Joiner granted the injunction until Dec. 28, when County Auditor C. P. Kloke, Prosecutor Richard Welts, Commissioner Hugo Bauman and E. F. Banker, state director of conservation and development, must appear to show cause why the injunction should not be made permanent. The timber companies maintain that the proposed flood control district is discriminatory against them, because of their large holdings on the hills in the upper valley, where flood control “could not possibly benefit them, directly or indirectly.” The complaint said the district would result in unfair taxation. |
VOTERS SAY YES TO FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT
Only 2,500 people voted but approval rating was 3 to 1.
TIMBER COMPANIES FILE TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER. COURT INJUNCTION GRANTED UNTIL DECEMBER 28TH. Judge Joiner was a Skagit County Superior Court Judge. Need to get January 3,1936 article to find out what happened.
Flood Control would not benefit timber companies. |
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Up to Commissioners Now
Voters of Skagit County acted wisely in their behalf in Tuesday’s flood control election. Now, if the law and election are upheld in court, the machinery has been set up whereby Skagit County can take advantage of any opportunity for permanent constructive flood control. The county commissioners will do well by themselves and the public by not abusing the confidence placed in them as directors of the flood control district. The law says taxes up to two mills MAY (not must) be levied. The commissioners should not grasp this merely as another way to raise money, but instead make no flood control levy until there is a prospect of a definite flood plan where Skagit’s money will do the most good. As an election sidelight, Burlington voters showed they know which side of their bread is buttered. The Skagit River is Burlington’s most serious problem of the future. One guess is as good as another as to what would happen if the river is not controlled. |
Flood Control District voted on and approved by voters. |
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work starts on $216,000 flood control system
Dangerous Skagit Bend At Sterling Receives First Strengthening Ten Projects Planned Entire Work Will Be Done Between Burlington and Hamilton
. . . Engineer Iver Nelson is now at work on a WPA project for which $216,000 has been appropriated for revetment work on dangerous portions of the river bank lying from Burlington to a point east of Hamilton. . . . Actual work has started at the C. Brider place at the Sterling bend near Burlington. The banks are being sloped for placing the brush mats and revetment. . . . Some ten projects have been mapped out along the river between Burlington and Lyman, as the most dangerous places. . . . . . Both Burlington and Sedro-Woolley have been threatened by possibility of the river breaking through into slough channels, and either running through the towns or causing huge damages. |
Brush mats and willow planting.
Gages and Barney Sloughs. (NOTE: Article was continued on page 8 and was not copied.) |
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work starts at dangerous river points – wallgrens’s $216,000 skagit river job under way As part of Congressman Mon Wallgren’s proposed $2,000,000 flood control project on the Skagit river, Engineer Iver Nelson is now at work on a WPA project for which $216,000 has been appropriated for revetment work on dangerous portions of the river bank lying from Burlington to a point east of Hamilton. . . . Actual work has started at the C. Brider place at the Sterling Bend near Burlington. The banks are being sloped for placing the brush mats and revetment.. A trestle is being built across the slough to reach the big growth of willows in the old Sterling bend channel. Tool houses and other portable buildings are being constructed. . . . Some ten projects have been mapped out along the river between Burlington and Lyman . . . Both Burlington and Sedro-Woolley have been threatened by possibility of the river breaking through into slough channels, and either running through the towns or causing huge damage. . . . One of the worst points on the river is the Burlington Bend . . . Another project calls for a long stretch of protective work above the Sedro-Woolley bend. Then at the danger point at Burns Bar, above Sedro-Woolley. Another bad place is the Reese farm, where the river has cut far into a new channel . . . Then at Ross Island, near Utopia . . . The river at this point is now more than a mile from its original channel and cutting more every year. Another bad place is near the Christ Wolfe farm, where more revetment work will be done. |
Sterling Bend Revetment Work
The C. Brider place is now owned by the Leonard Halverson family.
There used to be a bridge over Harts Slough.
Sloughs the article is referencing would be Gages (Burlington) and Beatey (Sedro-Woolley). |
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River Control; Wallgren Secures Appropriations; Work Being Done At Sterling Bend As part of Congressman Mon Wallgren’s proposed $2,000,000 flood control project on the Skagit river, Engineer Iver Nelson is now at work on a WPA project for which $216,000 has been appropriated for revetment work on dangerous portions of the river bank lying from Burlington to a point east of Hamilton. Nelson hopes to have 120 men working before long and now has approximately 50 men on the job. This is just the start of the flood control and erosion relief program which Congressman Wallgren plans for the Skagit River, to extend from far up the river to its mouth. Actual work has started at the C. Brider place at the Sterling bend near Burlington. The banks are being sloped for placing the brush mats and revetment. A trestle is being built across the slough to reach the big growth of willows in the old Sterling bend channel. Tool houses and other portable buildings are being constructed. Concrete blocks will also be made, to be placed on top of the brush mats, all of which will be fastened by cables, with mats and fascines extending well underwater to prevent erosion. Engineer Nelson estimates that the work as outlined will take about a year with a full crew of 122 men. |
WPA Work
There is a great picture in the Corps files which shows log rafts floating down the river which destroyed all this work being done. |
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Wallgren Happy over Flood Bill
A bill that provided $5,386,000 for second congressional district flood control projects when it passed the House, came back from the Senate with the allotment reduced the $3,411,000 for two projects instead of five million for five projects, according to Congressman Mon Wallgren in a communication to The Journal this week. “Despite the reduction, the measure represents a real advance for our district as it is the first direct recognition by law of a flood control project in the district,” the Congressman wrote. “I had hoped for definite projects on four rivers but, for this session at least, will have to be content with the two on the Skagit and Stillaguamish rivers.”
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No indication as to what projects the money was to be spent on. |
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flood control tax plan is hit by decision Superior Judge H. G. Sutton of Kitsap county established a precedent for the state’s lower courts here yesterday when he ruled lands to be taxed under flood control districts must receive benefit before they can be legally assessed. Judge Sutton commented that “neither the legislature nor any municipal corporation created by it has the power to tax property for the purpose of specially benefiting and improving other private property without some degree of benefit accruing to the property taxed. . . . The decision is in the case of the Simpson Logging company vs. E. F. Banker, director of the department of conservation and development. It overrules the defendant’s demurrer to the complaint and continues a temporary injunction granted by Superior Judge D. F. Wright of Mason county against inclusion of certain of the company lands either heavily wooded or lying on steep hillsides arbitrarily included in the boundaries of the taxing district. The decision is directly opposite to a similar court decision in Pierce county, he said, and his department will ask the supreme court to decide the issue. . . . No official canvass of the Skagit vote on flood control has yet been made, and none is scheduled until after the supreme court rulings are handed down. Skagit voters approved a county flood control district by a vote of 1,891 to 767. |
Timber Companies Win Court Ruling
Flood Control Districts must provide benefit to those being taxed. This was the beginning of the end for the Countywide Skagit Flood Control District. |
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river boat history recalled; many old timers are coming The old Mississippi river will have nothing on the Skagit river Saturday afternoon, when river boats will converge on this city and bring an array of old and new river captains, mates and engineers, the like of which Mount Vernon has never witnessed. . . . It is believed that Captain Victor Pinkerton, who resides here, and is captain of the Skagit Chief, is the oldest living river captain still operating on the river. He first arrived on the old stern wheeler Mame 44 years ago as a deckhand, and all he could see of Mount Vernon was a few buildings along the river bank, almost hidden by tall cedar trees. However, the captain states that boats ran up the river with passengers over 50 years ago; the first paddle wheelers being the Zephyr and the Josephine, commanded by Capt. Dan Benson. . . . Other boats operating on the river will be remembered as the T. C. Reed, . . . And the Lilly, Glide, Monroe. . . . Thousands of passengers used these boats as the only means of transportation to and from this city, and many are the stories told of the trips taken during floods and storms, as well as when a boat load of passengers was held up for hours, stuck on the tide flats. . . . Old river men are beginning to lift the veil of years, as they prepare for Saturday’s festivities on the river, when they honor on of their old timers, 70-year-old Capt. F. A. Siegel, who has been on the river for 43 years, pulling out dangerous snags, and straightening the channel, as well as dredging out shallow bars. . . . Seattle will send Col. H. J. Wild, in charge of dredging operations of the rivers of the Sound, . . . |
Stern Wheeler’s Ran on Skagit in 1886
They went by the names of Mame, Zephyr, Josephine, Lilly, Glide, and the Monroe.
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local expert says not much chance of bad skagit flood In a recent article in the Seattle Star, James A. Stewart[10], hydraulic expert with the government, who worked for Skagit county after the big flood in 1932[11], states that ten inches of precipitation in 34 hours on the Skagit would cause a major catastrophe. The 1932 flood had 11 inches of rainfall but was spread over four days. Experts say this section is due for another major flood catastrophe like the flood of 1815, and that it should come within a century, which makes it 21 years overdue. The Star article says: “Today a condition known as a ‘trough’ exists on the Skagit—a section of the country which is as much be-dyked as Holland ever thought of being. The trough, say City Light engineers, has resulted from a three-month deficiency in precipitation with a corresponding level in water run-off for the period. “The condition is such that should an extremely heavy precipitation come, a flood would be almost inevitable. And if a flood should come, Stewart’s report indicates that the communities of Hamilton, Lyman and Burlington would have to be vacated and the lower parts of Concrete, Sedro-Woolley and Mt. Vernon likewise. “Now that we have the flood all figured out, all we have to do is discover what the possibilities are of getting 10 inches of rainfall in 34 hours. “How can I tell? How can anybody tell?’ demands Lawrence P. Fisher, head of Seattle’s U.S. weather bureau. ‘Experts are continually studying weather conditions and causes, but to say exactly what will happen in the future, is going a bit too far.’” Harry Devin, Sedro-Woolley official government weather observer for some 40 years, had the following comments to make on the prospects for the weather said to be necessary for this disastrous flood: “As ten inches of rainfall is nearly double the average per month for the wet months at Sedro-Woolley for the last 40 years, the probability of having that amount in 34 hours, instead of two months, seems rather remote; unless our climate is to become tropical. . . . There never has been a major flood in the Skagit river caused by rain. It has always required heavy snowfall in the mountains and a hot wind to melt it. Skagit Jim asked the preacher who delivered a sermon on the flood, “All rain? No Chinook?” The preacher replied, ‘Yes, it does not say there was any Chinook.’ ‘Heap lie,’ said Jim, and walked off. “Some data as to the floods of 1615 and 1715 would also be of interest in relation to the hundred-year flood cycles.” |
Rain and Floods It appears that Mr. Stewart returned to the employ of USGS after he quit in 1923 to work for a power company back east. (Source: Stewart “Forward” or “Introduction” section to his 1923 Report, 1/27/43) “Worked for Skagit County.” Further suggest Skagit owns his study, not USGS.
“10 inches of rain in 34 hours would cause major catastrophe.” In 1990 15.5 inches of rain fell at Reflector Bar (Diablo) in 4 days. In 1921 10.2 inches fell at Reflector Bar. (Sources: Flood Summary Report, Nooksack, Skagit and Snohomish River Basins, November 1990 Events, Corps of Engineers, 7/18/91; (Stewart/Bodhaine Report, Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 1527, 1961)
Harry Devin, Sedro-Woolley official government weather observer. 10 inches in 34 hours rather remote.
It has now been proven that several floods on the Skagit have been caused by just rain. Most recent October 2003. |
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skagit observer not fearful of disastrous flood Harry Devin, well known government weather observer here, does not share the belief of engineering experts of Seattle City Light that there may be a recurrence of the disastrous Skagit river flood of 1915. James A. Stewart, hydraulic expert in connection with the United States geodetic survey department, who worked for Skagit county after the big flood in 1932, said if it should happen that Skagit county experiences 10 inches of rainfall within 34 hours, there’s be a flood of the 1915 proportions. After reading an article, which appeared in a Seattle paper, Devin said that he doubted if there’d ever be 10 inches of rain in 34 hours, thereby causing a disastrous flood. The 1932 flood in Skagit had 11 inches of rainfall but was spread over four days. The Seattle newspaper article stated: “Today a condition known as “trough” exists on the Skagit- a section of the country which is as much be-diked as Holland ever thought of being. The trough, say City Light engineers, has resulted from a three-months deficiency in precipitation with a corresponding level in water run-off for the period. . . . Devin had the following comments to make on the prospects for the weather said to be necessary for this disastrous flood. “As 10 inches of rainfall is nearly double the average per month for the wet months at Sedro-Woolley for the last 40 years the probability of having that amount in 34 hours, instead of two months, seems rather remote; unless our climate is to become tropical. Such downpours occur in the Philippines and other tropical islands, and while the folks along the river are preparing their arks for the flood they should also lay in a supply of sun helmets and other tropical clothing. “There never has been a major flood in the Skagit river caused by rain. It has always required heavy snowfall in the mountains and a hot wind to melt it. Skagit Jim asked the preacher who delivered a sermon on the flood, ‘All rain? No Chinook?’ The preacher replied, ‘Yes, it does not say there was any Chinook.’ ‘Heap lie,’ said Jim, and walked off. Some data as to the floods of 1615 and 1715 would also be of interest in relation to the hundred year flood cycles.” |
Chance Of 1815 Flood Remote
This article is full of typos and mis-information. “The disastrous Skagit River Flood of 1915” should read 1815. Stewart worked for Skagit County in 1923 not 1932.
Devin doubts we could get 10 inches of rain in 34 hours.
10 inches of rain is nearly double the average rainfall in a normal winter month. However, more then ten inches of rain has fallen over a 4 day period on several large flood occurrences (1990, 1995 and 2003).
“There has never been a major flood caused by rain.” Mr. Devin should have told that to the people of Hamilton in 2003 which was entirely caused by rain. |
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skagit river hits new low The Skagit river hit a new low this week when the river gauge at Mount Vernon registered the lowest in years. According to the local fire department journal which was begun in 1931, Monday’s river reading was the lowest yet entered. It was at the 3 7/10 foot level on the gauge. Compared to that are the readings in January 1931 when the river climbed from the seven foot mark on January 20 to 16 feet January 23, and reached a peak January 26, when it topped 27 feet. . . . The cause of the lowering of the river is the severe temperatures experienced in this region when the mercury hovered around the zero point and snow in the mountains was kept from melting. |
Attributes Low River To Zero Degree Temperatures Not Allowing Snow To Melt
See 10/24/25 MVDH article. |
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flood hit island four years ago Another Leap Year day has rolled around and it is a different one from that experienced by one Skagit county community four years ago. Two hundred people in one community, on Feb. 29, 1932, were so anxious and busy that they didn’t have time even to consider the odd quadrennial date. The Skagit river was on a rampage and had not quite reached its peak in the early hours of Feb. 28, when it broke through the dike on Fir Island at the Iverson farms and completely submerged hundreds of acres and caused much damage, especially to the property of I. Iverson and his son Phil Iverson. . . . That day saw all danger to other diking systems along the river apparently over, and the break at the Iverson place became the Mecca for hundreds of sightseers. |
Recounts Fir Island 1932 Flood
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flood control program not in danger, banker says The state’s flood control program is not in danger because of the failure of congress to provide matching funds, E. F. Banker, director of conservation and development, said today. The program contemplates 50 per cent federal aid, with the state and local districts each contributing 35 per cent. The state’s share would be raised by a $15,000,000 bond issue to be voted upon at the November general election. . . . Four timber companies, which are attacking the legality of the 1935 flood law, contended the program hinges on federal and state funds which may not be received. . . . |
Feds Fail To Provide Matching Funds
Bolsters timber companies complaint against state law allowing formation of countywide flood control districts. |
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county board hears appeal for support – members of planning council want workers from less important projects on flood control Fighting for more relief workers to carry out the flood control projects in Skagit county, members of the Skagit county planning commission appeared before the board of county commissioners yesterday afternoon and requested that the more important projects in the county be given priority. They asked the commissioners to make a review of the existing projects, weed out the less important ones and assign these men to the flood control project. The commissioners to the plea under consideration and announced they would try to work out the best possible arrangement for all projects. . . . Mr. Welts presented a detailed list of the projects in the county, showing the men needed on them and the men actually working. This table of project appears elsewhere on this page. He explained that the Skagit river flood control project is not set up under the WPA, but is handled directly by the U.S. army engineering department. It calls for the use of 200 men, but it has been undermanned from the start, the number varying from 20 to the present employment of 100. . . . A large delegation of farmers residing south of Mount Vernon was present at the hearing and urged that every consideration be given the south ditch project. Ninety men will be needed on this project, it was said. . . . Commisioner John Mason said definitely that he was going to see the ditch project through “if they hang me for it.” . . . |
More Workers Needed for Flood Control Projects
Corps of Engineers handling flood projects.
Projects undermanned from the start.
“South Ditch Project” assumed to be the same as the current “Hill Ditch Project”. |
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flood control law at stake The constitutionality of the state’s flood control program was at stake in a suit being heard by the state supreme court today. The case is on appeal from Pierce county, where the Weyerhaeuser Timber company, St. Paul and Tacoma Lumber company, Milwaukee Land company and Northwestern Improvement company brought a restraining action to prevent canvass of the vote to determine whether the Puyallup valley flood district should be formed. . . . The case hinges on whether a district can tax property bordering land affected directly by floods for the purpose of specially benefiting and improving other property, without some degree of benefit accruing to the property taxed. . . . A precedent was established on January 22 in Shelton, when Superior Judge H. G. Sutton of Kitsap county, ruled that lands “must receive benefit from the flood control before they can be legally assessed.” The decision of the supreme court in the present case probably will rule in similar suits now in lower courts against . . . The Stillaguamish and south Snohomish districts in Snohomish county, and the Skagit county district. |
Washington Supreme Court Hears Flood District Case
Because the residents derived no benefit, it was error to
include their lands. Weyerhaeuser Timber Co. v. Banker, 186 Wash. 332
(Wash., 1936) |
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skagit c. of c. to fight for river project – aid of seattle chamber’s -- representative at national capital will be sought; present rule hit A campaign for a larger share of WPA funds allotted to this state was launched by the Skagit county chamber of commerce at a meeting in the banquet room of the President hotel here last night, after two speakers had maintained that this county is not receiving its “just share.” It was pointed out that the county’s flood control project will end in almost a total failure unless more workers are assigned to it. H. B. Averill, publisher of the Daily Herald, stated that Skagit was either fortunate, or unfortunate, because of its very low relief load during the period which the WPA is using as a basis for work relief now. He pointed out, however, that “when the showdown comes, every county will pay its share of the WPA program and Skagit county will lose in the long run if it does not get its proper allotment.” Mr Averill added that “we must fight for the funds justly due us.” . . . |
County Not Getting Fair Share Of WPA Funds
Needed more workers. Flood control work could end in total failure. |
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the new skagit river bridge which was officially opened yesterday |
Picture of New Bridge |
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Grocery Store ads |
Coffee 25 cents a pound |
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wallgren reports congress more interested in floods (By Hon. Mon C. Wallgren) Last year the national flood control bill, which includes Washington state projects, was attached in the senate by Eastern members. This year many of the same members, now recognizing the need for curtailing floods, want the first steps taken where the most recent floods have already occurred. . . . Floods should have taught these men that high waters can never be foretold and immediate need on other rivers may be evidenced at almost any time. “It is my belief that we should work out a plan where the Federal government would match money in a cooperative effort with the individual states. A plan similar to the one now in effect with our road building program.” |
U.S. Congress Interested in Flood Control
Amazing that when disaster strikes close to home how important a solution is. No women in the congress at this time.
Matching funds proposed. |
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skagit gets huge river work fund Congressman Mon Wallgren reported this week that he had been instrumental in obtaining an appropriation of $3,150,000 for building a spillway from Avon to Padilla Bay as a flood control project for Skagit county. The bill now awaits the signature of President Roosevelt. To get this money, it is stated that this county will have to contribute a big sum for right-of-way and damage to property. |
Avon By-Pass Funding
A “big sum” would have been over a million dollars. |
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6/8/36 MVDH |
flood district hearing to be held in July – sisson arranged for official hearing here; report of engineer shows need of immediate control measures
A public hearing on the formation of a flood control district in Skagit county will be held in Mount Vernon either July 1 or 2. Grant Sisson, a member of the state’s flood control commission for Skagit, disclosed today. . . . The proposed district will embrace all of the county east of Swinomish channel. . . . Formation of the county’s first step in compliance with rules laid down to obtain federal aid for flood control. . . . Engineer’s Report Given B. H. Allen, flood control engineer of the state department of conservation and development, recently made a survey in this county and a copy of his report to E. F. Banker, state director of the department, has been sent to Mr. Sisson, Allen had the following to say: “About ten days was taken covering the area west of Sedro-Woolley in county district Nos. 1 and 2. A flat bottom boat was used on the South and North forks of the Skagit river and every dike and drainage district covered. There are now organized 11 drainage districts and 15 dike districts, having a combined area of 39,222 acres. Outside of these organized districts there are privately operated districts kept up by the farmers of an estimated 15,000 acres, making a grand total of 54,222 acres. The population of all this area is 25,000 (estimated). During the past 10 years there was levied upon these organized dike and drainage district the sum of $36,319 per annum, for damages arising from floods. $75,431 in 1934 “The past year, 1934, this assessment amounted to $75,431.65. The average levy for 1934 for dike and drainage districts was about 43 mills. This does not take into consideration the money spent unorganized districts by private owners. . . . What Should Be Done 1. Dredging of lower channels of river. A dredge operating in lower channels would deepen same, thereby releasing pressure upon dikes and supply the necessary material for broadening and strengthening dikes. Sloughs at the western ends of the North and South forks of the Skagit river should be cleaned out to allow free passage of water. This work should be carried out to deep water. 2. Bank Projection. Bank protection should be started as soon as possible to save existing banks and the erosion of acres of valuable bottom land now in danger of being carried away at the next stage of high water. . . . 3. Cooperation of Shannon and Diablo dams at peak of floods: This is shown by the graph compiled by the U.S.G.S. of the high water of 1932 in the flood of February 27, when the peak of 182,000 cubic second feet, a control of 61,500 cubic second feet. . . . Nookachamps creek, running from Big Lake to the Skagit river, offers another possible storage reservoir. . . .” |
Another Flood Control District Proposed
District needed in order to obtain federal aid.
54,222 acres covered by dike and drainage districts containing 25,000 people.
Average sum levied was $36,319 per year.
In 1934 that sored to $75,431.
Report recommended dredging lower channels of river (north and south forks), erosion control bank protection; Shannon and Diablo dams should be used for flood control; and use storage in the Nookachamps. |
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huge sums available here for flood control projects (By Congressman Mon C. Wallgren) A bill that provided $5,386,000 for second congressional district flood control projects when it passed the House, came back from the senate with the allotment reduced to $3,411,000 for two projects instead of five million for five projects. . . . The bill allots $3,150,100 for the construction of the Avon-Padilla Bay cut-off on the Skagit river and $261,000 for channel and bank work on the Stillaguamish. . . . The 17 projects in five counties being carried out under the direction of the Corps of Engineers and WPA represent a real start toward meeting flood and erosion threats. . . . The needs for flood control are being recognized. |
Avon By-Pass Funding
Federal funds to build the Avon By-Pass were authorized by Congress. What the Congressman didn’t say was that local cost would have been over $1,000,000 in local funding which ultimately killed the project. (See 6/4/36 Argus article.) |
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work on river is progressing Erosion prevention work on the Skagit River is progressing rapidly now, after some trouble with quicksand, Iner Nelson, engineer in charge, reports. He now has a crew of 175 men at work on project #12, the big Burlington bend, and expects to be finished before the Burlington bend job was started, is in fine condition, with the willow trees growing all along the bank and making a strong protection. . . . The work encountered a lot of trouble a short time ago when the men struck a large quantity of quicksand. Several hundred cords of brush and several hundred yards of material slid into the river. |
River Erosion Projects Progressing
Large amounts of “quicksand” found. Sounds like they were digging into the volcanic lahar that underlies Burlington. |
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two big river bank projects are completed – big crew of men moves to utopia; seen other jobs The largest of the ten revetment jobs on the Skagit river, under the direction of the United States Engineers office and sponsored by Skagit county, will be completed this week. This is the second job on the project finished this year, making a total of 7,900 feet of river bank protection. The high banks on both the Sterling and Burlington bends required a greater expenditure of material and labor than is ordinarily found on river improvement projects. The length of the Burlington bend job is 5,800 feet, built in a great semi-circle, and the sight, with the river at a low stage, is very impressive. The brush mat extends a distance of approximately 80 feet from the top of the bank out into the river. For those interested in river improvement, a trip to see the Sterling and Burlington job shows a very good growth of willows which were planted last spring. The Burlington job is now being planted, much of the value of the revetment depending on the growth of the willows. Operations have been transferred to Utopia, where the construction of a 4,200 foot job is in progress. |
River Erosion Projects Completed
Ten revetment jobs.
Sterling and Burlington Bends.
One has to wonder if they had to get permits to extend a rock revetment “80 feet from the top of the bank out into the river” and how hard would it be to get them today. |
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flood control channel held most feasible – army engineers speak at monthly luncheon of chamber of commerce; directors nominated Two U.S. army engineers from the office of Col H. J. Wild, in charge of the district, today told the Mount Vernon chamber of commerce that $4,982,000 flood control channel from Avon to Padilla bay is the most feasible procedure to eliminate flood danger in the lower part of Skagit county. . . . “The Skagit river has been studied from many different angles.” Maj. Baker stated, and after naming several stated that the most effective means visualized was by the diversion of the channel at Avon.” . . . When questioned as how he had arrived at the cost of the benefits, Maj. Baker stated that damages from all the past floods had been totaled and the average annual loss computed with the construction costs. The proposed channel is to start at Avon but preliminary work would have to start east of the Great Northern railroad bridge. The proposed channel is to be 1,500 feet wide at the bottom. It will be used strictly as a flood control measure and will not carry water except during flood conditions. Maj Baker reviewed the history of floods on the Skagit during the past 26 years for which records have been kept. The highest flow of water at Sedro-Woolley during that time has been 220,000 feet per second. The present river below Mount Vernon can accommodate a flow of about 120,000 feet per second. The proposed channel is to carry any in access of 100,000 feet per second, Baker stated. The channel’s capacity is 120,000 feet per second. We have had larger floods, the speaker stated. In 1815 it is known that a flood with 450,000 cubic feet per second was seen. In 1853 there was a flow of 350,000. The building of power dams on the Ruby, at Diablo, on the Baker and Cascade rivers will all tend to help the flood control situation and although the channel itself is not capable of handling flood waters to such extremes as has been mentioned, with the aid of these other factors it should be adequate. Many questions and suggestions were raised by the people present. Suggestions by Wm. Hayton, Albert Mosier and Gene Dunlap that rip-rapping the cut banks of the river from Mount Vernon to the Sauk and dredging the mouth of the river were heard. The guest speaker stated that such was a good policy but that its cost would far exceed that of the channel proposal. He estimated the costs of such a system at eleven million. Dredging at the mouth of the river met opposition from the speaker. Dredging will have no effect on high tides, he stated. And high tides are always higher during flood periods. It is the high tide that will tend to hold your river up, he added. |
AVON BY-PASS
By-Pass “most feasible” flood project.
Average annual benefits computed by adding all damages from past floods and dividing by cost of project. Is this how it is done today?
Channel of river could only carry 120,000 cfs. In 1936.
Dredging the mouth of the river would have no effect on high tides. “It is the high tide that will tend to hold your river up.”
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chamber hears discussion on flood control Army Engineers Present Proposed Plans For Consideration
“The Skagit River has been studied from many different angles,” stated Major Baker. “The estimated cost of this project (Bypass) is $4,982,000 of which the local sponsor would have to allocate $1,832,000.” . . . The building of power dams on the Ruby, at Diablo, on the Baker and Cascade rivers will all tend to help the flood control situation and although the channel itself is not capable of handling flood waters to such extremes s has been mentioned, with the aid of these other factors, it should be adequate. . . . Dredging at the mouth of the river met opposition from the speaker. Dredging will have no effect on high tides, he stated. And high tides are always higher during flood periods. It is the high tide that will tend to hold your river up, he added. (Major Baker) |
Here’s an understatement if there ever was one.
Dams alone won’t stop it from flooding.
Dredging mouth won’t stop high tides. |
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No water for power; river is lowest in many years This section is having the driest season it has known for many years. H.L. Devin, official weather statistician, says that the Skagit river is the lowest he has ever seen it in the month of November for the past 47 years. The water as low now as it ordinarily is most Februarys, when everything is frozen in the mountains. The water in the Baker river dam at Concrete, which generates electricity for Sedro-Woolley, is 75 feet low, and for the last six weeks it has been necessary for Sedro-Woolley to get power from the Shuffleton plant on Lake Washington. . . . There has been only one-fifth as much rainfall as usual for this month. Precipitation from November 1 to 24, inclusive, has been 1.34 inches, while the normal precipitation for this period is 6.74 inches. October also was a dry month. The rainfall was 1.06 inches as compared to the normal of 4.80 inches. For the past month and three-quarters there has been only 2.4 inches of rainfall, while the normal for the same period would be 10.2 inches. |
Drought Conditions
H.L. Devin—official weather statistician.
Water behind Lower Baker dam 75 feet low.
Normal November rain 6.74 inches. Normal October rainfall 4.8 inches. |
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bills filed in state house pass 500 mark – creation of flood control districts authorized under new bill filed in house . . . Chief among proposals offered in 30 bills, two memorials and one resolution were: 1– Creating of flood control districts . . . The committee on flood control introduced the bill authorizing the creation and maintenance of flood control districts. The measure would permit the director of conservation and development to call a special election on petition of 50 per cent of the landowners in a district, and if approved by 60 per cent of the majority of votes cast, he would appoint a commission of three to supervise flood control. The commission would have the power to set boundaries, fix a levy of assessments, issue bonds and enter into contracts with the United States government for flood control money. |
New Flood Control District Legislation
50% of landowners within proposed district had to petition state agency and 60% of the majority of votes cast required for district approval. |
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flood control hearing will be held here – two u.s. departments to hear flood facts at session called for march 2 at city hall . . . Congress has directed a preliminary examination of the Skagit river and its tributaries, with the view to control of their floods. . . . |
New Study Of Skagit River P/E led to 3/29/37 recommendation to study river. |
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flood control hearing will be held here
U.S. War Dept. Announces Public Meeting for March 2 At City Hall Information Desired Oral Evidence Will Be Heard; Arguments Asked To Be Submitted In Writing For Records
Congress has directed a preliminary examination of the Skagit river and its tributaries, with the view to control of their floods. . . . Six copies of all letters, papers, maps and photographs submitted are desired |
Another study. |
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III. Advises Sauk River Control At last week’s conference on Skagit flood control problems held with U.S. army engineers, A. G. Mosier, prominent local civil engineer, submitted a report advising the construction of a reservoir at the Sauk river, rather than a huge spillway plan, which army men had recommended. “Having an experience of 47 years with the actions of the Skagit river, it is my belief that channel control, or bank erosion control, is the most important element of the situation,” said Mosier. “The relief for surface drainage is also urgent. That flood control begins at the source and not at the mouth of a stream is common sense. Now that the Seattle project insures the building of the Ruby Creek dam, which insure 26 percent control of most floods, and with the enforcement of the operation of the Baker River dam for a reserve reservoir to handle emergency run off from that region, my contention that all floods could be controlled if a flood reservoir were built on the Sauk river. The estimate for such a dam given out by the U.S. engineer’s office, is $5,700,000, only about one million more than the Avon Cut Off, which, in my opinion, would be entirely unnecessary were this reservoir dam built. |
Sauk River Dam Proposal
“Common sense” proposal.
“…and with the enforcement of the operation of the Baker River dam for a reserve reservoir to handle emergency run off from that region…”
“All floods could be controlled if dam on Sauk allowed. “ This is the same river that carried 3 volcanic lahars to the lower valley from Glacier Peak. There will never be a dam built on the Sauk. |
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avon-padilla channel gets committee o.k. – flood diversion channel is recommended for immediate construction; drain district, sauk project also listed. . . . Of the 190 projects in Washington, Oregon and Idaho, 113 projects, cost $189,984,00 to construct or complete, were listed for immediate construction. Among these projects in Washington state were . . . The proposed $4,798,000 cutoff in the Skagit river; . . . Fifty projects, costing $219,374,000 and recommended for deferred construction, included dredging the Columbia river from Vancouver to the Bonneville dam at a cost of $2,380,000; . . . Among 22 projects, costing $111,510,000 and listed after the deferred group, were the $25,532,000 Ruby dam project on the Skagit river; the $14,612,000 Sauk river project; . . . Among local projects recommended for deferred construction were . . . Skagit county drainage district 17, flood control, $107,000; Sauk river channel, river channel, revetments, $53,000; . . . |
Avon By-Pass
Cost $4,798,000.
$25,532,000 for Ross Dam placed on back burner. |
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u.s. engineers not favorable to dredging A letter written by U.S. Senator Homer T. Bone last April 26, and received here by Mrs. W. F. McCormick, secretary of Skagit Pomona Grange, revealed that the chief of engineers, U.S. war department, considers the dredging of the lower Skagit as “inadvisable” at the present time. The letter from Bone, and several others, was read at last night’s Pomona meeting. . . . Major Gen. E. M. Markham, chief of army engineers, wrote to Bone as follows on the subject: “I have recently had a report from the division engineer, north Pacific division, advising me that three of the subsidiary sloughs were closed by the construction of dams or dikes at their heads in 1910 and 1911. These dikes have been reinforced and reconstructed from time to time. Their purpose was confine the discharge to one channel and thus increase the navigable capacity of the south fork of the river. “If the sloughs were opened, the water would be divided between the sloughs and the main channel, and the existing navigation channel would be destroyed. This channel is used by tugboats towing logs from Tom Moore slough and from points up the river to Utsaladdy where they are taken in tow by deep water tugboats. |
Corps Says No To Dredging Lower Skagit
“three of the subsidiary sloughs were closed by the construction of dams or dikes at their heads in 1910 and 1911.” |
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skagit dredge given special consideraton
Army Head Approves Bill For Special Survey Of North, South Forks
Indications that Skagit county’s proposed river dredge for Puget Sound rivers willl receive favorable consideration from the federal government were apparent this week . . . Senate bills authorizing the war department to make a survey of the Skagit have been introduced by Senator Schwellenbach, it was reported. . . . “General Pillsbury, who is familiar with the Skagit problem, expressed the opinion that this project as outlined was feasible. The result of this conference with the War Department was the introduction of a bill for an immediate survey of the North and South fork of the Skagit river for the purpose of determining the cost in order to present a bill to dredge. |
Dredging project for North and South Forks proposed. |
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$23,000 ditch here, finished by wpa work – drains 3,200 acres north of this city; big help to local farmers This week brings to completion of the Sedro-Woolley ditch project, reports zone engineer A. E. Hoopes to Leslie A. Lechner, Works Progress administrator of District No. 3. This project was made necessary due to the fact that the banks of the Skagit river are higher than the adjoining land, and water standing in the fields until late in the season makes early spring planting impossible one more than 3,200 acres of farm land. . . . The drainage project, sponsored by the local Chamber of Commerce, cost approximately $23,000 to complete and includes six and one-half miles of ditches. The drainage system starts at a point northeast of town and about a quarter of a mile from the Northern State hospital property and extends west and south, finally having its outlet in the Skagit river, two and a half miles west of Sedro-Woolley, near Sterling. |
3,200 Acre Drainage Project
6 ½ miles of ditches.
Sounds like the ditches ended up in Brickyard Creek. |
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flood control policies will be determined – program for annual conference here next Thursday is given; many leaders will attend . . . At the present time, nineteen streams have been designated for preliminary surveys, but no funds have been made available for this work. A total of $50,000,000 in the flood control work is outlined for Washington but under the flood control act of 1936, much additional preliminary study must be given the work. . . . |
Puget Flood Control Council Meets In Mt. Vernon Feds need preliminary “studies” before work can start. |
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skagit flood danger told at conference – seventy attend annual conference in this city; speakers stress need for equalized tax . . . Mayor C. W. Vaux welcomed the visitors, representing five northwest counties, to the city, and a short response was given by Charles M. Dial of Seattle, representative of the chamber of commerce of that city. . . . Col. Hanson feels that the state should equalize the cost of flood control throughout the various counties of the state, and should assume the burden of the costs of lands and damages to property in constriction work relative to flood control. “The individual counties can then make adequate plans to bear the cost of maintenance of flood control works,” Col. Hanson stressed. . . . Mr. Smith touched briefly upon the floods of 1932, 1921, 1917, 1909, and 1856, but the last really big flood, he stated, was in 1815, nearly 120 years ago. In 1923, James Stewart of the U.S. Geological survey set out to make a study of floods of the Skagit river, and with such information as he gathered he discovered that in 1815 a flood occurred in this valley which left layers of river silt in the inner bark of cedar trees on the Skagit flats fifteen feet above the level of the surrounding country. The survey was carried from the mouth of the Skagit river to Ruby Creek, and Mr. Stewart found evidences of big floods all the way. In the Diablo canyon in the upper Skagit are well marked evidences of water having raised to more than a hundred feet above the normal stream elevation. “I suppose we could work out by the theory of probabilities just how often such a big flood might occur. It may be once every hundred years, or every four hundred,” said Mr. Smith, but the only condition necessary is to get ten inches of rain over the watershed in a period of 34 hours with the temperature above 50 degrees. In 1932 we had 11½ inches of rain but it was spread over a period of 72 hours. In 1932 conditions were all in order for a flood in the proportions of that if 1815, but the rain broke one day early.” If such a flood should occur, all of Sedro-Woolley, Burlington, Hamilton and La Conner would be under water, and most of Mount Vernon. Every farmhouse on the Skagit flats would stand in 7 to 15 feet of water, explained Mr. Smith. In the report of the survey made in 1923, Mr. Smith further commented, Mr. Stewart recommended that should the Skagit valley area every get six inches of rain or more in one day, the whole valley would be abandoned without attempting to take any possessions along. He also recommended that dikes twelve feet high be built around the entire city of Burlington. In his second point, Mr. Smith showed by a series of charts how the City Light project on the Skagit river has materially lessened the danger from floods by its huge reservoir at Diablo. The Baker river reservoir at Concrete also is instrumental in lessening flood danger. The city of Seattle has spent $25,000,000 on the Skagit power project, and receives 85 per cent of its current therefrom. Thus, the city of Seattle is deeply interested in flood control work in the Skagit valley. |
Speaker Quotes From Stewart Report
Speaker was Glen Smith engineer with Seattle City Light. Confirms that City Light had copy of Stewart Report. Smith felt 1815 flood could be 100 to 400 year event. Quoting Stewart, “only condition necessary is to get ten inches of rain over the watershed in a period of 34 hours.” 1932 had 11.5 inches of rain but spread over 3 days.
Stewart recommended dikes 12 feet high be built around Burlington.
Diablo reservoir lessens flood damage. Baker dam also instrumental in lessening flood danger.
City of Seattle deeply interested in flood control in Skagit County. |
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ruby dam will aid in skagit flood control
Statewide Tax for Control Is Advocated At Meeting Leaders Gather Here Interesting Facts On Skagit River Told By City Light Engineer
Construction of Ruby dam as a vital factor in bringing about an effective flood control for the Skagit river was strongly recommended by Glen H. Smith, outside construction engineer for City Light, at the annual conference of the Puget Sound Flood Control Council which is in session in Mt. Vernon today. Smith spoke briefly shortly before noon today, outlining the history of the Skagit river floods and emphasizing the assistance already realized through the Baker river and the Diablo dams. The Ruby dam with the assistance of the proposed Avon cut-off will eliminate flood danger for the Skagit Valley, he concluded.
The Skagit problem was then presented by Mr. Smith. “This rich fertile valley is in danger of a flood such as the white man has never seen, “ he reported. “A survey made by James L. Stewart in 1923 revealed that the flood of 1815 swept down on the Indians without warning, covering the lower Skagit flats to a depth of 10 to 15 feet. Evidence of the flood has been found in cedar trees in the lower flats, where river silt has been found in some 15 feet above the ground. In Diablo and Ruby canyons the water marks show levels more than 100 feet above the normal stage. Geological surveys in the upper canyons have revealed that the Skagit in times past has gone on dozens of such rampages and that such is possible today. (NOTE: Article was continued on page 4 and was not copied.) |
Committee was critical that California got $486,000,000 for flood control and Oregon got $102,000,000 but that Washington only got $52,000,000.
Ruby dam and By-Pass will stop it from flooding.
Seattle City Light has Stewart Report by this date.
100 feet?? Where did he get this data? Not in Stewart report. |
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state tax for flood control also favored – puget sound council adopts resolution asking solution to skagit problem, which is one of most serious in entire state Skagit county’s need for a solution to its flood problem gained a new convert yesterday when the Puget Sound Flood Control Council, in annual session here, unanimously adopted a resolution asking the responsible authorities to take immediate action. . . . The resolution stressed that the federal government had allocated money for a spillway between Avon and Padilla bay but that the county could not take advantage of the allocation since Skagit residents have no means of raising a million dollars, which is mandatory before the project is undertaken. . . . Earlier in the day, Glen H. Smith, engineer for City Light, Seattle, had told the 70 in attendance at the conference that the Skagit valley is in danger of a flood “such as the white man has never seen.” |
Avon By-Pass Dead
Skagit County has no means to raise a million dollars for local share. PSFCC recommended statewide tax for flood control. Recognized Skagit’s flood problem as “one of the most serious in the entire state.” |
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house committee o.k’s 31 millions for rivers, harbors The house rivers and harbors committee today reported favorably, by a unanimous vote, a $31,720,000 omnibus bill authorizing construction of 119 rivers and harbors projects. |
Feds Allocate Money For Flood Control |
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engineers to rule soon on river survey – wallgren says army engineers will decide within ten days on whether to survey lower skagit Decision on the necessity for a detailed survey of the Skagit river, including the north and south forks, for navigation and flood control will be made by the board of rivers and harbors engineers in the next 10 days, Congressman Mon C. Wallgren has been informed by official of that board. . . . If action is taken under the report of the local engineers, it will be the result of the inclusion of an authorization to conduct a preliminary survey of the Skagit which Congressman Wallgren succeeded in having placed in the flood control act of 1936. The report of the local engineers recommends a detailed survey of the Skagit. . . . “The division engineer, north Pacific division, has now submitted a report on preliminary examination, recommending the undertaking of a detailed survey. . . .” |
Corps Considering Doing Study On Skagit River
Examination & survey of Skagit River authorized by Congress on 8/28/37. (Source: Corps letter dated 9/25/47). |
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war department kills bill for skagit survey
Existing Flood Control Act Covers Local River, Secretary of War Rules Senator Homer T. Bone Advises That Delegate Be Sent To Portland To Present Local Cause
Failure to receive the approval of the Secretary of War, the Washington delegation’s senate bill authorizing a preliminary examination and survey of the North and South forks of the Skagit has been recommended to be killed. |
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dredging one step nearer by u.s. action – congressman wallgren sends telegram to shrauger telling of action in fight for dredging project Congressman Mon Wallgren today notified Postmaster C. F. Shrauger of this city by telegram that U.S. army engineers in Washington, D.C., had approved plans for a complete survey of the north and south forks of the Skagit river from the bay as far as Mount Vernon. “This means that we are one step nearer in our campaign to have the lower Skagit dredged for the benefit of flood control, drainage and navigation,” declared Shrauger. . . . Officials of the Skagit dredging association expressed much concern over a report sent to Washington, D.C., that the association was advocating a government owned dredge. While this might be desired the association did not think it advisable to ask for other than the dredging of the river, Mason declared. He commented that today’s action by the army engineers shows that the congressman and the two Untied States senators have fully presented the Skagit problem to the war department. |
Skagit Dredging Association
Corps approved plans for “survey” of Skagit from mouth to Mt. Vernon.
Local association wanted to dredge lower river. Felt survey was first step to accomplishing that. |
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skagit river survey okayed at washington
Engineers Approve Plan; Dredging Action on Results of Survey; Local Boosters Are Pleased
Plans for a complete survey of the north and south forks of the Skagit river from the bay to Mt. Vernon received the official approval of U.S. Army engineers in Washington, D.C., . . . “This means that we are one step nearer in our campaign to have the lower Skagit dredged for the benefit of flood control, drainage and navigation,” Shrauger told a press representative. . . . Congressman Wallgren has filed a bill calling for the dredging of the north and south forks of the Skagit. The future of the bill depends on the findings of the U.S. engineers in their survey, it has been pointed out. |
Dredging. |
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skagit flood work will continue – project assured for five months more, nelson says Work on the big Skagit river flood control project will not be stopped, according to Iner C. Nelson, engineer in charge of this important work. He has received word from WPA headquarters that the project can continue at least four or five weeks, with the county commissioners paying their promised share of five per cent of the cost. When the original project was set up, on an appropriation of $216,000, largely through the efforts of Congressman Mon Wallgren, the county commissioners pledged themselves five per cent of the total cost. Up to the present time they have paid in some $5,000 on emergency appropriations, leaving about $5,800 of the original pledge still unpaid. . . . A crew of one hundred men is at work near Burns bar near Sedro-Woolley and is preparing to start work at Lyman in the near future. |
Erosion Control Project To Continue
County still owed over $5,000. |
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skagit flood control work is unfinished – up river projects need additional funds for completion . . . Those in charge of the $216,000 project estimate that to complete the original plans will take at least $100,000 more. As explained previously, the shortage in funds is not due to unit costs being greater than the original estimates, but that changing conditions of the river, made each job of the project cover a longer stretch of river bank than the original plans called for. Immediate action obtaining the additional funds is most desirable at this time as the present appropriation will be used up by February with a large part of the originally planned work unfinished. Engineers recommend trying to get a supplemental WPA project, which can be approved in a few weeks. Contribution of some funds by the county is necessary. Of the original project some 50,000 square yards of the brush mat revetment work remains to be done between Mount Vernon and Hamilton. |
Erosion Control Projects Finished
Another $100,000 needed. Changing river conditions to blame for cost overrun.
County still owes money. |
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harry devin gives sketch of sedro-woolley history – editorial I have been asked to sketch briefly, for the younger members, why the city was located here, the origin of its name, what supported it in its early days, now, and the prospect for the future. Several factors contributed to its location at this point, but the principal one was the bitter fight between Seattle and Tacoma over the location of the terminus of the Northern Pacific Railway. . . . Kelly believed that where the railroad crossed the Skagit river would be a good location for a town, as at the time the Skagit river was the only means of transportation for a large portion of the county. . . . Choose “Sedro” As Name As a name for his town he took Sedro, the name of a post office already established on the bank of the Skagit, half a mile from Jameson’s land. The post office had been located by Mortimer Cook, some three years before. Cook was a typical frontiersman who had had a varied and adventurous career; a Mexican war veteran, he joined the rush to California when discharged, mined, tried stock raising, storekeeping, and organized the first bank in Southern California, opening the First National Bank of Santa Barbara in 1871 and being its first president. . . . In 1884 he came to Skagit county with a modest stake and believing that the completion of the Northern Pacific railroad would open a market for Puget Sound lumber in the prairie states he bought considerable timber land on the Skagit, and 34 acres on the bank for a landing, at the upper end of Batey’s Slough, where the city dump is now located. . . . In 1886 he wanted a post office and applied for one, asking that it be named Cedra, the Spanish word for cedar, but the department refused the name, having several Cedras already, so Cook changed the first and last letters, making Sedro, which the department accepted and appointed Cook postmaster. . . . Woolley Plats Town In 1890, P. A. Woolley platted 80 acres adjoining the plat of Sedro on the north and called it “Woolley, the Hub of Skagit County.” All three lines of railroad were being rushed to completion at the same time and Sedro was the supply point and pay station for them all, giving the town a flying start. . . . There was bitter rivalry between the two towns of Sedro and Woolley for several years, and in 1896 the Twin City Business League was organized to try to get the business men of the two towns to work together for the common good. It was successful, and after a couple of years the two towns united under the compound name of Sedro-Woolley, neither being willing to give up its name, and the Twin City Business became the “Commercial Club,” later changing to the Chamber of Commerce. |
Sedro-Woolley History
Two towns. Sedro was name of post office which was changed from requested name of Cedra, Spanish for Cedar.
Woolley was named after P.A. Woollley who first platted town. Known as “The Hub of Skagit County”. Clearly, Burlington stole this label. |
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wallgren praises skagit river work – congressman , honored guest at dinner of lions rotarians and chamber of commerce; favors flood control; fine meeting . . . Wallgren told the meeting that he was much pleased with the flood control and river bank erosion work being carried on along the upper Skagit river under the $216,000 WPA project, and favored enlarging the project to complete needed bank protection, before any money is spent in dredging the mouth of the river. He said he could see no sense in spending a huge sum dredging the lower part of the river so long as land and silt is washed down in huge quantities to fill the lower river as rapidly as it is dredged. When the river banks are all protected, is the time to talk about a big appropriation for dredging the mouth of river, he said. The river bank protection, clearing the river of snags, diking and dredging should all be part of the task of making the Skagit river safe from flood and land destruction. |
Congressman Wanted To Enlarge Erosion Control Projects
Favored river erosion control work before any dredging of the mouth of the river. |
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need more wpa funds in skagit river erosion work The work of protecting the Skagit river banks from erosion will stop before it is much more than half completed, unless additional WPA funds are obtained, Iner Nelson, U.S. engineer in charge of this huge project for the past two years, told Congressman Mon Wallgren and some eighty Sedro-Woolley men at the Wallgren dinner here Tuesday evening. |
3½ Miles of river bank have been protected from Burlington to Utopia. |
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river work passes high water test – engineers pleased with failure of flood to damage The brush mat revetments along the Skagit river bank had their first real test last week, when the river rose fourteen and one half feet in less than twenty-four hours, after a night and a day of hard rain and warm winds in the hills. Iner Nelson, U.S. Army engineer in charge of the river bank protection projects, reported that all completed jobs were undamaged. The river at the N.P. bridge here rose twelve feet in twelve hours during the night of October 26 and the day of October 27, rising to a point within six feet of the 1935 spring flood stage. At present the river is back to within four feet of extreme low. . . . Below Sterling and above Burlington, for the first time, there was no land washed away, due to the perfect protection afforded by the thousand of feet of brush and concrete pavements. . . . Engineers estimate that without the work already done, at least 200,000 cubic yards of Skagit county land would have been washed into the river, from the points now protected. |
OCTOBER 28, 1937 FLOOD
USGS 89,600 cfs Concrete (32.16), no figures for lower river. This would have been comparable to the February 9, 1996 flood which produced 81,800 cfs at Mt. Vernon or 29.27 ft on the gage.
Flood was about 1 foot over flood stage. Very small flood to be judging the effectiveness of the erosion control projects. |
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river, slough projects await federal action
$100,000 Earmarked For Swinomish Channel Protection Dike Report River Findings
Earmarking of $100,000 for the construction of a dike to protect the recently constructed Swinomish slough channel against the Skagit river silt, insuring an early start on this work, was announced in Washington, D.C., this morning by Congressman Mon C. Wallgren . . . A second project dealing with the completion of a survey of the Skagit river and a report of findings to the board of engineers for rivers and harbors before its January meeting, is also well underway, Wallgren announces. |
$100,000 for dike construction to protect Swinomish slough from Skagit River silt. (Hole in the wall?)
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plan new $200,000 skagit flood work --county board confers with u.s. engineer; agrees to sponsor project; john mason heads new flood control group Promise of a new $200,000 Skagit flood control program to supplement the river bank revetment work, for which funds are now exhausted, was given by the Skagit county commissioners this week after a conference with Captain Trudeau, U.S. army engineer in charge of flood control work in this district. Details of the new program will be worked out through the new Skagit Flood Control Association of which Chairman John Mason of the county commissioners is president. According to tentative plans for the new Skagit flood control project to be sponsored by the county, all parts of the river will be included, with a couple of projects for the Day Creek district, the big project at Conway, one at Sterling, at Hamilton, Utopia and other danger spots on the river, which the crew of men under the present appropriation, were unable to complete. |
New Flood Control Committee
Chairman of new committee was County Commissioner. Dredging and snag work proposed. Upriver and downriver farmers to work together. |
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editorial – new flood control work With the Skagit county commissioners agreeing to sponsor a new flood control program for the Skagit river to supplement the work already done, and the organization of a new county association to coordinate all bank protection, dredging and snag work in one flood control program, some real progress was made this week. John Mason, chairman of the board of county commissioners, is president of the new flood control group, and deserves much credit for forming the new organization. All the upper river communities have joined and will work to help get the lower river dredged, as part of the flood control program, which will be presented by Mason, in detail at a meeting to be held soon. |
Editor Approves of New Committee
Everyone will work together. |
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editorial – skagit flood work Under the direction of John Mason, chairman of the county commissioners, plans are progressing for a comprehensive program for the Skagit river to include completion of river bank protection work, dredging and snagging, and other work needed to make the Skagit less dangerous both as a source of damaging floods and as a constant menace to farmland by erosion. United States army engineers are preparing a detailed project to include the entire river, and it will not be long before a river project larger than the former one will be set up, with government funds, backed by the county, to complete the bank protection work at Utopia, Day Creek, Conway and other dangerous points left unfinished when the funds were exhausted this month, and work was transferred to the Samish river. The county officials deserve the thanks of the entire county for agreeing to carry on this most important work, which will be of untold value to the entire county, and is the first constructive work done in this district to try to save the huge loss to rich Skagit farmlands, and to make the lower part of the Skagit deeper for navigation. |
Flood Control Progressing
Relying on Corps for a new study. |
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log rafts do much damage to revetment -- action must be taken to protect bush bank work Damage estimated at $10,000 has already been done to the revetment work along the Skagit river by the log rafts which are being towed down the river. The rafts have already ripped out some three hundred feet of revetment at Utopia, which if not repaired before the next freshet, will cause a lot more damage. . . . Carr said today that something must be done to stop this, or huge damage would be caused to the revetment. His idea is to drive dolphins at each of the sharp curves where the log rafts threaten to swing into the river bank, and to fasten sheer booms to these dolphins, to keep the rafts from striking the revetment. The first question to determine is whether the state, county, federal government or loggers should pay for the considerable expense which will be incurred in installing these booms. Carr hopes to work out this problem in the near future, because immediate action is necessary if many more thousands of dollars’ damage is not caused. |
Log Rafts Damaging River Banks
Rafts ripped out 300 feet of revetment at Utopia.
Needed to determine if state, county, federal government or loggers should pay for damage and new protective works. |
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river gouging more land east of city – farmer reports acres of woodland, soil eroded by skagit . . . W. H. Merchant, who owns 117 acres along the river, said the river is eroding his property at a rapid rate. He lost about 50 acres during the last year, the farmer declared. At present the river’s erosion has slowed down, he said, but that the sudden change in the course of the river has produced a condition similar to that near Burlington Bend. . . . Merchant related that the river now turns northward opposite a log dump on the south side of the river. The river is cutting its way toward Skiyou slough and eventually could reach Hansen Creek which is too small to handle them. The farmer said that the logging firm which owns land adjacent to his has lost many acres of timberland by the river’s sudden change of course. He surmised that the river is being forced to take an unnatural channel. Merchant has not yet contacted the transportation tugboat firm operation at the log dump opposite the turn in the river. |
Erosion Problems
River changing course near Skiyou Slough and could reach Hansen Creek. Log dump on Southside of river blamed as cause. |
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new $400,000 skagit flood project, o.k. -- president approves big appropriation for this county A federal allotment of $334,425 for a new Skagit river flood control project, was approved yesterday by President Roosevelt and now goes to the state WPA administrator for final approval. With the county’s share of some $60,000, this means an additional $400,000 will be spent on river bank revetment work on the Skagit River, between Rockport and mouth of the river. Already approximately $250,000 has been spent on the Skagit and the new appropriation should make it possible to strengthen the banks along the entire river, according to Iner Nelson, who has been general superintendent of the work since its start. |
President Roosevelt Approves Grant For Flood Control
$60,000 matching funds needed by County. Cost would ultimately prove downfall of project. |
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much damage is reported Thousands of dollars worth of land in the Sedro-Woolley district is threatened anew by the Skagit river because of damage done to revetment work, it is claimed here. Nearly one quarter of a million dollars have been spent in protecting the river banks, and a new project calling for the expenditure of more than $400,000, to start this month, has been authorized by the WPA. . . . Log-towers claim they cannot help causing the damage unless booms are placed to protect the worst places at the sharpest curves. Some of the farmers have complained to the county commissioners about the matter, but the board of commissioners claims it has no funds to repair the damage. On the other hand, WPA authorities state that once the work is done it is up to the county to maintain the revetments. |
Revetment Work Damaged By Log Rafts
Log towers claim they cannot avoid the damage caused by their log rafts.
$250,000 already spent. $400,000 will ultimately be left on the table due to no maintenance policy of the County Commissioners. |
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Commencement of $420,000 Skagit Flood Work, Delayed The Sedro-Woolley Chamber of Commerce is making every effort to speed up the starting of the new $420,000 Skagit river flood control project, which has been postponed by the WPA, due to failure of the county commissioners to purchase the new dragline which was promised the U.S. war department engineers in charge of the project. . . . The county commissioners state that the Utopia project should never have been left by the engineers without construction of a wing dam to protect it from the logs. They say the logging companies were willing to furnish the logs for the piling and the booms to be used to protect the work, as it is protected below Sterling and at other dangerous points in the river. The board members state that it is difficult to find money with which to buy the new dragline. |
Flood Control Work Postponed
County couldn’t afford purchase of new dragline. |
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committee to inquire about river project The Skagit County Chamber of Commerce, meeting at Burlington last night, authorized appointment of a committee to confer with the board of county commissioners relative to two phases of the Skagit river revetment program. Action was taken after Attorney Arthur Ward of Sedro-Woolley informed the group that much damage has been done to the revetment recently by log booms, and that a new $400,000 project on the river is being held up by WPA officials until the county furnishes a dragline outfit. . . . Ward pointed out that $250,000 had already been expended on the river and maintained the investment should be protected. In its application for the first project, the county agreed to maintain the project, he stated. Up until recently, before funds were exhausted, the government engineer saw that the project was maintained. No funds are available for the purpose now. . . . A. G. Mosier of Sedro-Woolley said piles should be driven to protect the revetment work. He thought farmers whose land is washed away might have recourse against the county. L. R. White, president of the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce, said if the river changes its course there is danger to Sedro-Woolley. He said water pipe lines running into Sedro-Woolley are also threatened unless the river is kept in its present channel. He advised watching the river above Sedro-Woolley at high water stages, saying “you can’t tell what will happen.” Jack Davis, Burlington banker, said the $250,000 already spent would be wasted unless the project is maintained. |
Skagit County Chamber Of Commerce Forms Flood Committee
Committee was formed to help County Commissioners deal with river erosion problems and damage to revetments by log rafts. |
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dike project is finished Work on the government dike south of La Conner has been completed. . . . Work started May 16, 1938. The purpose of the jetty was to deflect the North Fork of the Skagit river to stop silting Swinomish Slough channel. During the work on this project 80,000 tons of rock taken from the government quarry on Coat island was used, and 2,900 cords of brush used in building mat placed under rock. The length of the dike was 5,800 feet. Winston Bros. company were contractors, J.G. Montgomery, superintendent. The work was done under the general supervision of Col. H. J. Wild, Seattle, district engineer, and Frank S. Greely was chief inspector on the job. |
Corps Of Engineers “Dike” Project At Hole In The Wall
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Editorial – The River Situation The federal government has already spent more than a quarter million dollars on revetment work on the river banks to protect them from erosion, and save valuable farmland from being washed down the river, and is prepared to spend another $420,000 in the same work. But unless something is done to hold the log towing companies responsible for damage done to this work, a large part of it will be wasted. At Utopia, some five hundred feet of the revetment has been eaten away because tows of logs were allowed to swing into the river bank, breaking the steel cables that held the brush mats in place. The farmers who thought they had finally obtained protection, are now threatened with destruction of their farms. . . . The county officials should take a little more interest in maintaining this quarter of a million dollars work on danger spots on the river, and should delay no longer in the purchase of a $10,000 dragline which will automatically result in another $420,000 in WPA funds being spent immediately in Skagit river bank work. |
Log Towing Companies Must Be Held Responsible
500 feet of revetment work at Utopia destroyed by log rafts.
County should maintain the $250,000 investment and purchase $10,000 dragline.
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Damaged River Banks Farmers east of Sedro-Woolley are busy in a campaign to stop destruction of river revetments by log booms. According to reports, tug boats, pulling logs have become snagged in the revetments, pulling out at least 500 feet near Utopia. More damage has been done at Sterling. As a government project a year or two ago, this work cost much money, and so far has apparently been useful. But as the new revetments are ruined, great chunks of farmer’s land are dropping into the river again. Losses already are estimated at $10,000. . . . Sedro-Woolley farmers have gone to bat on the proposition, with the aid of business and civic leaders. Burlington had better get busy too, for if log booms have caused such trouble up river, the same thing can and probably will happen along the river banks just east of Burlington. Local leaders, in a spirit of self-preservation, should join hands with the up-river boys both to stop the cause of the trouble, and to see that damage already done is repaired. |
Log Booms Destroy River Banks
See 1/10/36 article. |
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county hopes for start on river project – commissioner mason sees end of difficulties, but he says county can’t maintain project J. T. Mason, chairman of the board of county commissioners, said today he thought “everything will be all ironed out in the near future,” so that a start can be made on the Skagit river flood control project. The WPA has allotted more than $420,000 for the new project, which includes bank revetment work at strategic points along the river. Complaint was made at a recent meeting of the Skagit county chamber of commerce by A. H. Ward of Sedro-Woolley, that the project is being held up because the county has refused to provide draglines and because the county has refused to agree to maintain the project. Mason said the county is ready with its 20 per cent of the cost of the project, and that it has a first class dragline, which was used on the old river project, ready for use. At the chamber of commerce meeting, Ward declared the army engineers were waiting for a new dragline and for a county guarantee of maintenance. The chairman of the commissioners said maintenance of the project is a big problem. The cost would be practically prohibitive, according to his viewpoint. Also, if the county agreed to maintain the project, he thinks the county might be liable for damages to property should the bank revetment go out and wash away property. Then also, if the county maintains the improvement in any one place, it would be expected to maintain it all up and down the river, and the county has no money for that purpose and no prospect of getting any, according to Mason. . . . When the new project starts, it is expected repair crews will be sent to places near Sedro-Woolley where log tows have damaged the work done under the old project. It has been suggested that piles be driven in the future to protect the revetment work. |
County Refuses To Provide Maintenance of Revetment Work.
Cost prohibitive according to County Commissioners.
Commissioners also worried about liability of maintenance on projects. |
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county chamber hears about $750,000 wpa river project . . . some $260,000 has been spent in revetment work on the Skagit river under the first project which started in December, 1935; most of this work has stood up well under all kinds of conditions; there are a few places, such as Utopia, where engineers claim log tows have started damage which has resulted in considerable under-mining of the work; some means of financing maintenance of the work must be provided and a new $420,000 WPA project, all ready to start now, to place more revetments all along the Skagit river, will commence as soon as the county commissioners can agree with the government engineers on the matter of a new drag line. Nelson said that the county was expected to maintain the work after it was completed, but County Commissioner John Mason stated that the county had no funds for maintenance. . . . Several farmers joined Mason in telling of the big cost of maintaining dikes along the lower river, paid by a district tax on the farmers. They claimed that it would be unfair for the county to pay for maintenance of the revetment work, since they had paid for their diking by a special tax on the farms. G. Knutzen of Burlington stated that he considered the maintenance of the river banks was a county problem and not something that the upper river should be forced to finance. |
More Revetment Work Proposed
$260,000 already spent. Revetment work began in December 1935. $420,000 additional work proposed, however, maintenance on first projects needed first.
County was expected to maintain work already completed and had not done so. Lower dike district’s did not want to pay for it. |
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Three Flood Control Bills Are Proposed Three bills designing legislation for flood control in the eight western countries will be sponsored by the Puget Sound flood control council as the result of a meeting in Everett Friday. . . . Two of the bills to be sponsored deal with setting up machinery for state administration of flood control projects through the department of conservation and development. . . . Two of the bills to be sponsored deal with setting up machinery for state administration of flood control projects through the department of conservation and development. . . . The other bill repeals a 35-year-old river control act that has never been used. |
New State Legislation Proposed
PSFCC sponsored legislation for setting up state administration of flood control projects. |
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plan big district to control river – utopia farmers start move to finance maintenance of river revetment work; county board will then start $420,000 wpa job A big flood control district may be formed from Burlington to Marblemount, to raise funds for maintaining the revetment work done by the WPA project on Skagit river banks. . . . All three commissioners explained that under the 40 mill limit the county had no funds for maintenance. Goodyear said that if the river broke through and went into Minkler lake that it would cut across the valley to the north and cut a new channel to salt water. The board said the new project would start at this danger spot. . . . The big damage done at Utopia would never have resulted had the commissioners repaired the break when first reported. The commissioners have agreed to install a log boom along the entire revetment work on the river to try to protect it from the log tows, which have damaged it in many places, according to farmers who have seen many cables in the revetment broken. |
Maintenance District Proposed
The eastern boundary was Hamilton not Marblemount (See 2/16/39 CT article.)
40 mill limit kept County form using general funds for maintenance.
Damage to revetments being caused by “log tows.” |
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help control erosion (editorial) Backed by the Sedro-Woolley Chamber of Commerce, the farmers of Utopia have become roused to the necessity of immediate action to protect their farms from being washed into the river, and are really getting action. . . . There is no sense in spending three quarters of a million dollars in brush, concrete and steel cables and revetment work along the Skagit river banks to protect farmland, and then not have a few thousand dollars a year available to keep a crew busy inspecting and repairing damages and doing general maintenance work. |
Editor Urged Formation of District
No sense in spending $750,000 without maintenance. |
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River Project Model Shown Depicting in miniature the intricate details that make up a flood control project, a model of the revetment work completed at Lyman several months ago has been put on display in the county courthouse. . . . The Lyman project, which was completed last May, was one of six units of a total length of 4.2 miles in place, started in September 1935. The model was built at the Seattle canal locks by the engineers office, for the purpose of demonstrating the type of flood control work being done in the northwest. The finishing touches to the project are also shown to scale on the model. Rotted willow slips are planted six to a square in the compressed mat which protects the river bank against erosion. Concrete blocks, galvanized cable and machinery add to the reality of the model. On the banks of the river, a portion of the town of Lyman is shown. |
Corps Builds Model of Revetment Projects
Model depicted Lyman revetment work. |
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East Skagit River District To Be Talked SEDRO-WOOLLEY, Feb. 2 – (Special) – A mass meeting of Skagit county farmers will be held this Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Sedro-Woolley city hall auditorium to discuss plans with state and federal officials for forming a river bank maintenance district. The river is at present threatening destruction of hundreds of acres of valuable farmlands and the authorized expenditure of acres of valuable farmlands and the authorized expenditure of $420,000 for further river bank revetments is delayed until maintenance can be financed. . . . Fink and Lars Langlow, engineer in charge of the flood control of the state, told the committee that many acres of lower Skagit County farm land are in danger, with the river at a higher level than the surrounding land, because of the hundreds of acres of farmlands being washed down each year and deposited in the lower river. |
Riverbank Maintenance District
District needed to stop erosion and perform maintenance of government projects. |
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Flood Control Meeting Will Be Held Feb. 4
Mass Meeting of Farmers Will Be Held At Sedro-Woolley To Discuss River Bank Maintenance
A mass meeting of Skagit County farmers will be held this Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Sedro-Woolley city hall auditorium to discuss plans with state and federal officials for forming a river bank maintenance district. The river is at present threatening destruction of hundreds of acres of valuable farmlands and the authorized expenditure of $420,000 for further river bank revetments is delayed until maintenance can be financed. . . .
Fink and Lars Langlow, engineer in charge of the flood control of the state, told the committee that the lower Skagit farm land will be threatened since the river is at a higher level than the surrounding land, because of the hundreds of acres of farmlands being washed down each year and deposited in the lower river. These officials said that the entire county was threatened with flood and destruction unless immediate action is taken to complete the revetment work as authorized by the WPA, and to provide funds for maintenance. They recommended that all farmers throughout the county should be included in a maintenance district. |
WPA
Meeting to discuss formation of “River Bank Maintenance District.”
State officials warned “river at higher levels then surrounding land”. Query: Is this erosion taking place today? If not why did it stop? How much was contributed to log rafts towed down the Skagit?
All farmers in county to be included in district. |
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flood control plans will be made saturday – mass meeting of farm owners at city hall here A mass meeting of Skagit county farmers will be held this Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Sedro-Woolley city hall auditorium to discuss plans with state and federal officials for forming a river bank maintenance district. . . . Fink and Lars Langlow, engineer in charge of the flood control of the state, told the committee that Mount Vernon was a death trap, with the river at a higher level than the surrounding land, because of the river at a higher level than the surrounding land, because of the hundreds of acres of farmlands being washed down each year and deposited in the lower river. |
Mount Vernon A “Deathtrap”
It appears that State government was trying to scare local residents into forming the maintenance district. River is only at a higher level then surrounding lands during flood events which is attributable to levees and tides and not siltation. |
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farmers’ mass meeting (editorial) . . . Government engineers have pointed out the dangers to the entire county if farmland keeps washing down the Skagit river, and action by the farmers to form a district for raising a small tax for maintenance of the WPA revetment work will mean the immediate expenditure of $425,000 on new bank protection work on every danger point on the river. . . . Plans for protecting the river banks from damage by log tows are being worked out, as the county has offered to put in log booms. |
Maintenance District Formation Urged
Maintenance needed to due damage by log tows. |
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Farmers Will Discuss River—Mass Meeting Saturday at Sedro-Woolley for Forming New District Burlington farmers are especially invited to attend a mass meeting of Skagit county farmers this Saturday at two p.m. in the Sedro-Woolley city hall auditorium to discuss plans with state and federal officials for forming a river bank maintenance district. The river is at present threatening destruction of hundreds of acres of valuable farmlands and the authorized expenditure of $420,000 for further river bank revetments is delayed until maintenance can be financed. . . . These officials said that the entire county was threatened, with flood and destruction unless immediate action is taken to complete the revetment work as authorized by the WPA, and to provide funds for maintenance. They recommended that all farmers throughout the county should be included in a maintenance district. |
New Flood Control District Proposed
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Bill Asks Million For Flood Control -- Repeal of Old River Control Law Included -- Measure Asks State To Aid Counties; Police Patrol Criticized For Activities During Strikes OLYMPIA, Feb. 14 – (U.P.) – An act appropriating $1,000,000 from the state treasury to aid counties and cities in flood control work and creating a state division of flood control work and creating a state division of flood control was filed today by Senator Keiron W. Reardon, D., Snohomish. . . . The program provided for repeal of a 35-year-old river control law that never has been used and two bills setting up machinery of future flood control projects. |
Legislation Proposed Forming State Division of Flood Control New agency would assist counties and cities with flood control projects. |
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petitions for flood control district ready – board will be asked to start new project on river Petitions for the formation of a Skagit river bank revetment maintenance district, were circulated this week . . . As prepared by Attorney A.H. Ward . . . limits the amount of money which can be assessed at 2 mils, except for a special vote of the district voters, and even then it cannot exceed 5 mills. . . . The proposed district has its east boundary, the east city limits of Hamilton, and extends west through Burlington to the Pacific highway (Burlington Blvd.) Skagit River is south boundary. Foot of the hills to the north is northern boundary. . . . The Utopia farmers whose land is being threatened, believe that if some immediate action is not taken, at Utopia and east of there, that there is danger the river will go into Minkler lake, from which it might go through Sedro-Woolley and Burlington, or in a new channel next to the hills to the north. State engineers have said that the river formerly flowed in the Samish river channel, after running along the foot of Dukes Hill. |
Petitions for Revetment Maintenance District Would have cost farmers 10 cents per acre.
Would have raised $10,000 a year for maintenance of revetments.
Fears were that Skagit would return to old channel and flow towards the Samish. Strong evidence that is where it used to flow. (Source: Prehistoric Settlement Changes In the Southern Northwest Coast, A functional Approach, Gail Thompson, 1978) |
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Petitions Are Circulated For River District SEDRO-WOOLLEY, Feb. 17 – Petitions for the formation of a Skagit river bank revetment maintenance district were circulated this week and sent to state authorities at Olympia for final approval before calling for an election to vote on the matter. . . . It is estimated that the average farm will be taxed less than 10 cents per acre. As petitioned for, the proposed district has at its east boundary the east city limits of Hamilton and extends west through Burlington to the Pacific highway. . . . Meanwhile, Skagit County commissioners will be asked on Monday to keep their word in regard to the purchase of the new dragline as required by U.S. engineers in charge of the revetment project. If this is done, work will proceed to protect remaining danger spots along the entire river. |
Riverbank Maintenance District
Proposal called for taxing acreage at 10 cents per acre. District included river from Burlington through Hamilton.
County Commissioners asked to provide new dragline. |
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Seek To Form River District
Petitions Sent to Olympia For Final Approval Before Calling Election
Petitions for the formation of a Skagit river bank revetment maintenance district were circulated this week and sent to state authorities at Olympia for final approval before calling for an election to vote on the matter. . . . It is estimated that the average farm will be taxed less than 10 cents per acre. As petitioned for, the proposed district has as its east boundary the east city limits of Hamilton, and extends west through Burlington to the Pacific Highway. The Skagit River is the south boundary and the north line extends along the foot of the hills on the north side of the Skagit River. Burlington, Sedro-Woolley, Lyman and Hamilton are included in the proposed district. . . . Meanwhile, Skagit county commissioners will be asked on Monday to keep their word in regard to the purchase of the new dragline as required by U.S. Engineers in charge of the revetment project. If this is done, work will proceed to protect remaining danger spots along the river. |
Petition prepared by local attorney A.H. Ward who later became a judge and settled in the Nookachamps.
Taxed 10 cents per acre.
District was never formed. |
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3/1/39 |
Skagit Facts Are Given on Radio Program Skagit County was “on the air” last night in an interesting and factual broadcast about this section. Speakers were Harry Gille, state and industrial development director of the Puget Sound Power & Light company, and Carl Nelson, of this city, representing the Skagit Chamber of Commerce. The program was heard on station KJR, on the power company’s regular weekly “Greater Washington Hour.” . . . “Logging and lumbering was one of the first and still is a leading industry of the country. . . . During the last decade other important industries have been developed, and along with these industries has come the development of agriculture. Commercial activities in Skagit County include the manufacture of lumber, cement, pulp and paper, clay products and also such plants as condensaries, canneries, creameries and cheese factories. The mining of minerals and producing dairy center of the Northwest. The most recent of its many enviable records is that created by Emil Youngquist when, with 18 Holstein cows, he established a national record of 512 pounds of butterfat per cow. Holstein, Guernsey and Jersey breeds predominate and they will produce this year a total of $3,500,000 worth of dairy products. The second largest agricultural industry is poultry and eggs with an estimated production this year of $1,250,000. The total vegetable yield will bring upwards of $1,150,000 – oats $985,630 – seeds $582,735. Skagit County holds the world’s record for oats production per acre. In 1935 on the farm of Jim Hulbert was produced 192 bushels. On the farm of S.A. Medenhall was produced 12,800 full quarts of Marshall strawberries per acre – an equivalent to 1,066 crates or nearly 13 tons. These are two world’s records Skagit County can well be proud of – and as far as is known these records have never been equaled or exceeded anywhere! . . . During the past several years there have been added an average of 100 farmers per year and the towns have prospered in a like manner. |
Skagit County Industries
Agricultural history. Timber was king.
Jim Hulbert produced 192 bushels of oats per acre in 1935. World record.
Medenhall farm produced 13 tons per acre of strawberries. World record.
Farms growing by average of 100 per year. |
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New District Is Opposed SEDRO-WOOLLEY, March 10 – (Special) – A group of farmers, who reside east of this city, will meet in Burlington city hall Wednesday night at 8 o’clock to discuss the proposed river control district, it was announced here. . . . It was said the farmers fear that the district would cast too much money. It has been proposed that the district raise funds by levy each year to maintain the river bank revetment work along the river. . . . It was declared here farmers who are opposing the district feared they could be taxed excessively. It was pointed out that the law provides a maximum 2 mills as the annual levy, with a total of 5 mills, if approved at a special election. |
Riverbank Maintenance District
Farmers fear excessive taxes. 2 mills maximum yearly unless approved by public vote then could go to 5 mills ($5 per 1,000 dollar assessed valuation). |
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District Plan To Go Ahead SEDRO-WOOLLEY, March 10 – (Special) – Despite opposition to plans for formation for a maintenance district for the upper Skagit River flood control on the part of a group of farmers who met at Burlington on Wednesday night, Chairman Frank Goodyear of the Utopia farmers’ committee plans to go ahead on the project. . . . Some complained that the tax would be too high, others thought that the revetment work already done has not held up well enough and still others held that the federal government should put in more permanent flood protection and attend to its upkeep. |
Riverbank Maintenance District
Despite opposition proposed district formation would proceed. Some thought revetment work already done did not hold up. |
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skagit flood control work is inspected – state and u.s. engineers look over 22,400 ft. of revetments In reply to a petition filed with the state conservation department some time ago, requesting a flood control district for this part of the Skagit river, state and federal engineers spent two days the first of the week, carefully inspecting the 4.2 miles of revetment work which has been finished. . . . After the inspection, they stated that the revetment had done all that was expected of it, and that before any more revetment work was done that it would be necessary to provide for maintenance and to prevent log tows from causing the great damage to the brush mats and cables. A group of farmers, representing signers to a petition opposing the formation of a flood control district, recently conferred with Langlee at Olympia. . . . The apparent willingness of the more level-headed farmers to discuss the matter, indicates that it may be brought to a head in the near future. If more WPA projects are dripped, the probability that the $420,000 available for additional river work will be a lifesaver for this part of the county, from a relief standpoint alone, if the opposing group does not delay action long enough to cause this appropriation to revert to the government for use in some other state. |
State Inspects River Erosion Control Projects
State demands Skagit County perform maintenance on existing projects before any more money spent on additional projects. County Commissioners refused to pay for maintenance and instead opted to form flood control “maintenance” district.
Log rafts blamed for damage to riverbanks. |
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state turns down proposal for skagit flood district All the fighting between the two groups of farmers in this section over the proposed organizing of a flood control district, at the request of the county commissioners, is now over, as the state attorney general has ruled that such a proposed district cannot be formed. This leaves the Skagit river bank protection project where it was when the argument started. The quarter of a million dollars already spent by the WPA on the river banks in revetment work, will be wasted in many places, as the county commissioners refuse to maintain the work, although the government claims they agreed to do so. As a result, the revetment has been broken down in many places along the river bank, and in most cases, according to the government engineers, the damage has been caused by tows of logs hitting and breaking off the cables. . . . The attorney general ruled that such a district would come under the 40-mill limit law, which makes its formation prohibitive. The proposed district, if organized under the 1937 law, would be approved by the state, but would have no limit to the local improvement tax which would be levied on all property in the district. |
Attorney General Says No To Formation Of Skagit Flood Control District
$250,000 already spent was wasted money.
Revetment work destroyed by log rafts towed down the Skagit.
AG says district would have put Skagit taxing authority over the limit.
Local farmers didn’t want alternative district as it would have had unlimited taxing authority. |
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petition for skagit flood control district refused Petition for a flood district in the upper Skagit, to help maintain revetment work, was refused by J. B. Fink, head of the state department of conservation and development, in an opinion given to the petitioners this week. Fink recommended a district be formed under the 1937 state law which provides no limit to the tax which could be levied. The petition asked for a district under the 1935 act, which fixed the limit of the tax at 2 mills. The decision and action taken by a large number of farmers in the district again brings the matter of flood control to a standstill. . . . This petition was thereupon by the director referred to the flood control engineer of his department for preliminary investigation and report. The investigations have now been completed and the report rendered and placed among the records of the department. Said report and other available and pertinent data and information are made the basis for the following: . . . 3. The average annual cost of maintaining the flood control works, while not immediately ascertainable, is estimated to be well within the probable average annual amount of damages sustained by property within the proposed district, and the assumption of such cost by the benefited property would, therefore, be justified. . . . 7. The two mill levy is deemed inadequate for district purposes, especially during the first several years of district operations. A five mill levy is estimated to be adequate, but since it is dependent upon a year-by-year favorable vote, it is not a safe basis for a district’s financial program. 8. According to the written opinion of the attorney general, a flood control district, organized under the provisions of Chapter 160, Laws of 1939. On the basis of this ruling such a district may to all intents and purposes be deprived of the taxing privilege purportedly granted by the act under which it is organized, and may, therefore, be impotent. . . . In the opinion of the director, the organization of the district is, therefore, not justified and the petition is hereby dismissed. |
Flood Control District Rejected
Flood control efforts brought to a standstill.
The law under which it was proposed to organize the district as well as the general taxing laws of the state appeared to preclude the levy of sufficient taxes to enable the district to exercise the functions for which it would have been created. |
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harry l. devin is city’s historian and weather man Harry L. Devin, born in Ottumwa, Ohio, June 16, 1862, came to Sedro in 1889 on a visit and liked the locale so well that the following year he brought his family here an established his home. . . . Mr. Devin has had a major part in every important development that has taken place in Sedro-Woolley since its founding and his reference library is the haven of every person wishing facts or figures pertaining to Sedro-Woolley. In addition, he is the city’s weatherman. He has been official weather recorder here since July 1, 1896, and has a forty-three year record of faithful service. |
Harry L. Devin
Sedro-Woolley’s official weather recorder since July 1, 1896. |
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big skagit river project abandoned -- office here closes after almost four years; over $400,000 unspent; failure to maintain work means most of $260,000 to be wasted On August 25, unless something unforeseen occurs, the Skagit river bank erosion project engineers’ office maintained in Sedro-Woolley by the WPA since December, 1935, will be closed, and the $418,000 appropriated for additional work on the Skagit, will never be spent. Iner Nelson, superintendent of the river work, since its beginning in 1935, has already turned in most of his equipment. . . . The sum of $418,000 which was appropriated for continuing the work of protecting farms from erosion by the Skagit river, could not be spent because the county commissioners refused to provide equipment they had promised the WPA, and the majority of the farmers fought the plan suggested by the county commissioners, to provide maintenance funds. The county, in agreeing to the big project, had agreed to finance maintenance, according to WPA authorities, but the county commissioners claimed they had no funds available. The resulting deadlock has caused the abandonment of further flood control work on the Skagit, and the loss of the $418,000 for which the Sedro-Woolley Chamber of Commerce and Congressman Wallgren worked for months. The original appropriation of $260,000 was spent in three years of building over four miles of revetments on the Skagit between Lyman and Burlington, at the most dangerous points. The failure of the county to care for the maintenance of these revetments or to prevent damage by low tows has already resulted in loss of much of this work and will cause eventually its almost total loss, according to WPA engineers. . . . Lars Langloe, flood control engineer for the state, made the following statements in his report following an inspection of the work which was done: “There is every possibility that reconstruction of these revetments which have failed would be eligible for reconstruction by the WPA and certainly would be included as part of any eventual federal flood control project under the flood control act. Of the works already constructed about 2,200 feet or 10 percent has been destroyed and requires 100 percent reconstruction at a probable cost of about $27,000. Lesser portions of the works have sustained some damages which may be repaired at comparatively small expense. An undetermined percentage of the bank revetments require supplemental planting of willows where the original plantings, for various reasons, failed to grow. Maintenance Cost . . . On the Skagit most, if not all, of the damage has been caused by log rafts and unless some measure is taken to compel tug boat companies to keep rafts from tearing out mats and fascines further construction of revetments, whether they be made of brush or rock is a waste of money. It is believed that under our statutes (Rem. Rev. Stat. Sec. 1182) tug boat companies can be held responsible for any damage they do. |
Skagit County Leaves Money On The Table For Erosion Control
WPA office to close.
$418,000 not spent because County Commissioners refused to provide equipment to WPA as promised and had not provided maintenance of previous completed projects.
Log tows (rafts) reportedly was what damaged flood erosion control projects.
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Grocery Store Ad |
Bacon 19 cents a pound |
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new flood control project may start -- chamber of commerce works to get $420,000 project for skagit river; captain trudeau and commissioners talk at busy session A final effort to have the $420,000 W. P. A. appropriation spent on Skagit river bank projection work, was made at the Sedro-Woolley Chamber of Commerce meeting here Thursday evening. |
Skagit County Tries To Save Flood Erosion Control Money |
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wallgren urges starting of skagit river flood project
Congressman Mon Wallgren, who was instrumental in getting the Skagit River flood control appropriations, hopes that arrangements can be made with the WPA to continue the work under the new $420,000 appropriation. When asked for his co-operation, he made the following statement: A number of people have written me recently urging an immediate start of the new $418,000 flood control project on the Skagit River. While I have informed these people that continuation of the project depends upon the ability of the county to maintain the revetment work when it is completed, I do hope that the WPA is making every effort to reach an agreement with the Skagit County officials. . . . Agreements must be made to protect those investments before additional money is expended but I hope the federal agencies will miss no opportunity to see that proper arrangements are made. |
Congressman Tells County They Need To Enter Into Maintenance Agreements With WPA.
Continuation of projects hinged on maintenance of existing projects. |
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skagit flood control work discontinued -- efforts to set up new project blocked by lack of money Efforts to get work started on the new $420,000 Skagit river revetment work project, were blocked this week, when the WPA submitted complete figures for the project which demanded that the county pay some $90,000 as its share of the cost. This makes it impossible for the county to undertake the project, the commissioners stated Monday. . . . Instead of having the WPA furnish the cable, powder, cement and other material, as was done on the other Skagit river revetment project on which $260,000 was spent, the new setup called for the county to spend $29,500 for these materials, and to pay over $6,000 for labor, besides furnishing some $53,000 worth of equipment, necessitating the expenditure of some $40,000 in cash, the commissioners stated. . . . The raising of the cash outlay required of the county on an entirely different basis from the first project, has made any immediate start on the new project impossible, the commissioners stated today. |
WPA Kills Erosion Control Projects With Cost Sharing Demands
County required to pay $90,000.
County couldn’t afford it and projects were at a standstill. |
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argus of 1897 Tells of high water in skagit
River Misbehaves
After being on good behavior for nearly a year the Skagit river got on an obstreperous streak last Friday night and came up ten feet to let the people know it had not forgotten its old job. After causing many prophesies it tumbled back into its old ruts and now there is scarcely enough water to allow a Missouri river sucker to come up stream without the aid of propellers. The Skagit is all right—no moss on its back or banks either. This item was written too early. She is boiling again. |
1897 Flood
River came up ten feet. |
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early pioneers settled in mount vernon before 1870; incorporated 1890
Early History of Mount Vernon is Recalled; Local Community was first Permanent Inland Town Started in County.
…as early as 1870 two pioneer families had settled near the big log jam in the Skagit river to lay the foundation of the present Mount Vernon. Jasper Gates was the first to settle here, preceding Joseph F Dwelley by a few months. . . . Two Log Jams Two huge log jams in the Skagit, one centuries old, proved major obstacles in the community’s development but the hearty pioneers with brain, brawn and perseverance, finally were victorious and following the opening of the river, the community grew rapidly. The largest of the log jams was located about a mile above the present city while the second was a half-mile below. So dense and solid were the jams that even large trees grew on top of the debris. . . . By 1874 Mt. Vernon and the upper valley had enough settlers to seriously consider means to break the log jams Indians reported had been “always existent.”. First Farmers Samuel Calhoun and Michael J. Sullivan were the first of a group of foresighted farmers who set foot on Skagit mainland soil, seeking to reclaim it and convert it into farmland. |
Two Log Jams
Indians said log jams “always existent”.
First Farmers. |
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flood control project fails to get approval $3,150,000 Expenditure on Skagit River Is Frowned Upon—2 Other Projects Out—Army Engineer Makes Report Before House Committee in National Capital
Three Skagit county projects, calling for an estimated expenditure of $3,274,000, may be stricken from the 1941-42 program of the U.S. government; it was revealed in Wash. D.C., late yesterday afternoon when Manor General Julian L. Schley, chief of the army engineers, made a report to the house appropriations committee during hearings on the war department civil functions bills. |
Could not be determined from article what the $3,150,000 project was. |
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Skagit River Damages Farm Lands and Roads at Utopia Flood control conditions on the Skagit river are rapidly reaching the emergency state and immediate action is necessary to save thousands of acres of valuable farm land. During the past week or two, conditions in the Utopia district have rapidly become worse, with many acres of fine farmland, being washed down stream. . . . The road has been washed out again, and the river is cutting into the north bank more rapidly than ever. The farmers blame the logging operators and tow boats for this increased destruction. They say that the log raft, tied across the river, has caused the channel to swing to the north and that the log tows are constantly snagging on the banks and helping undermine them. The farmers also claim that a little more work on the bar, would form a channel and relieve the pressure on the north bank, where their farms are located. They also claim that a little work by the snag boat would go a long way to helping the present emergency, but the new snag boat is too big to be able to come up the river. They wonder just what it is for, except to provide a nice home for the crew. The county commissioners will do nothing to save the land, stating the problem is too great for them, and the U.S. army engineers, have promised to investigate, as they have been doing for forty years. . . . The farmers who see their entire life work, washing down stream, with the prospect of losing their homes, are getting desperate, and are demanding something more than a federal investigation and survey. . . . County Commissioner E.C. Carrand and an officer of the snag boat visited the Utopia district yesterday. They told the farmers that nothing could be done by the snag boat, which could not get up the river, but advised them to take action, although they could not be officially given permission to do so. The logging operators were instructed to remove their raft of logs. |
Logging Interest Blamed For Erosion Of River Banks
Thousands of acres threatened.
Log raft tied on south bank caused river current to swing to the north.
County Commissioners say problem too big for them.
Nothing could be done by the snag boat. |
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u.s. survey to be made here of skagit water resources A systematic study of the streams of Skagit county, to determine flow and volume of water, is to be made by the United States survey crew at once, following discussion at a recent meeting of the county planning council. . . . According to estimates, the cost of a complete survey of all rivers and streams will be about $12,000. |
Another Study |
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river at door of ninth utopia home -- state and county fail to maintain revetments; skagit cuts 200 feet in few weeks; more homes in danger Three or four more days and another Utopia home will be in the Skagit river because neither the county nor the state could see to furnishing a comparatively small maintenance fund for the revetments put along the river by the federal government a few years back at the cost of many hundreds of thousands of dollars. The home of George Betschart just behind the Utopia school is being moved today as the river has already cut into the front yard, slicing off more than 200 feet of land in the last two or three weeks and now only a few feet short of the front porch. . . . Ninth Home to Move -- The Betschart home is the ninth home in the past twenty years or less that has had to be either moved or torn down in the path of the Skagit in the two bends in that area. Six silos, two of concrete, as well as many barns and other buildings have had to be transported out of the water’s path. An estimated 250 or 300 acres of cleared land have been carried down the river in that period from that area. . . . In the late 1930’s the federal government allotted hundreds of thousands of dollars for revetments along the Skagit, the largest river in the State of Washington next to the Columbia, to keep it in its proper bed. A comparatively small sum of $10,000 a year was asked from either the county or state for a maintenance fund to keep the revetments up. This was not obtained, and, as a result, the river is this week taking its ninth home in the Utopia area alone. Lacked Support -- The government had more funds available for additional revetments but would not donate them unless the state or county could supply a small maintenance fund. It was not done. . . . There is also the danger that should the river cut through at one other point, which is not at all unlikely, the city of Sedro-Woolley will have the second largest river in the State of Washington flowing through its main streets. |
Erosion On Skagit Continues In Utopia Area
8 homes already moved from edge of river. 9th home threatened. County and state blamed for not providing maintenance funds of previous erosion control projects.
250 to 300 acres eroded in last 20 years.
Perceived danger was that Skagit would cut through and flow into Sedro-Woolley. |
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Danger Point Flood Works Suggested
Preventive flood control works at danger points rather than a complete upstream-to-lowland revetment program appears advisable on the upper Skagit river, County Engineer H.O. Walberg said Wednesday night following an inspection trip by Parker tugboat to Lyman ferry crossing. He said federal soil conservation service officials who accompanied him on the trip were inclined to similar opinions. Possibility was seen that plans for comprehensive studies of the exact needs for flood control along the river could be undertaken soon as far as the vital points of the stream were concerned. Damage from the recent high water, while it was serious in the case of individual farmers, notably in the Utopia district, was not appreciable from the over-all standpoint, Walberg said. “The big danger, of real, wide-spread damage, is that of a change in the course of the river,” the engineer declared. |
Needed more studies of the river.
Damage referenced would have been from December 2, 1941 flood, 30.17 in Concrete, 25.99 in Mt. Vernon.
Concerned about channel changes. |
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soil engineers hope to get relief for utopia erosion Soil Conservation Service officials, county and state men yesterday studied in detail the erosion problems on the Skagit river between Mount Vernon and the Lyman ferry. . . . First, a short range emergency program at three critical spots on the river, the Utopia bend, at the bend below Utopia at what was the old Buchanan farm and at the head of Skiyou Slough on the present Reece farm. Second, a longer range master plan for coordinated improvement as new critical areas develop. Such a critical area seems to be developing on the last bend of the river before it enters the straight stretch towards the Sedro-Woolley bridge. Here it might prove expedient to change the course of the river back into what is now called Deadman’s slough. . . . Alarming erosion was noted continuously on one side of the river or the other with few exceptions all the way from the Great Northern bridge to Lyman. Of the brush revetment installed five years ago only the job at Lyman has proven itself. A revetment at Utopia has been abandon by the river while all the other jobs have been undermined along the toe and have completely disintegrated or are beyond repair. . . . It is a well known fact that the upriver erosion which seems critical only to the farmers living on the immediate bank of the river is the cause of excessive siltation on the lower stretches of the river where the expensive dikes may soon have to be raised. |
SCS Recommends Emergency Plan For Skiyou, and Utopia
SCS floated the idea of changing the channel of the Skagit back into “Deadmans Slough” (was on left bank of river near Day Creek. Now part of main river channel.)
Erosion from Sedro-Woolley bridge to Lyman.
All WPA work destroyed except at Lyman. |
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soil district favors aid on river erosion -- local farmers to ask for county help program needed The Skagit Soil District supervisors at their regular monthly meeting last Saturday approved participation by the district in the river erosion control program being developed for the Lyman-Sedro-Woolley stretch of river. Supervisor Fred Martin, chairman of the district supervisors, insisted that “the soil district’s participation hinge upon a long term agreement for continuous control of the river. Supervisor Fred Martin, chairman of the district supervisors, insisted that “the soil district’s participation hinge upon a long term agreement for continuous control of the river as new problem areas develop in the years to come and for maintenance of work done already.” Mr. Martin felt that the soil conservation district should not rush into this emergency and correct the Utopia-Skiyou Slough danger spots only to have the money wasted by lack of long term maintenance. Grover Duvall, supervisor, stated that if the river is allowed to go through the new Wiseman creek course it is now developing, down stream siltation may become an immediate serious problem to the farmers on the flats. Mr. Duvall cited from his own observations the effect of the cut through the Sterling bend some years back. First, he noticed that the river at his farm suddenly started to cut a deeper channel as the speed of the water increased. The water table on his farm dropped sharply with the result that he had to lower his well pumps six feet all over the farm. Mr. Duvall’s second observation was that the river at this same time developed the present gravel and silt bar between the Great Northern and Mount Vernon-Riverside bridge. If the river up-stream is allowed to cut a new channel between the Buchanan and Reece farm down Wiseman creek the diking districts on the flats and navigation interests may be immediately affected. |
SCS Wanted Long-Term Agreement For Continuous Control Of The River
SCS participation hinged on long-term agreement for maintenance of erosion control projects.
Sterling farmer noticed that river cut deeper channel after Skagit cut-off Sterling Bend (which we now know was helped along with dynamite in 1911). Water table at Sterling dropped at least 6 feet. |
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skagit fishery work proposed . . . Erosion control and fishery development comprised the major items of discussion with representatives of the state department of fisheries and the Skagit soil conservation district present. . . . That plans are now being initiated for post war work in fisheries was revealed by Clausen who pointed out that the future work must make possible greater spawning areas and protection of river assets now available in Skagit county. In the wide-scale postwar program for Skagit county, he listed eight projects headed by the creation of a Skagit river fish hatchery. . . . Other projects in Skagit county include the removal of barriers and dam at Nookachamps creek; survey of additional water supply . . . Sauk river power and flood control dam site; study of the proposed Cascade river power and flood control dam site; installation of facilities at the Baker river dam to aid fish in entering and leaving the Baker river area; and fish way over the east fork falls of Nookachamps creek. Present work on the Skagit water problem includes the establishment of 16 gauge stations in the county. . . . The need for immediate work on the erosion problem was emphasized by Mr. Dickey as the critical situation in the Lyman-Sedro-Woolley area was again cited. |
Fish Projects
Skagit River fish hatchery, remove dam barriers on Nookachamps Creek; fish facilities at Lower Baker.
Flood projects being looked at included dam sites on Sauk River and Cascade River.
Erosion control looked at between Sedro-Woolley and Lyman. |
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Upper Skagit Dams Are Huge Asset To County (Editorial) Be it said to the everlasting credit and honor of “J.D.” Ross and his zealous associates, a few of whom are still living and carrying on, and to the credit of the good people of Seattle who followed their leadership, they have created a marvelous, living, pulsating, engineering project on the upper Skagit river that will endure and serve the people of their city and adjoining coast communities for countless generations to come. They have reclaimed a mountain wilderness for human service, they have transformed a raging, rushing river, confined for thirty long miles in an almost inaccessible, towering, precipitous canyon, into a modern gigantic hydroelectric power system. They have harnessed nature, without destroying it, to serve the needs of man. They have taken possession of the flood waters of this short but mighty Pacific Coast river, removing the menace of annual disaster to the rich and broad valley lands below, and stored them to furnish more power. . . . It really belongs to Skagit County by every rule of geography and contiguity, although the first and original Gorge Powerhouse at Newhalem lies three miles north of our county boundary line is, therefore, in Whatcom County. . . . Every mile of inhabited and cultivated Skagit valley, aside from the project installations, lies in Skagit County. Some day we hope the legislature will consider these facts seriously enough to attach this eastern area of Whatcom County to Skagit County, of which it should be a part for all practicable purposes. . . . County Job Building the Skagit project was not child’s play but a man’s job. It took grit, courage, sweat, and hardship to drive tunnels, build dams, install machinery, to even set up living quarters up there. The cost cannot be measured in money. Where the upper dam, Ross Dam, was built in the past few years and where it is now being raised, there wasn’t a level spot on which to build crude living quarters. . . . It is probably the world’s worst construction site. An idea of the depth of the river canyon – a narrow one at that – is gained from the fact that this man-made reservoir, or lake, is 100 feet deep in the channel between Diablo and Ross Dams, a distance of about eight miles. Above Ross Dam, Ruby Lake spreads out with less depth and when new work on this dam is finally completed, this reservoir will back up five miles into Canada. Seattle has already acquired the necessary Canadian property and flood rights. Three Units The Seattle project consists of three separate units, built in series. Briefly the original Gorge powerhouse at Newhalem, opened in 1924, receives its water through an 11,000-foot tunnel heading in the river about three miles upstream. Seven miles above Newhalem, reached by the electric gorge railway, is Diablo Dam and powerhouse. This water comes from Diablo Lake and consists of the entire flow and storage of the river above Newhalem. Construction of the highest, or Ross power plant, waits on the completion of this dam. . . . Hunters’ Paradise . . . Towering above the construction camp 175 feet, or 305 feet from solid bedrock, Ross Dam presents a veritable facsimile of Niagara Falls, a roaring, fascinating cataract, whose clouds and sheets of spray at times envelop and drench everything within hundreds of feet. . . . Would Raise Dam Engineers estimate that the present Ross structure can be safely pushed up 235 feet higher, or 75 feet higher than the contractors are now building it. Efforts are being made to do this but the decision is in the hands of the Federal Power Commission. . . . For comparative purposes it may be stated that the Diablo plant operates on a 313-foot head of water. It is also important and reassuring to know that Ross Dam is 200 feet thick at its base, tapering to 65 feet at the top, crown measurements. Huge Reservoir Of special and vital interest to Skagit County and its people are the figures on reservoir storage, for this constitutes flood water projection. Diablo Lake now contains 90,000 acre-feet of water. Ruby Lake is about 10,000 acre-feet larger. When the present contractors raise Ross Dam 160 feet, the water storage in Ruby Lake will increase to 676,000 acre-feet. If and when the dam is raised another 75, as desired but not authorized, Ruby Lake will reach the enormous size of 1,400,000 acre-feet and, as related, will cross the Canadian border, a body of water 21 miles in length. Thus, practically the complete flow of the Skagit River will be controlled and harnessed, i.e. the river above Newhalem. . . . The dams on the upper Skagit built by the City of Seattle have unquestionably alleviated flood conditions in the lower valley and the greater storage planned for Ruby Lake will remove the menace, as long as the dams hold. . . . Skagit County’s Interest . . . Mr. Hoffman, who is no stranger to Skagit County, wants our people to know more about the Skagit project and take a deeper interest in it. . . . He would like us to feel that these dams are reservoirs have given us greater security against lower valley floods. . . . Some day we hope we may utilize some of this power created by our own river. It is our project as well as Seattle’s. |
Upper Skagit Dams As Much Skagit County’s Project As Seattle’s Praises J.D. Ross.
Transformed a raging, rushing river, into a modern gigantic hydroelectric power system.
Taken floodwaters and removed the menace of annual disaster to the rich and broad valley lands below.
Wanted legislature to annex dam sites into Skagit County.
Diablo Lake 100 feet deep and 8 miles long.
Gorge powerhouse opened in 1924.
“…practically the complete flow of the Skagit River will be controlled and harnessed…”
Dams have unquestionably alleviated flood conditions in the lower valley and the greater storage planned for Ruby Lake (Ross Lake) will remove the menace, as long as the dams hold. |
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soil experts to rush work on river here -- u.s. army cooperating to speed erosion prevention Fred Martin, chairman of the soil conservation district supervisors, announced yesterday that the U.S. Army engineers were cooperating in the erosion-siltation control project now being set up by the Soil Conservation District. Mr. Martin received data sheets and maps from previous surveys by the engineers in Hamilton-Sedro-Woolley sector of the Skagit River. In their letter the army engineers made it clear that before any construction work is done on the river, the Soil Conservation District must file with the army engineers complete engineering plans for channel changes or any bank revetment work. The army is concerned with impediments that might be a hazard to up stream navigation. . . . The construction in the three critical points, Utopia school, Wiseman creek and the head of Skiyou slough, will then go forward as county financing of the project is cleared up and army engineer’s approval is secured on the proposals. |
Corps Wanted Plans For Proposed Erosion Control Work
Work near the Utopia school, Wiseman Creek and the head of Skiyou was proposed. Corps concerned about channel changes creating “impediments” to upstream navigation. |
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skagit river and probable new hatcheries, considered With the Skagit river listed as the second most valuable stream in the State of Washington, from the fisheries standpoint, representing as it does a total value of some $1,600,000 from takes for commercial and sport fishing, the state department of fisheries is scheduling a post-war fisheries program headed by the creation of a Skagit river fish hatchery and three large stations on the main Skagit river for the study of fishing, greater spawning areas and general protection of river assets now available in Skagit county. |
Fish Issue
Commercial and sport fishermen represented $1,600,000 in Skagit fish takes. |
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progress reported on plan to stop erosion on skagit Upriver erosion control progress was reported, a study of the dike and drainage district problems was instituted, and a rather complete summary of the 35 years of change on the Skagit river was reported by Captain Forest Elwell, at the first meeting of the County Planning Commissions’ new committee on the Skagit river and water resources, held in the Mt. Vernon Junior college last Monday evening, September 27. . . . Captain Forest Elwell, long time Skagit river pilot, outlined 35 years of change on the river from Marblemount to the mouth. The gradual elimination of more than a dozen ox-bows including the big Sorenson Bend and Sterling Bend has reduced the rivers length by 25 miles, Captain Elwell estimated. He pointed out that the river has been increased in velocity by the shortening process until increased silt in the lower reaches of the river is steadily reducing the rivers capacity between already restricted dikes. The present diking system is far from adequate, competent engineers have stated. In Captain Elwell’s opinion the Avon cut-off will relieve the flood problem on the flats but he raised the question, “For how long.” |
Skagit River Increasing in Velocity
The “shortening” of the Skagit River deserves further discussion. While Captian Elwell is correct that some “oxbows” have disappeared, others have formed. In October 1919 the Corps of Engineers wrote “The Skagit River is ordinarily navigable from its mouth to Concrete, a distance of 58 miles, and at times of high water 38 miles higher.” (Source: J. A. Woodruff, Lt. Col. USACOE, Report dtd 10/10/19). In 1925 the Corps wrote, “Baker River junction with the Skagit 58 miles above Skagit mouth.” Today’s GIS maps show Baker River junction at RM 56.5. 1.5 miles shorter, not 25 miles. |
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Upper River Erosion Work Hoped For Yet This Fall
Final soundings were taken yesterday afternoon preparatory to the proposed driving of piling dolphins on the upper Skagit river in an effort to slow down flood currents and curtail erosion, County Engineer H.O. Walberg reported. The engineer hopes to set rows of dolphins extending outward from the river banks at erosion points before the late fall and early winter high water season sets in. . . . The new approach to the erosion project fits in with future plans for river bank protection, Walberg said. Use of dolphins to catch debris and bring about deposit of silt was first tried in the Avon diking district nearly 34 years ago. Today, he said, the river has completely filled in a bad wash that occurred in 1909. |
New approach to flood control. Use of dolphins to catch flood debris and deposit silt.
Dolphins first used in Avon after 1909 flood. |
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flood control council urges warning plan – valley in danger from floods last winter; cold prevents Flood possibilities in the Skagit valley last winter were the worst on record, it was learned by the Skagit county delegates attending the Puget Sound flood control meeting in Chehalis last Saturday, October 9. The snows were the deepest on record, the rains had saturated the lowlands and the upstream dams were full. The only thing that saved the valley was the fact that the temperature remained very low throughout the winter and stayed low for most of the summer. Such a threat, little known by the average citizen, lead the flood control council to recommend that Skagit county immediately take steps to set up a flood warning system. |
Flood Early Warning System
Skagit County dodged a bullet.
Skagit County needs a flood early warning system. |
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skagit flood control work starts soon – county gives $5,000.00 – warning system is being prepared With engineering studies nearing completion, piling purchased, and a $5,000 appropriation from the county commissioners, flood control work in the Utopia area will be started soon…Captain Forest Elwell of the Parker Tugboat company, reported that he had dynamited a log jam on the Wolfe place which should release the erosion both above and below the jam. . . . Plans for the flood warning system which the U.S. weather bureau, Seattle, has offered to set up were described and the committee learned that no local expense will be involved. The committee’s job will be to find cooperative and competent persons in the upper Sauk, Suiattle, Cascade and Baker River areas to report rainfall and river conditions daily during a potential flood period. . . . A local agency interested and willing to act as the discriminating body when a warning should be made over the Skagit flats that a flood is on its way must be found also and three have been suggested: county engineers office, the SCS or the State Department of Forestry with offices in Sedro-Woolley. |
Flood Early Warning System
Log jam in the Utopia area dynamited.
Residents on Sauk, Suiattle, Cascade and Baker Rivers were to be “river watchers”.
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crew of men now at work on revetment – building big mat for diverting current near skiyou On the Reese place the Skagit has been gouging a progressively deeper U-shaped hole, extending in length about 800 feet above the entrance to Skiyou slough, a channel which could bypass the Skagit’s flow should active erosion eat away the protecting bank. It is the plan to divert the river’s attack by building out a floating, interlaced mat of large trees, interlaced mat of large trees, complete with branches. These hemlock, firs, maple and alders now are being dragged to the bank area and being jostled and lashed into position with cables anchored to a series of buried “deadmen” inland. Out in front a 1,000 foot stretch of cable, to which a tree raft will be anchored, will straighten out the bank line and act as the main baffle mat. This extended mat is intended to slow down the current, catch debris and gradually build up a thick wall to keep swirling flood waters away from the bank. |
Interesting Bank Erosion Project
The description of this project is entirely different then what they did at Sterling and Burlington. Sounds kind of like an artificial log jam against the river bank. |
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river crew’s work proves o.k. in flood – new rock and tree mat prevents damage at skiyou slough Mud spattered battalions of the county engineer’s office are flushed with their first victory in the major battle against the Skagit river, which last week rolled back her banks and went on a brief but record flood rampage. . . . Last Friday’s torrential rains precipitated premature test of this engineering theory, which has been regarded with skepticism by some side-line “engineers.” The Skagit started climbing a foot an hour and finally topped her banks. Although overflow water entered Skiyou slough, the bank did not gouge out. Witnesses who watched the river’s rise and saw the debris and logs bob by, claim that the brush mat was instrumental in deflecting the river enough to protect the bank at the slough entrance. Rock in place withstood the current that did hit the bank. Since neither the mat or rock work was completed, the success is noteworthy. |
DECEMBER 3, 1943 FLOOD USGS Concrete 65,200 cfs (28.4).
Record flood rampage? Flood was barely over flood stage.
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sportsmen protest closing skagit river for fishingV. Effective April 1 and through the period ending May 27, the Skagit river will be closed for its entire length from the government marker on saltwater to the Canadian border. |
Fish Issue |
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Grocery Store Ad |
Salmon or Halibut 39 cents per pound |
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Seattle Angler Vote Defeats Skagit Plea
State Council Declines to Back Reopening of River in April-May Period
Opposition of Seattle anglers swung the Washington Sports Council against supporting the newly-formed Skagit Sportsmen’s association demand for keeping the Skagit River open to fishing during the next two months, Acting President Floyd McKeon reported following his return from the Council’s weekend session at Yakima.
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Fish Issue
12 members of the council were from Seattle and 1 was from Everett. |
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Editorial – Closing Skagit Not Enough
The commission’s closure order may have been ill-advised, or at least unnecessary in itself; certainly, the manner of its making was ill-advised and most unfair. . . . And little was said or heard of the decision to close the river for two months until the commission issued its 1944 season regulations in printed form a short time ago. Skagit County fishermen feel they should have had something to say about what was done to their river fishing grounds. They feel, too, that, granted the river’s fish population does need some attention; there are factors other than the take of the anglers that may be diminishing the steelhead runs. Why doesn’t the game commission do something about the seal herds that are reported to be invading the delta in increasing numbers—they’re voracious when it comes to fish—and why doesn’t the commission take some steps toward wiping out some of the birds that continually prey on small fish up and down the river? Not to mention a stronger fish hatching and planting program? These are some of the questions Skagit fishermen are asking. . . . The game department should have to answer more fully than just to say, “We have set a precedent for closing streams that have flipper or cut-throat runs at this time of year.” |
Fish Issue
Steelhead runs diminishing. Is this the beginning of the impacts of the dams?
Editor blames seals and birds.
Game Dept. allegedly was protecting cut-throat runs. |
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game protector splane cites reasons for skagit closingSo much interest and open condemnation of the state game department was expressed by sportsmen and others, following the recent announcement of the closing of the Skagit for its entire length to all sport fishing, from the first of April to the twenty-eighth of May that it seemed advisable to contact Game Protector Morris Splane and learn the game department’s side of the story. . . . Splane gave the following reasons for the closing of the Skagit . . . “…Fundamentally it was for the management of the steelhead and cutthroat in the costal waters, and for their protection during two periods or stages in their life’s history. We have assembled considerable data which indicates that the majority of young steelhead go to salt water when the approximately two years of age. At this time many of them, if not most of them, are legal sized fish. Their migration from fresh to salt water extends over a period of several months. It is heaviest from about the first of April to the middle of May. It has been found that these fish may be readily taken at this time and it follows that if the catch of these immature fish is large, the numbers of returning adults is proportionately reduced. Therefore, in order to avoid depletion from this cause, we find that it is necessary to have a closed period so as to guarantee a sufficiently large escapement. In some of the streams, such as the Skagit, returning adult steelhead will ascend the stream during every month of the year. The winter run fish reach the peak of their run from February to April. . . . Also remember that steelhead are primarily a four year fish- that is, they reach maturity at the age of four years. …” |
Skagit Closed to Sports Fishermen.
Protection of steelhead and cutthroat primary reason for closing river from April 1 to May 28th.
Steelhead take 4 years to reach maturity. |
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4/1/44 |
New Dam 23 Stories High
Working together to promote their Puget Sound-Cascade region, members of Puget Sound Utilities Council point to this 23-stories high Skagit River Gorge dam now under construction. Costing nearly 15 million dollars, it will add 43,000 kilowatts to present output of Seattle City Light’s Gorge powerhouse. It will be 670 feet wide, 285 feet high. New Gorge high dam is part of 700 million dollar program of Council members to boost power supply to meet regions coming growth, as outlined in a Council brochure. |
Gorge Dam
Under construction. |
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skagit soil district helps farmers in drainage plansSupervisors of the Skagit Soil Conservation District this week plan to “make the dirt fly” on 3750 lineal feet of open ditch construction on the Curt Wiles place, on the East Fork of Nookachamps Creek. Jack Turner, of Bow, has been engaged to complete the project with his power shovel. The drainage job is one of several in progress under the sponsorship and technical guidance of the Skagit District. . . . East Fork of Nookachamps creek is well known to local people because of the aggravated drainage problem present. Logs coming down stream during earlier logging days clogged up the stream and became compacted and then silted, until today the stream bed runs about three feet above the level of the surrounding territory. The long time drainage program to be worked out by the Skagit Soil Conservation District not only will benefit individual farmers and the general area, but also should help restore fish populations in this obstructed stream. |
SCS Helps Nookachamps Farmers
Nookachamps Creek became silted in and no longer carried water in channel. Project said to help fish. |
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tugboat skipper relates his adventures on skagit riverFor forty years a tugboat skipper on the boisterous Skagit river, Captain F. M. Elwell drew upon his rich background of experiences to give Rotarians, on March 30, a colorful flashback to the county’s pioneer days, when Sauk was the upriver terminus for daily tugboat service between it and Seattle. . . . Tug boating on the Skagit began when log towing was started, after the daily freight run between Seattle and Sauk ended. Sauk, jumping off place for pack string trains to the upper valley’s mining centers, was then a busy terminal, boasting a newspaper, The Sauk Journal. . . . The Skagit has changed considerably during Elwells’ tug boating career. Sternwheelers formerly required three hours to make the run from Mount Vernon to Sedro-Woolley. Present day tugs can make the trip in an hour and a half, because of the shortened distances caused by the river straightening out ox bow bends, principally at Sterling. Other river stretches where channel changes have cut out ox bows are at Lyman, where elimination of three bends reduced nine miles of water to three, and between Marblemount and Rockport, where twelve miles have been dropped to four. . . . Upper river dams have little to do with flood control on the Skagit, according to Elwell. A bad flood year can occur again if winter conditions are right, such as heavy snowfall with continued rains or a thawing Chinook. If such a flood should occur, the Skagit flats are in for trouble because the present channel of the South Fork is silted up to the level of the surrounding land. An inadequate dike system, not designed for a prolonged flood, is the only bulwark against flood waters and would not last long. The South Fork should be dredged or a head opened up to allow water to scour out some of the silt, according to Elwell. |
Skagit River Changed Over Time
Sternwheelers used to take 3 hours from Mt. Vernon to Sedro-Woolley. Now only takes 1.5 hours due to Sterling cut-off.
3 ox bows eliminated at Lyman. Reduced river by 6 miles. Between Marblemount and Rockport 12 miles reduced to 4.
“Upper river dams have little to do with flood control.”
“An inadequate dike system, not designed for a prolonged flood, is the only bulwark against flood waters and would not last long.”
(See CT article 9/30/43 for related story.) |
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$25,000 damage caused by flood -- northern state hospital water reservoir washed out when hanson creek runs wild; prairie family escapes death; home ruined Heavy damage to the Northern state hospital’s intake reservoir dams on Hanson creek near the hospital was caused last Sunday when a log jam in a ravine above the dams was broken up by flood waters and the logs sent smashing with destructive force against the concrete structures. Cost of repair of the dams will approximate $25,000, hospital authorities stated. . . . Torrential rains last week near the headwaters of Hanson creek swelled the stream to unprecedented floor stage and swept the log jam downstream, from where it had been lodged for several years in the ravine. The logs were the accumulation of abandoned cuttings from a logging operation in the nearby hills several years ago and residents of that vicinity estimated that there were perhaps a thousand logs packed in the ravine, many of them of great size. Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Gaston, who reside about two miles below the dam, and near Hanson creek, narrowly escaped death when the huge mass of logs crashed through their premises riding a six-foot wall of swirling water. Giant logs smashed against the Gaston residence, carrying away the entire outer wall of a bedroom and doing an estimated $1,000 property damage. . . . About 100 yards distant, across Hanson creek from the Gaston residence, a two-acre field seeded to clover was ruined by the flood. . . . A county bridge across Hanson creek, joining the Flaherty road with the old “C. C. C.” road, and located between the Gaston and Hill residences, was destroyed by the deluge of logs and rushing water and the creek bed at this point was filled in to a depth of five feet with muck and sand. . . . The Samish river was at its highest peak in history last week and flood waters covered hundreds of acres of farm land, but without causing material damage. |
Hanson Creek Flooding
Heavy rains cause log jam from logging operation to break loose and damaged intake reservoir dams on Creek.
Resulting landslide and flood almost killed local farming family living along Hanson Creek.
Bridge over Hanson Creek destroyed.
Samish River at highest peak in history. |
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skagit river poses threat in lyman area -- great northern roadbed endangered; farms damaged Unless corrective steps are taken, Skagit river eventually may change its course at a point near Lyman and flow directly into Minkler lake, located about four miles east of Sedro-Woolley. That is the opinion of river experts who have studied the vagaries[12] of Skagit river at this point for years. Natural outlet of an overflow from Minkler lake would be along a course of such an overflow, according to engineering surveys. . . . Actual damage near Lyman so far is the destruction of about 20 acres of valuable farm land washed out by the encroaching river. . . . Potential danger of the situation may be summed up in the threat to rich valley land lying between Minkler Lake and Sedro-Woolley. In less than two years the river channel, to a narrow land passage between the two being now within 25 feet of Great Northern roadbed. . . . The river is cutting a new channel to the north about one-eighth mile west of Lyman and evidence of this northward trend in general is borne out by the fact that all sloughs north of the river in this area are filling to overflow point, while those south of the river are drying up, according to Fred Hagen, local fisherman and guide. Hagen has spent a number of years as a fisherman on the river and is well acquainted with the surrounding territory. . . . At Minkler lake, surface water already is flowing between the lake at Skagit river’s new course and local residents expressed the belief that a confluence of the two will result before very long unless something is done. There is relatively little natural earth barrier separating the two at present, they pointed out. Should this barrier be eliminated, the river would include Minkler lake in its new course and egress from the lake would be down the valley towards Sedro-Woolley it was reminded. County Commissioner E.C. Carr stated this week that he does not consider the Minkler lake situation “particularly alarming” at this time, but that rapid changes are possible if the river should get out of hand at Ross Island point, below Lyman. |
Skagit Could Change Course Into Minkler Lake
Natural course of Skagit used to be through Minkler Lake when river used to flow into the Samish River basin.
River cutting new channel one-eighth mile west of Lyman.
Surface water already flowing between the lake and Skagit River new course. Would allow Skagit to flow towards Sedro-Woolley. |
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Skagit Flood Warning System Arranged By Weather Bureau Creation of flood warning system for the entire Skagit valley with emergency service to spread the alarm in event of dangerous conditions was announced today to Attorney A. H. Ward of Sedro-Woolley, chairman of the water resources committee of the Skagit county planning commission. The warning system will be sponsored jointly by the United States weather bureau and Skagit county commissioners with various county officials, public and private agencies and individuals cooperating. It involves daily rainfall, snow and river level reports from various cooperators located at 10 strategic points throughout the Skagit basin. . . . As the project develops and forecasts are based on information obtainable in the upper reaches of the Skagit, it will be possible to utilize power dams to aid in controlling the river. Weather bureau officials pointed out that by holding the crest of an upper Skagit flood at Ross dam for only three hours might permit a Sauk river crest to pass harmlessly whereas the combined crest of both streams might result in great losses to farmers and other residents of the valley. |
Flood Early Warning System
Value in storage behind dams.
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Rockport Group Requests Better Ferrying Service |
Rockport residents wanted better ferry service. |
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Editorial People of the Rockport community are petitioning the commissioners for better ferry service or those who must cross the river. The county engineer told their representatives that they should have had a bridge long ago but for war time conditions. |
Supported Rockport residents who wanted better ferry service |
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Large Fish Hatchery Will Be Situated Near Marblemount Announcement was made last week that land had been purchased near Marblemount for the site of the Skagit Fish Hatchery, for which $150,000 in funds was appropriated at the last legislature. The state fisheries, department hopes to have the new Skagit county salmon hatchery in operation within the next year, staff chiefs and members of the state legislature’s joint interim committee on fisheries announced. |
Fish Issue New salmon hatchery proposed.
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County Engineers Begin Diagrammatic Sketch For River Survey County engineers this week have begun a diagrammatic sketch of the Skagit and Samish River watersheds preparatory to submitting the drawing to Congressman Henry Jackson and a group of United States engineers who will be in this district soon investigating flood control needs locally. . . . During months of high run off the Nooksack overflows into the Samish causing an unnecessary rise of that river’s level, and creating additional flood hazards south in Skagit county. Plans for a dike on the division line of flat land are being considered. . . . It was ascertained by Walberg that glacial water came down through the Samish last winter, possibly from the Nooksack overflow. |
This is the first written record obtained that the Nooksack used to flow into the Samish.
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Skagit-Samish Flood Control Survey Planned Serious erosion at points along the Skagit, and flood danger on the Samish have imperiled farms throughout the district, and agriculturists hope that such conditions can be remedied before greater damage can occur. While the rapid erosion which was washing away farmland at Utopia has been lessened, 200 feet of land bordering the river near the mouth of Nookachamps creek have eroded, changing the course of the river and facilitating further erosion on raw banks. Lee Wright, assistant county engineer, stated that “All along the Skagit river, banks are dissolving and new channels opening up because of erosion. Between Sedro-Woolley and Lyman, where flows have been routed from old courses and in some places have begun working back, is one of the most critical spots along the river.” . . . Problems on both the Skagit and the Samish are represented on a map now being drawn up, which will acquaint Jackson with the flood and erosion districts. Last year the Skagit rose high enough in the Nookachamps area to inundate both grazing and farmlands. Previous surveys of the Utopia-Skiyou area have advanced the possibility of re-routing the river through Dead Man’s slough, thus reducing erosion in the present channel. However, as yet no plans have been formulated for dealing with the situation in the Lyman area. |
More Erosion Problems
200 feet near Nookachamps Creek eroded into river. “All along river banks eroding.”
Skagit eventually eroded back into Deadman’s Slough and is now main channel. |
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Problems of Skagit River Discussed at Mt. Vernon Meeting Problems of Skagit and Samish rivers were aired at a public gathering called in Mount Vernon Tuesday to better acquaint the office of Congressman Henry T. Jackson and army engineer with the two rivers and the needs to be met. . . . No definite program as to the future work on the two rivers was presented, the purposes of the session being to obtain material and data on the history of the two streams, the present problems, and the problems which might arise in the future. . . . The lone government proposal for the prevention of floods on Skagit river, adopted in 1936, is the Avon by-pass, which has been deemed impractical by local residents inasmuch as it absorbs much valuable land and since it necessitates expenditures of local funds estimated at between $1,000,000 and $3,800,000. . . . “Interesting geological facts are that at one time the Suiattle and lower Sauk rivers reached tide water through the Stillaguamish River in Snohomish and that the upper six miles of the south fork of the Sauk River was once the head of the south fork of the Stillaguamish.” |
Avon By-Pass
No definite proposal other than By-Pass which was deemed impractical.
Sauk River used to flow into the Stillaguamish River.
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Must Control Skagit River Says McLean Stressing the fact that Skagit river is this county’s most valuable resource as well as most serious danger, W. A. McLean, chairman of the county planning commission, spoke before the Monday evening meeting of the Burlington Parent-Teaches’ association. . . . the Skagit river as the county’s principal resource providing irrigation, electrical energy, transportation, as well as commercial and sport fishing, deserved the attention of the county planning bodies. With the gradual closing of the south fork opens the possibility of a breakup in the north which would completely flood the valley if the river is not controlled systematically, warned McLean. Now under consideration by the county commission is an emergency flood gate in the Allen-Fredonia district and a main flood control project between Concrete and Sauk. |
Skagit poses “serious danger.”
Planning Commission considering “main flood control project between Concrete and Sauk.” |
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Storm Results In 2 Deaths; Lower Valleys Flooded Although sunny skies averted threats of more serious storm damage in this area today, two deaths were attributed indirectly to the storm. Louis Betschart, 37, of route 1, Sedro-Woolley, died yesterday afternoon following a heart attack which occurred when he and a companion, Ed Selff, were attempting to rescue a skiff that had broken loose in the flood waters of the Skagit river. Betschart, while rowing a boat in the turbulent waters of the Skagit near his home at Utopia, collapsed apparently from over-exertion. Efforts to revise him with the aid of a resuscitator failed. The body was removed to the Lemley mortuary. Lyle McNeil of Auburn also was the victim of a fatal heart attack while he and a hunting companion B. H. Yenter, route 1, Sedro-Woolley, were rowing a boat near the Chester Leamer farm southwest of Mount Vernon. The two men saw another boat in difficulty and went to assist the occupants, Wilbur M. Snyder and R.E. Adams, both of Seattle. Whel McNeil attempted to reach for an oar in the other boat, he was stricken and died immediately. . . . Nookachamps valley on route 4, Mount Vernon, is reported to be flooded with many houses surrounded. Telephone communications were out in that sector today. George Dynes’ Riverview poultry farm was partly under water with chickens roosting on top of the chicken houses. A number of the poultry were reported lost in the flood, and attempts were being made to bring the others to safety. The Samish River flooded during the night, with only trucks moving over the Chuckanut highway in the Allen area. |
OCTOBER 26, 1945 FLOOD USGS 102,000 cfs Concrete (34.0), 94,300 cfs Mt. Vernon (30.25) Comparable to 1982 flood at Concrete and second flood of 1989 at Mt. Vernon. 2 men suffer heart attacks while rowing boat in flood waters.
George Dynes poultry farm in Nookachamps flooded, chickens died.
Samish River flooded. |
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Rainfall at Diablo 8.7 In. Oct. 24-25 Extraordinary rainfall--a total of approximately 11 in. --was recorded by the weather station at Diablo for the week ending October 27. October 24, with 6.49 inches of precipitation and October 25th, with 2.21 in. were the worst days. The water behind Ross Dam was raised 18.5 feet to the maximum height possible with the present construction. This impounded 25,660 acre feet of water and took the peak off the flood which descended on the Skagit valley from the drainage area below the dam. |
Rainfall & Ross Dam 8.7 inches in 48 hours.
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11 Inches of Rain Recorded In Week At Diablo Station Extraordinary rainfall – a total of approximately 11 inches – was recorded by the weather station at Diablo for the week ending October 27. Heaviest rainfall was recorded on October 24, with 6.49 inches of precipitation, and October 25, with 2.21 inches. . . . Residents of Marblemount, Newhalem, Diablo and Ross Dam were marooned for three days, while every available City Light man worked to get traffic lines open. . . . the water in back of Ross Dam was raised 18.5 feet, to the maximum possible with the present construction. This impounded 25,660 acre feet of water and took the peak off the flood which descended on the Skagit valley from the drainage area below the dam. Enough flood water was stopped by Ross Dam to cover 25,000 acres of land more than a foot deep, had it not been held back, said City Light officials. Completion of the second step of the dam, now under construction, will create an even more effective flood control, company officials pointed out. |
11 inches of Rain over 7 days at Reflector Bar
6 inches in one day. 8.5 inches in two days. Ross dam attributed to withholding 25,000 cfs. Completion of dam will provide “even more flood control” local residents told by City Light. This would have made 1945 flood event close to 1975 event had not storage been available.
Ross Lake raised 18.5 feet. |
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Flood Warning System Set Up; Forecasts Planned
Creation of a flood warning system for the entire Skagit Valley with emergency service to spread the alarm in event of dangerous conditions was announced Wednesday by A.H. Ward of Sedro Woolley, chairman of the Water Resources committee of the Skagit County Planning commission. The warning system will be sponsored jointly by the U.S. Weather Bureau and Skagit County Commissioners, with various county officials, public and private agencies and individuals cooperating. It involves daily rainfall, snow and river level reports from various cooperators located at ten strategic points throughout the Skagit basin. These reports will be telephoned or telegraphed at 8 o’clock each morning to the Seattle office of the weather bureau and the information coordinated there. Experienced personnel will then be able to compute river levels for several hours in advance after having studied the previous action of the river from accumulated data. . . . Whether flood warnings can be issued accurately this winter is problematical since it has not yet been agreed at what river stage a warning should be necessary. . . . Flood warnings, when issued, probably will be of two types. One would be to “advise” that conditions were such that a flood might be expected. The other warning would be that a flood of a certain crest was on its way. As the project develops and forecasts are based on information obtainable in the upper reaches of the Skagit, it will be possible to utilize power dams to aid in controlling the river. Weather bureau officials pointed out that the holding of the crest of an upper Skagit flood at Ross dam for only three hours might permit a Sauk river crest to pass harmlessly whereas the combined crest of both streams would result in great losses to farmers and other residents of the valley. |
FLOOD EARLY WARNING SYSTEM
Utilized telephones, telegraphs, sheriff deputies, firefighters, and milk truck drivers to “spread the word”.
“. . . it will be possible to utilize power dams to aid in controlling the river.” Holding crest behind Ross for 3 hours “might” permit Sauk River crest to pass harmlessly. |
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Skagit Valley To Have Flood Warning Soon Creation of a flood warning system for the entire Skagit valley with emergency service to spread the alarm in event of dangerous conditions was announced today by Attorney A.H. Ward of Sedro-Woolley, chairman of the water resources committee of the Skagit county planning commission. . . . As the project develops and forecasts are based on information obtainable in the upper reaches of the Skagit, it will be possible to utilize power dams to aid in controlling the river. Weather bureau officials pointed out that by holding the crest of an upper Skagit flood at Ross dam for only three hours might permit a Sauk river crest to pass harmlessly whereas the combined crest of both streams might result in great losses to farmers and other residents of the valley. |
Flood Early Warning System So much for the weather bureau knowing what they were talking about. (3 hrs?) It would be interesting to someday follow up and see why this system was not put into place as it clearly was not used as late as 1975. Later articles/documents suggest that a much scaled down version of this plan was implemented and then canceled. |
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11/22/45 |
new system to warn valleyites of floods -- reports of water levels at 10 strategic points to be taken daily; public to be informed Creation of a flood warning system for the entire Skagit valley with emergency service to spread the alarm in event of dangerous conditions was announced recently by Attorney A. H. Ward of Sedro-Woolley, chairman of the Water Resources Committee of the Skagit County Planning Commission. |
Flood Early Warning System
Individuals were going to be hired to monitor river at strategic locations and they would phone in river levels. |
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Flood Council Has Talks On Skagit Basin H.O. Walberg, president, and L.J. Wright, vice-president, represented Skagit County when the 13th annual meeting of the Puget Sound Flood Control Council was held December 1 at the Seattle Chamber of Commerce. . . . Col. Hardy disclosed that his office is now making a review of the Skagit river report which recommended the construction of the Avon bypass, and indicated that a conclusion more favorable to the county may be reached during 1945. |
Corps Reevaluating Avon By-Pass |
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bids on new fish hatchery to open in april; building to be completed end of next year Bids will be open the first of April for the construction of the new state game department fish hatchery to be located above Marblemount, Milo Moore, state director of fisheries stated at a meeting of the Sedro-Woolley Wildcat Steelhead club at the American Legion hall here last Friday evening, which was attended by state director of game Don Clarke and other officials. The new, modern hatchery for which land has already been purchased and money appropriated, will be completed by the end of next year, Moore said. An appropriation of $129,000, plus an additional grant of $118,000 recently approved by Governor Wallgren, will assure Skagit county and the northwest one of the finest salmon hatcheries possible, it was pointed out. The new plant will have forty 20X80 ft. rearing ponds capable of holding 25,000 salmon fry at the start of operation. When completed the hatchery will be capable of liberating 75,000 fish a year of an average length of five inches. |
New Fish Hatchery In Marblemount
$247,000 grant for construction. Would be capable of producing 75,000 5 inch fish per year. |
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Dams Menace Salmon Runs Stating that new proposals for dams in state waters are threatening the very existence of Washington’s salmon runs, Milo Moore, state director of fisheries, has announced creation of a new division of his department to determine the requirements of fish life at these new developments. . . . Vigorous planning and a sensible distribution of available water supplies are the only means of providing a balanced state economy, said Moore in announcing plans for the new division. |
Washington Fisheries Worried About Dam Impacts on Fish Dams threaten the existence of Salmon runs. |
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new skagit hatchery is a product of experiments and scientific knowledge The hatchery which is intended as a rearing station, from which the Skagit, Nooksack, Stillaguamish Rivers and their tributaries will be stocked, will operate 40 concrete rearing pounds 80 feet long and 20 feet wide. . . . Jordan Creek, a cool mountain stream, will furnish the main water supply which will be supplemented by the almost constant temperature spring water of Clark Creek. . . . Each rearing pond will begin the season with the introduction of 150,000 young salmon. . . . The overall capacity of the station will include more than four million fish reared for a period of three months or more, and in addition approximately a million and a half will be retained and released as yearlings. . . . The Skagit hatchery has evolved as a product of the experiments and scientific knowledge gained by the State Department of Fisheries through years of experience. Actual construction is slated to begin in the spring of 1946, and the entire project will cost approximately $165,000. |
Marblemount Hatchery
Overall capacity of hatchery would be 4,000,000 fish per year raised for 3 months, plus 1,500,000 retained and released when they are one year old.
Construction to begin in Spring of 1946. |
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biologist williams assigned here to study and survey skagit fish runs In a move by the state game department to make close hand observations and studies of fish runs in the Skagit river and its tributaries, Biologist Douglas Williams has been assigned to Sedro-Woolley, where he will conduct extensive work for the next several years. The location of a biologist here for the sole purpose of studying the migratory runs of fish, especially in steelhead, in the Skagit, comes as a result of the game department’s decision to send biologists into the field where they can make first-hand observations and obtain data necessary for the perpetuation and eventual increasing of the fish runs. . . . The location of a biologist in this area is only logical, he said, as the Skagit has probably the largest run of steelhead and migratory fish in the state. |
Skagit Fish Runs To Be Studied
Study was to be conducted over several years. Should contact Fisheries Dept. and determine what happened to results of study.
Skagit has largest run of Steelhead in the state. |
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skagit river control vital government official states – d. a. williams, water conservation head, notes damage during inspection trips; says maintenance program is needed A temporary maintenance program for the Skagit river, to prevent soil erosion, and a really comprehensive flood control problem, with the co-operation of the federal government, is badly needed, according to D. A. Williams, chief of the water conservation division of the U.S. soil conservation office in Portland. He was here last week with Paul Dickey, head of the local soil conservation office, on an inspection tour of the Skagit river. . . . Now the department of agriculture has recognized that full attention to the use of the water of an area is as necessary as the best use of the soil, in the work of this division with individual farmers and farm groups. Williams said that much of the revetment work done on the Skagit river was under the WPA appropriation, has been of much help in controlling soil erosion, but the failure of the county to maintain some of this work has prevented it from being as much help as it might have been. There are now a good many danger spots in the river, from Utopia down, in which bank erosion is very severe. The October and November high water aggravated this condition, he said. . . . “The proper control of the Skagit river, both from bank erosion and from a flood danger point of view, is a big job and will involve the best of land-owners of the district and the co-operation of the county, state, and federal government. . . . Ultimately the program to control the situation must involve reforestation of badly denuded areas. This is more evident this year. A preventative maintenance program, with the removal of the worst trouble spots before they get serious, should be part of a far-sighted program and would save a lot of expense later on. There should be a maintenance crew working along the river at all times to accomplish this. The proposed Avon cutoff might be one feature of the long range plan, but this would not effect the stream bank above the site of the proposed cutoff. Engineers are now studying storage opportunities on the upper Skagit. . . . No accurate survey of the channel above Mt. Vernon is available. A permanent maintenance program is needed. By attending to a lot of little things now the big program which must be formed with federal, state and county co-operation will be greatly helped. The tendency is to ignore danger conditions until a serious flood occurs. Now is the time to act.” |
Soil Erosion a Problem
Cooperation of Federal Government badly needed.
Reforestation key element in flood control.
Maintenance crew of erosion control projects should be working at all times.
Avon By-Pass would not effect upstream property owners.
Long range program needed.
NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT!! |
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effort made to lessen flood threat – control of dam overflow asked by county officials In an effort to lessen the possibility of a major flood in Skagit county due to the record amount of snowfall now in the Cascades, the board of county commissioners and the Skagit County Planning council this week contacted by letter, heads of both the Seattle City Light and the Puget Sound Power and Light companies in a request that these concerns co-operate in regulating the flow of excess water over their respective dams on the Skagit and Baker rivers, and making more storage space available during the peak flow. Following is a copy of the letter written to Gene Hoffman, superintendent of City Light, and Frank McLaughlin, president of Puget Sound Power and Light, and signed by W. A. McLean, chairman of the planning council and James T. Ovenell, chairman of the board of commissioners: Gentlemen: The board of county commissioners and the Skagit County Planning council have requested that this letter be written in an effort to gain your help in solving a flood control problem. . . . We wonder if, through the cooperation of City Light and Puget Sound Power and Light it might be possible to avert potential disaster. It is our understanding that the existing dams on the Skagit, if proper regulation of water flow be had, can serve as an important agency toward preventing a flood. We understand also that as a perquisite to the grant of the right to place dams, the federal commission requires that the upper reaches of such dams be made to assist in flood control. . . . Those of us who have lived here all our lives know that the diking assistance can handle all but the last few feet of water. . . . We realize that the problem of City Light and Puget Sound Power and Light is to be sure that they have abundant water at all times. With the present snowfall there can be no doubt that sufficient water will be available. The difficulty is there will probably be far too much water. Would it not be possible, through full co-operation and intelligent regulation, for the storage levels to be maintained near the minimum requirement until the excess of melting snow comes through warm winds or warm weather, and when that does start so regulate the flow as to allow escape during its maximum periods. We appreciate the fact that the water that comes through the Skagit, as far up as the City Dam, is only 35% of the entire flow that reached the lower valley. We do feel, however, that there is sufficient margin of regulation to control the quantity of water that will prove dangerous at the peak flood time. . . . We cannot believe that a solution is impossible. This danger is acute; this large amount of snowfall is bound to come off during the next 90 days. If sufficient storage can be made available, it does seem that disaster might be averted. We ask you for your help and co-operation. |
PSPL & Seattle City Light Requested To Assist in Flood Control
Record snowfall stirred flood concerns.
Commissioners recognized important role dams can play in flood control.
Commissioners requested storage levels to be maintained near minimum requirement until after the snow melted.
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mcleod points out threat of dams to fishing at sportsmen’s banquet “You can kiss steelhead runs in the Skagit and sockeye runs at the Hope island goodbye if the army engineers go through with their plans of constructing a dam at Faber’s ferry.” Those were the words of Ken McLeod, well-known Seattle sportsman and writer who addressed a large gathering of sportsmen at the annual banquet of the Wildcat Steelhead club held here Thursday evening at the city hall. Faber Ferry on the Skagit river has already been surveyed by the army engineers as a site for a flood control dam. . . . The commercial and sport fishing value of over a million dollars annually as set by the department of fisheries, hardly scratched the surface, the speaker asserted. Taking into consideration the money spent by out-of-county fishermen who pay for meals, lodging, guides and sporting goods here, this figure comes close to 38 million, he said. |
Dams Threaten Fish Runs
Dam at Faber site would destroy steelhead runs.
Speaker valued sports fishing on the Skagit at 38 million dollars. |
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log raft on nookachamps It’s been forty years since log rafts were towed down Nookachamps creek, but the scene was re-enacted recently when Otto and Ruben (Tuffy) Boyd of Clear Lake brought out four rafts at different intervals through the narrow waters of that stream. These pictures, supplied through the courtesy of Art Ward of Sedro-Woolley, show (upper) Otto Boyd astride one of the rafts of white fir, spruce and cottonwood taken from the final stand of timber near the Nookachamps, and (lower) a raft of logs goes through one of the narrow passages of the creek. Believe it or not, for most of the voyages down the stream the Boyd brothers towed the rafts by rowboat with outboard motor attached. Measurements of a highway bridge on the way had to be taken before the rafts could safely negotiate under it. Near the mouth of the Nookachamps a towboat was brought in to finish the towing job to the booming area near LaConner. The logs were shipped to the Morris Mill company at Anacortes. |
Logs Floated to Market Down Nookachamps Creek |
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flood control action asked by committee – present plans would not be effective until 1955, report shows . . . In a letter to Congressman Jackson drawn up by the Water Resources Committee of the Planning Council, of which A. H. Ward of Sedro-Woolley is chairman, it was pointed out that the recent study of the Skagit conducted by the U.S. Engineering Corps will not leave the Seattle office until 1948 and will not be ready for congressional action until 1950. Effective construction work along the river could not begin until 1955. . . . The plan would call for study of the past habits of the Skagit indicating the changes in its course between the period 1932 and 1946 and working a master plan for easing the river into its most logical course and holding it there with rock revetment. Costs would be worked out from local funds and match state and federal funds. |
Corps Study’s Move Slowly Through System
Study would have looked at past habits of Skagit erosion and work on master plan for holding Skagit on a logical course. |
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farmland or fishing The question will soon arise as to which is more important, several acres of river Skagit valley bottom land or a river full of fish for the sportsman and the commercial fisherman. We are referring specifically to the unquestionable possibility of one or more flood control dams that may be erected on the Skagit river. Surveys for such a dam at the Faber ferry have already been taken and these water barriers have a habit of popping up suddenly, especially in periods of unemployment. If such a dam were to erected on the Skagit river it would mean the saving of several acres of rich soil that is being washed away by floods. However, on the other hand, it would in all probability mean the eventual elimination of the great migratory runs of fish in the river. Past experiences with river dams have proven that even with so-called efficient fish ladders, they have in many cases completely destroyed fish runs. Is the value of fish runs in the Skagit more or less that the threatened farm land? In our estimation and that of state game officials and sportsmen, the fishing value is by far greater. . . . It doesn’t make sense to save a few acres of farm land at the expense of one of our most important resources. |
What is More Important: Fish or Farms?
New dams would mean total destruction of fish runs.
The Faber site was just below Concrete. The Corps was looking at several sites. Upper Sauk, Lower Sauk, Faber, Upper Baker and others. Only Upper Baker was ever constructed. |
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skagit river flood control plan outlined – a h. ward says new plan will not harm local fisheries . . . To the Editor: Your editorial of June 20, entitled “Farm Land or Fishing” states that there is a pending conflict of interest between the fishermen and the farmers of this community over prospective flood control dams on the upper Skagit river and aligns the editorial policy of your paper with the fishermen and against the interests of the farmers. Your editorial represents that the damage done by the Skagit river is limited to the loss of a few acres of farmland. This is such an understatement as to amount to a misrepresentation of the facts. You have lived by the Skagit river for over a quarter of a century and you are personally acquainted with the families of the farmers in that community who have lost their entire farms through riverbank erosion. While you have lived here, you have seen the river carry away the earnings and savings of a lifetime of hard work invested in river bank farms. You know that this erosion will continue until some means if found to regulate the spring and fall run off of water to a more steady stream. . . . Your editorial completely ignores the matter of flood damage by the river. You state that the only work required on the river is channel straightening and riverbank revetments. Just how will river straightening and riverbank revetments eliminate the periodic flood damage in this valley? The engineers state that straightening the river course will increase the speed of the current, increase the danger of flash floods, and will increase erosion. A flood which measures more than 120,000 second feet of water at Sedro-Woolley will break the dikes and flood the lower valley. . . . Certainly the matter of preservation of fisheries is a part of this problem to be solved and a most important part. In any river improvement work done, provision must be made for saving our fisheries. The army engineers are working on part of this problem right now in survey being made. Before you start taking pot shots at the army engineers, why not wait and see what solution their report contains with respect to the saving of the Skagit river fisheries? There are many other problems in connection with the development and control of the Skagit river system besides erosion, floods and fisheries. There are the problems of development of recreational facilities, irrigation, reforestation and hillside erosion, and domestic water supplies. Will it be to the best interests of this community if your paper succeeds in dividing up the people of the valley into hostile factions, each fighting the other for the benefit of its favorite project? We request the support of your paper for a program of control and development of the water resources in the county which will not favor one of the elements over the other but which will attempt to reconcile and harmonize any conflict of interest between these various projects. A. H. Ward, Chairman, Water Resources Com. |
A.H. Ward, Local Attorney Responds To Anti-Dam Editorial.
Dams needed to lessen riverbank erosion.
Entire farms have been lost to erosion.
Editorial supported river straightening and riverbank revetments.
Straightening river would increase the speed of the current and would increase erosion.
Many problems due to flooding of Skagit. Recreational facilities, irrigation, reforestation and hillside erosion and domestic water supplies to name a few. |
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Skagit River Washing Away Lytle’s Burlington Farm Dropping off with loud splashes as the swirling waters dig deeper and deeper into the lower sand pocket is the land on the Austin Lytle farm about one and one half miles east of Burlington in Skagit county. Since last fall’s heavy rains and the winter’s heavy snow fall, the Skagit river has washed out more than 15 of his original 45 acres of fertile top soil, and Lytle, estimating conservatively said last week that at the same rate his house, now about 200 feet from the river, would be gone by Christmas. . . . “The river’s near its low depth for the year,” Farmer Lytle said as he watched salmon jump in the stream as it swirled past at a 6 mile per hour rate. Just then several large bits of dirt and sand broke away and washed down the river. . . . However on river control work, the county is putting in rock revetments at Utopia, some distance east, and has indicated it “might start work on the ‘Sterling bend’ about one half mile east, this year, but that isn’t saving us”, the farmer dishearteningly acknowledged. He indicated County Engineer Haljmar Walber and several of the county commissioners had evinced great interest in river control work, but lack of funds was holding up any work. Army and navy engineers, called in last fall for consultation said that the river would be hard to stop if it washed away the last 1,000 feet to the Dike road. After crossing the Dike road, it would be in an old slough which runs through Burlington and out to the city hospital and Darigold plant they said. The soft sand pocket runs west to the Dike road, the hungry river needing only time before it swallows up hundreds of acres of land. Harold Halvorson, owning the next farm east of Lytle’s has sand silt where he used to graze cattle, the river ruining the ground when it ate away and covered the land. |
Erosion in Sterling Bend on Earl Jones place.
Rock revetments went in Utopia.
Gages Slough
Soft sand pocket. Leonard Halverson’s dad. |
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waters drop in flooded areas east -- $20,000 damage results at fish hatchery; bridges out A fortunate change in the weather was all that prevented a flood of major proportions in the upper Skagit valley the early part of this week. As it was, considerable damage resulted from high waters after four days of torrential rainfall. . . . Wiseman and Hansen creeks, which washed over the roadway between Sedro-Woolley and Lyman, further damaged the already cracked and broken concrete highway and left silt and debris piled high. Fortunately, the Skagit river reached only bank full and failed to leave its course expect in a few minor instances. |
OCTOBER 25, 1946 FLOOD USGS 82,200 cfs Concrete (31.14), 64,900 cfs. Mt. Vernon (27.80). Didn’t reach flood stage at Mt. Vernon. Damage limited to streams and creeks. |
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Silvers Heavy Sockeyes are Normal At Dam
Over 7,000 silver salmon and 4,900 sockeye salmon have been placed over Baker River dam so far this season, according to Milo Moore, Director of Fisheries. . . . The Dept. of Fisheries and the power company are now studying ways and means of improving the traps and hoisting cars to eliminate injuries and to permit the rehabilitation of steelhead trout and Chinook salmon runs, now almost completely destroyed. . . . Studies being conducted by Dept. of Fisheries to be completed during coming winter. |
Fish Issue
Sockeye run normal but silver run is almost twice the size of any previous cyclic run since the construction of the Baker River Dam. Steelhead and Chinook almost completely destroyed. NOTE: Need to obtain studies from Fisheries. |
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funds for river improvements at utopia approved Final approval of the $15,000 emergency appropriation to take care of flood control on the Skagit river near Utopia, has now been secured, according to a letter to the Courier-Times from Congressman Henry M. Jackson. |
Utopia Funds Approved |
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complete plans for flood control in beaver lake area Engineering plans for the elimination of drainage and flood problems in the Beaver Lake area were completed this week by Roy Tuttle, SCS engineer. . . . Tuttle’s plan includes a drag line channel clearance job calculated to put the rampaging East Fork of the Nookachamps Creek back into its old channel, a short dike to be faced with quarried rock and also included a badly needed dredging job at the lower end of the project. “The Beaver Lake area has become a veritable jungle,” Tuttle said, “Excellent land has been inundated by the spreading creek, the land over the years has now grown up to alder and willow brush. The land is too wet to work. . . . During high water the creek actually flows back into Beaver Lake, rendering useless almost all the farm lands now drained by Drainage District No. 21’s choked up outlet.” |
Beaver Lake Flooding
Nookachamps Creek silted in. The area described in this article is believed to be near the current Tewalt Rock Quarry. During the 1990 and 1995 flood events the Skagit backed up into this area and local drainage had no place to go. |
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Editorial—It Could Happen
This week’s high stage of the Skagit river ought to remind us that rivers long kept in their places have a way of springing surprises. It’s been so long since the Skagit went on any serious rampage, near Mount Vernon, that it’s all too easy for the city to remain complacent about its defenses. It’s all too easy to ignore the widening gaps in the old piling bulwarks to “the dike”, to forget those feverish days and nights of other flood seasons when townsmen and countrymen fought the river as a real and threatening adversary, with shovel and sandbag. Much more of the Skagit basin’s timber went to the mills during the war years, and it’s still going. Which means that rains and melting snows reach the stream more rapidly than ever before. Isn’t it about time to look over our river defenses once more and plug the little gaps before they become destructive torrents? |
This flood event is undocumented in Corps and USGS records. |
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Skagit River Course May be changed, hughes
Chairman Lowell Hughes of the Skagit County Commissioners announced this week that a $100,000 project to send the Skagit river over a new course east of Burlington and eliminate the dangerous oxbow bend that has been eroding farmlands there might be undertaken this summer. . . . The proposal most likely to be adopted, Hughes indicated, is to open a new watercourse from the upper end of the Burlington bend to the lower end, where Nookachamps creek enters the main stream. This would be accomplished by digging a shallow course with heavy equipment and letting action of the river deepen and widen the new channel. Heavy erosion was observed during the May freshets in the Burlington Bend area. The eating away of the farmlands in the bend is still going on and may grow worse . . . Last year several farm buildings were lost to the river. Hughes said owners of property that would be affected by the new channel project are being contacted. . . . Only alternative to digging a new channel is a heavy revetment program around the bend, which would be much more costly. |
Cut a new channel through the Nookachamps.
Would have eliminated Strawberry Bar.
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Editorial—Courage To Do
The members of the board of Skagit County commissioners are well aware of the consequences of tinkering with the Skagit river’s course when they propose to “do something” about the stream’s steady encroachment on valuable farm lands east of Burlington and its threat to that city itself. That was made plain as day Tueday night when Chairman Lowell Hughes told a chamber of commerce industrial development audience here of the commissioners’ plans. Hughes’ frankness was refreshing, as he emphasized that “we are sticking our necks way out on this project.” So little had been said recently of the proposal to start the river on a new course designed to eliminate the river’s “oxbow” bend at Burlington and stop its present heavy erosion (erosion that has been moving ahead ominously during recent weeks’ high water) that Hughes’ comments took many by surprise. The spirit of courage, in undertaking a project of such magnitude with its many uncertainties, is commendable on the part of the commissioners. Eliminating the “Burlington Bend” of the Skagit probably will be only the beginning. The Skagit is a constantly shifting type of stream. One remedy may merely breed a new erosion problem at another point. Of this the county commissioners are well aware. But they are willing, backed by the best engineering advice they can obtain, to take the chances involved and to go ahead and try to do something about the river problem; that is much better than sitting back doing nothing for fear “something might happen”. Were the commissioners to take the latter course, there is danger that the whole lower Skagit valley might undergo drastic change. The flood control engineers agree that the river threatens to cut into Gages slough, on the south-eastern edge of Burlington and make a new channel through Whitney, or within eight or nine years to take out the Burlington-Sedro Woolley highway, the Great Northern right of way and work a new course running into the Samish river. Far-fetched? The engineers don’t believe so. |
Eliminating the “Burlington Bend”.
One mans flood control is another mans flood problem concept.
Worried about river changing course into Gages Slough. |
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Seattle Light Contributes to Hatchery Cost Milo Moore, state director of fisheries, today received a $54,950 check from Seattle City Comptroller W.C. Thomas to assist in financing construction of the state fish hatchery at Marblemount. The sum is in compensation for damage to eggs and small fish in the river above Marblemount due to the operation of the Seattle City Light department dams. Spawning Unaffected . . . It has been established however that operation of the dams caused damage to eggs and small fish in the river above Marblemount. This was verified for the city of Seattle by Trevor Kincaid, until recently a professor at the University of Washington. City Light’s contribution will pay for the construction of seven rearing ponds and related water supply and provide operating funds for nine years. Completed in Fall Twenty ponds are under construction and will be completed this fall. Twenty more will be built as soon as additional funds are available, making a total of 40 ponds. Approximately three million silver and Chinook Salmon and steelhead per year will be put into the Skagit River watershed by the new hatchery, Moore said. The number of fish planted will later be increased to six million per year. Clark Creek . . . [Milo Moore said] “City Light by its spirit of cooperation has demonstrated fine leadership in community planning. Through their understanding of the problems of conservation an important step has been taken for protecting the Skagit fisheries for future generations.” . . . Eighteen ponds will be used for salmon and two ponds for steelheads. . . . Results of the operation should be evident in from three to five years, Moore said. The run will continue to build up by increased natural spawning aiding by continuous hatchery operation. |
Director of Fisheries Prasies Seattle City Light
SCL to help pay for State operated hatchery at Marblemount. Operation of SCL dams caused damage to eggs and small fish in the river above Marblemount.
3 million silver and king salmon and steelhead per year will be put into the Skagit River. Later increased to 6 million. |
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River Channel to be Changed With State Aid
Nookachamps to Be Dredged and New Road Opened
County officials this week received assurances that the State Department of Conservation and Development would grant substantial financial aid in carrying out three major projects, the by-passing of the “Burlington Bend” in the Skagit river, the restoration of Nookachamps Creek to its old bed and the development of the Cascade mine-to-market road. . . . A state fund of $100,000 is expected to be made available (for Bend project). The commissioners are planning to get the river project underway soon and hope to see it completed before the late fall high water period. They propose to send the river through a new channel, on a straight line from the upper end of the Burlington ox-bow to the lower end, where Nookachamps creek enters. The state, the county and the drainage district involved are to pay a third each or about $6,000 apiece, to dredge out the old channel from which the Nookachamps creek moved last winter, and to clean out numerous log jams along the channel. The creek has spread “across country” for a mile, Hughes said. |
DCD was forerunner of State Dept of Ecology.
Nookachamps creek moved in 1946?? There was a flood event on 10/25/46, 31.14 at Concrete, 27.8 at Mt. Vernon. |
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County Changes Plans On River Cutoff Project Lowell Hughes, chairman of the board of county commissioners, today announced revision of engineering plans of Burlington Bend, switching back to the original bank revetment program. . . . “Plans were submitted last week to the army engineers for final approval,” stated Mr. Hughes, “but requirements placed upon the job by Colonel Hewett’s office makes it impossible for Skagit County to carry out the plan as originally proposed.” Demands Full Width “The stipulation which has brought about the change in the Burlington Bend erosion control plan is the requirement by the federal government that Skagit County either dredge the entire channel which the river will require, that is a stream bed approximately 400 feet wide, or that funds be put in escrow by the county for the future dredging downstream of the material removed by the river in establishing its normal channel width.” |
Burlington Bend Plans Change
County was going to cut a new channel across Strawberry Bar in order to stop erosion on Burlington side of the river. Corps demanded County dredge 400 ft channel or put funds into escrow for future dredging downstream. County refused to put funds into escrow, project was abandoned. |
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Plans For River switching get setback, Hughes
Rock Revetment to Be Used in Bend Above Burlington
. . . revision of engineering plans at Burlington Bend, switching back to the original bank revetment program. . . . “Plans were submitted last week to the Army Engineers for final approval,” said Hughes, “but requirements placed upon the job by Colonel Hewitt’s office makes it impossible for Skagit County to carry out the plan as originally proposed.” “The stipulation which has brought about the change in Burlington Bend erosion control plan is the requirement by the federal government that Skagit County either dredge the entire channel which the river will require, that is a stream bed approximately 400 feet wide, or that funds be put in escrow by the County for the future dredging down stream of the material removed by the river establishing its normal channel width.” Mr. Hughes pointed out that Skagit County is expending every effort to correct the present Burlington Bend, that funds are not sufficient to put money in escrow for such an unknown contingency, therefore, the Commissioners had only one choice to make, that of spending what money was available in rock reveting the worst sections, of the curve. |
Corps of Engineers kills plan. Wanted 400 ft wide channel or funds put into escrow for future dredging down stream. |
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Guest Editorial—Puget Sound Mail—More Fish Troubles
For months now the Puget Sound Mail has been trying to point out the danger of the dam building movement to the commercial fishing industry and trying to arouse LaConner fisherman to an organized effort to present the fishing industry’s story. Now it appears that the men who make their living by catching and processing fish have still another fight on their hands, that of over-zealous and short-sighted sportsmen who desire to eliminate most types of commercial fishing. It would appear to the Puget Sound Mail that the sports fishermen should get together to fight for a greater fish propagation, to carry the battle to those who would place dams where spawning grounds are endangered, rather than squabble among themselves.
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Fish Issue
Paper was against building dams because of their impact to the fishing industry. |
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Flood Project Still Unsettled A new river channel across the Burlington bend, or nothing, that seemed to be the consensus of the group of farmers residing in that area who met last night with Skagit County Commissioners, Burlington city officials, and representatives from the state department of conservation and development, U.S. Army Engineers and the county planning commission, of the city hall in Burlington. . . . Engineers’ Stand The Army Engineers’ stand on the matter was outlined last night by Byron Clark, assistant to Col. Hewitt, who was sent to the meeting by the latter. Clark said that Col. Hewitt’s job was concerned primarily with navigation of the Skagit River and he had to abide by certain rules and regulations governing the same. The colonel was not opposed to a new channel, Clark said, but he said that the channel would have to be wider than planned by state and county authorities and an amount of around $400,000 would have to be put in escrow to take care of possible damage by siltation below the cut. . . . County’s Part Lowell Hughes, chairman of the board of county commissioners, explained thoroughly the county’s part in the picture. Originally he said, both the county and the state had agreed on matching money for the new channel work. However when it was presented to the U.S. Army Engineers for the permit necessary for that office, the new stipulations were presented and the cost was more than either the county or state could possibly match. This meant, the commissioner added, that the only alternative to use present funds, would be to install rock revetment work along the most dangerous part of the Burlington bend. . . . Action Needed . . .Despite a plea from several authorities that rock revetment should be installed right away, now that it would be impossible to construct the channel, most of the farmers present stood pat on their decision for a new channel. Mr. and Mrs. Austin Lytle, whose farm has suffered the worst loss from erosion at Burlington Bend, stated that they would refuse to sign a damage waiver to allow the installation of rock revetment in place of the new channel. . . . Downstream Silt Another farmer asked the U.S. Army Engineers’ representative if he thought more downstream silt would result from the 16 acres of soil necessary to be removed to make a new channel, or the 24 acres that have already been washed from the Lytle farm and more that may be expected. . . . Actual work in constructing a new cutoff amounts to the removal of 271,000 cubic yards of dirt for the 1,600 feet of distance, county engineer H.O. Walberg told the audience last night. |
Farmers Still Want Channel At Burlington Bend Across Strawberry Bar
Corps concerned only with navigation of channel. $400,000 would have to be put into escrow to take care of possible damage of increased siltation in lower river.
County says new conditions imposed by Corps unsatisfactory due to cost of project.
Farmers still want new channel.
Sterling farmer refused to sign damage waiver for rip-rap instead of new channel. This farmer had lost 24 acres of ground. Farm is now owned by Earl Jones.
New channel would have required removal of 271,000 cubic yards of dirt and been 1,600 ft long.
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Flood Control Meeting Set Plans to send a representative to Washington D.C. to seek action on flood control work at the Burlington bend will be discussed at a meeting of farmers and Burlington city officials scheduled for Monday evening, August 25. . . . Spokesman at the meeting declared that abandonment of the proposed channel to divert flood waters has created an emergency and that valuable farm lands as well as the city of Burlington itself is in danger of immediate damage. |
Farmers Upset Over Abandonment Of New Channel Project
Felt emergency had been created. |
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Farmers To Call For Flood Action A group of fifty determined Burlington farmers will descent upon Col. L.H. Hewitt, district head of the U.S. Army Engineers in Seattle tomorrow, to present their plea for the construction of a channel across Burlington bend on the Skagit River in connection with flood and erosion control. The original plan of building a channel across the oxbow on the river bend near Burlington was stymied by the Army Engineers when they stipulated that the channel would have to be constructed wider than originally planned and that an amount near $400,000 would have to be put in escrow to take care of possible down-river siltation. The farmers residing in the danger area have turned thumbs down on an alternate proposal by the county to put in rock revetment on one portion of the bend. A spokesman for the farmers’ group said today that if no favorable reply is forthcoming from Col. Hewitt, a delegation of women will “see what they can do.” |
50 Farmers To Protest In Seattle
Farmers preferred new channel over rip-rap project protection.
Said that if they weren’t successful in changing the Colonels mind they would send their women “to see what they can do.” |
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Flood Control Survey Planned Congressman Henry M. Jackson, conferring with County Engineer H.O. Walberg in Mount Vernon today, announced that he has requested an overall survey of the Skagit river to determine where emergency flood control measures will be needed. . . . To Seek Federal Aid . . . Federal flood control work can be done only on existing dikes or work which had formerly been completed by government W.P.A. projects, mainly revetment work, Jackson said. However, the authorized and comprehensive survey of flood control on the Skagit River that has been underway by the government for some time, is expected to be completed this winter. He said that it would probably be two or three years, however, before the project would come before congress for its approval or rejection. |
New Flood Study Planned
Current study been underway for sometime. New survey would look for “emergency work.” |
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Salmon Increase In Skagit Noted Seattle – State Department fisheries surveys in the Skagit and Stillaguamish river systems revealed that pink salmon escapement in these streams was greatly improved over the last cycle year of 1945, State Director Milo Moore, announced today. . . . The Skagit River system showed 30 percent greater escapement than 1945. The survey party found 150,000 pink salmon and 11,000 king salmon spawning in the area between Newhalem dam and Faber ferry on the Skagit River. These figures are not estimates, but based on actual counts taken by the party which drifted down the rivers in a boat recording every fish sighted on a counter, Moor said. |
Big Run Of Humpies
11,000 Kings found spawning between Newhalem dam and Faber Ferry (located west of Concrete). |
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Push Completion of Ross Project SEATTLE, Nov. 14 – (U.P.) – Supt. E. R. Hoffman yesterday requested the city council appropriate $350,000 to initiate plans for construction of a power house at the Ross dam site now building and transmission lines to Seattle for current it will produce. . . . He said Ross dam would be completed in 1948 and that its storage capacity of 1,400,000 acre-feet of water was the key to the project of the Skagit development. |
Ross Dam To Be Completed In 1948 |
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Sewage Plant Weakens Dike, Council Told The Mount Vernon sewer disposal plant project, subject of many a heated controversy since it was first proposed, hit a new snag last night when district dike commissioners protested to the city council that the location of the plant weakens the dike at that point. Appearing before the council on behalf of the dike district were Commissioners Dan Sundquist, Magnus Johnson and Pete Lee, together with their attorney, James G. Smith. . . . Base is Poured . . . Since the council felt unqualified to act in the matter at this time, the dike district’s protest was referred to a conference between dike commissioners and representatives of the engineering firm, Parker and Hill, to be held in the near future. |
Dike District Protest Location of Mt. Vernon Sewage Treatment Plant
Protest referred to consultant. |
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Dike Commissioners Protest Location of Disposal Plant
Fearful that the dike would be weakened by construction of the new sewage disposal plant now being erected, dike commissioners Pete Lee, Magnus Johnson and Dan Sundquist met with the city council last night to enter complaint. . . . commissioners felt that the dike at that point was a danger spot and asked if bond had been secured in case of damage due to flood. Johnson suggested that the dike might have been weakened by silt and sand drawn through the pumping system set up to keep out seepage. Lee drew attention to past floods, and suggested that the plant should have been outside the dike. The council assured the commissioners that they were also deeply concerned with safety against floods and expressed their confidence in the engineers in charge. City manager Bruce Nelson was of the opinion that the structure would strengthen the dike rather than weaken it although he admitted that temporarily there might be danger. He stated that records of high water had been studied and the engineers picked the present season as safest.
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Mt. Vernon Sewage Treatment Plant
Dike District Commissioner wanted plant outside dike. |
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Flood Crest of Skagit Reached; Receding Today The swirling waters of the Skagit River, after having reached a flood crest of 21.6 feet here at 6 p.m. last night, are rapidly receding today, apparently eliminating for the time being at least, the threat of major flood in this area. . . . Families Marooned Several families in the Day Creek area today are marooned as the Gilligan Creek bridge washed out completely Saturday and the Lyman ferry, that provided the only other outlet for some 50 families, sunk after having been covered with debris from the rushing river. . . . All of the ferries crossing the Skagit River were grounded today and will not be operated during the high water period. School children residing on the south side of the river in the Day Creek, Lyman and Concrete districts are unable to attend school today. . . . Trucks Overturn . . . A total of 1.29 inches of rainfall fell in this area over the weekend, according to reports maintained at the county engineer’s office. |
OCTOBER 19, 1947 FLOOD USGS 95,200 cfs Concrete (32.9), 69,400 cfs Mt. Vernon (28.68). Comparable to first October flood in 2003.
21.6 feet at Moose Hall gage.
Lyman ferry sinks.
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rains, rivers bring much flood damage – bridge washed out, cars wrecked, sewers back up, as two inches of rain falls in 48 hours, woman barely escapes injury A bridge was washed out, two trucks were wrecked by rushing flood waters, traffic was interrupted, rivers were swelled to flood levels and sewers backed up in the Sedro-Woolley area, as the skies opened up and dumped more than two inches of rainfall in 48 hours last weekend to bring the month’s rainfall to 5.97 inches. This is an inch above the average for the entire month of October. . . . By Saturday night water was rushing across the Lyman road as Wiseman Creek emptied gravel in two high banks across the highway to hamper traffic and stall may a motorist. Flood waters reached a peak of 21.6 feet about 6:00 p.m. Sunday and began receding after that. Rising waters also chopped away more land from farm property near the Burlington bend. (During the last rainstorm two weeks ago, the Austin Lytle place lost 11 feet of land in two days . . . |
OCTOBER 19, 1947 FLOOD USGS 95,200 cfs Concrete (32.99 ), 69,400 cfs Mt. Vernon (28.68)
21.6 ft reading believed to be at Mt. Vernon Moose Lodge. This was barely a flood stage event in the lower valley.
Austin Lytle place is currently owned by Earl Jones. |
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Way Now Paved For Immediate Work on Dikes A joint program between the city and county for immediate work on waterfront diking repairs with the aid of state matching money, is assured today following the adoption of an emergency measure by the city council last night to cover the city’s portion of the cost. The program, as announced by Councilman Vern Schacht who had previously met with the board of county commissioners on the matter, calls for probable rock revetment work along the waterfront dike from the south end of the Division street bridge to the south end of property owned by Minnie Lee, known as the Dewdrop tavern. . . . Rock Work Probable . . . Recent high water of the Skagit river had done considerable damage to the east bank of the river and threatened to do still greater damage unless emergency measures to correct the situation were instituted. Inspect Site With city appropriating $4,000 toward the project, the state matching fund would make a total of 12,000 available for the work. State authorities, who with members of the county engineer’s office inspected river erosion here yesterday, approved the project as an emergency measure and assured local officials that state aid would be forthcoming. Public Hearing . . .The revetment work along the dike will be done by the county, using their equipment and manpower. |
Mt. Vernon and County Work Together On Dike Project
Rock revetment work along waterfront dike. Recent flood did considerable damage to east bank of the river.
State matching funds $12,000. Revetment work to be done by the County. |
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County Ready For River Bank Work; Now up to State
Need Critical, Says Walberg as County, City Unite on Job
With both jobs classed as emergencies, estimates and plans for rock fills at two points on the river front have been submitted to the Flood control Engineer at Olympia, according to H.O. Walberg, county engineer. “We consider these problems critical,” said Walberg, “so critical that we have started the powder work at the quarry.” The two projects nkown at Unit Seven and Unit Four extend from the bridge south for several blocks and along the river bank near the Darigold plant. . . . Basalt rock will be quarried on the 10 acre plot north of Sterling bend. . . . The rock and equipment is to be furnished by the county by the agreement. Soundings were made early this week and it was found that the river is 33 feet deep just south of the bridge and the wall approximately on a one to one slope. . . . With a 33 foot depth, it is 61 feet from the street elevation to the lowest point. |
River 33 feet deep?? |
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Major Projects Outlined for City Light Dams A major six-year construction program involving the expenditure of an estimated 50 million dollars has been announced by Seattle City Light for its Skagit river project, it was revealed today. . . . The initial project, contract of which is expected to be let soon, calls for considerable tunnel work at the present dam sites, installation of an additional generator at Newhalem and the construction of a camp for workers at Gooddell creek, it was learned. To Raise Gorge Dam Planned for the second phase of the gigantic construction program will be the addition of seven feet to the present Gorge dam and other work at that site. A workers’ camp will also be built at a site known as East End. The third phase of the project calls for continuation of present work at Ross Dam, including the construction of 1800 more feet of cement lined tunnels. . . . Local Employment . . . A large number of men are at present employed at construction work at Ross Dam which is rapidly reaching its maximum height. |
Seattle City Light To Spend $50,000,000
Tunnel work, additional generator at Newhalem, raise Gorge Dam. |
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aunt jemima in person |
Famous Lady Visits Skagit County |
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seek federal aid to construct span over skagit river The first direct effort to gain federal aid in the construction of a steel span across the Skagit river near Concrete was started today with appeals being made to congressional representatives from this state by Chambers of Commerce of various cities in this county. . . . “We ask you and urge your support for federal funds to construct a bridge cross on the Skagit river in the vicinity of Concrete. 1. Construction of the bridge will give access to largest available stand of federal timber remaining in this state. . . . 4. Timer valuations will increase 25 per cent by the erection of a bridge. . . .” |
Congressmen Asked For Aid To Construct Dalles Bridge
Timber valuations would increase by 25%. |
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skagit river bridge near concrete urged – many groups join in requesting federal funds construction of skagit river span to make timber accessible, to aid schools Direct appeal for federal aid construction of a bridge across Skagit River near Concrete was started Monday at a special meeting called by S.S. McIntyre, president of the East-West, No State Highway Association. . . . Primary reason for the group asking immediate erection of the bridge is to make timber available to independent local mill operators in Skagit, Whatcom, and Snohomish counties. . . . School authorities throughout Skagit County have also emphasized the necessity of a span to insure the safety of children being brought to school. The ferries being used at present have been repeatedly mentioned as “dangerous, expensive, and unsatisfactory” for crossing the river. . . . It has been pointed out that by the government’s constructing the span across the river, the value of the timber would be increased sufficiently to pay for the project. |
Bridge At Dalles Requested
Federal aid requested to build new bridge at the Dalles near Concrete.
Bridge would make timber available to independent mill operators. |
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hope still exists for skagit bridge Possibility of securing federal funds for the construction of a bridge across the Skagit river at Concrete appeared remote today, according to information received in a telegram this morning by State Senator Jess Sapp from U.S. Congressman Henry M. Jackson. |
Federal Funding Remote For Dalles Bridge
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flood control job on skagit will start soon Announcement of the official approval of the flood control project at Burlington bend on the Skagit river came today noon from Art Garton, state director of conservation and development, who notified the Daily Herald by long distance telephone that the go ahead signal had been given for the major undertaking. Contracts are expected to be awarded during the next 30 days on the estimated $174,000 flood control job, he said. The work will be done under the supervision of the U.S. army engineers. . . . Financed Jointly Financing of the project is being taken care of by federal, state, county, city and diking district allocations as announced by Garton: state, $88,000; U.S. army engineers. $50,000; Skagit county, $26,000; city of Burlington, $5,000; diking and drainage district, $5,000. Work to be done at Burlington bend, which is located a short distance east of the city of Burlington, includes rock revetment work with filter blanket beneath, for the entire area on the north bank of the bend which is estimated to be around 3900 feet. That portion of the Skagit river has long been considered as the most dangerous area as far as possible flood break-throughs are concerned. Already acres of valuable farm land have plunged into the river at that point in the past few years. Engineers have stated many times in the past that unless flood control work were instituted there, the city or Burlington itself could easily be completely inundated under water in case of a major flood. |
Burlington Bend Project Approved
3,900 ft rock revetment project. Total cost $174,000.
Cost Sharing -- State, $88,000; U.S. army engineers. $50,000; Skagit County, $26,000; City of Burlington, $5,000; diking and drainage district, $5,000.
Most dangerous area for “flood break-throughs”. |
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Burlington bend project approved Approval of the flood control project at Burlington bend on the Skagit river was announced this week by Art Garton, state director of conservation and development. Contracts for the $174,000 job are to be awarded within the next 30 days and work will be done under supervision of U. S. Army engineers, Garton said. Financing allocation include $88,000 from the state, $50,000 from U.S. Engineers; $26,000 from Skagit county; $5,000 from the city of Burlington; and $5000 from diking and drainage district. . . . It is estimated the project will be completed by fall. |
Burlington Bend Project
$88,000 from state, $50,000 federal funds, $26,000 from Skagit County; $5,000 from Burlington and $5,000 from Dike 12.
Same area that was worked on in 1935. See CT article 7/25/35 |
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Emergency Funds To Flood Control The army engineers notified Representative Henry M. Jackson Tuesday, according to word received here, that $50,000 has been allocated from emergency funds for flood control work on the Burlington bend of the Skagit river. The state will contribute $100,000 to the project while the county will take care of the balance. Work is expected to be started under the direction of army engineers within the next month. |
Burlington Bend “Emergency Work” to begin. |
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Flood Control At Burlington Bend Assured
Emergency Food control work seems assured for the Burlington Bend, according to a telegram received from Congressman Henry M. Jackson yesterday. Jackson advised that the office of Chief of Engineers has approved a grant of $50,000 for the project. The state has already agreed to furnish up to $88,000. So far, the county has not set any figure for its share of the expense. |
Burlington Bend Project |
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skagit is near flood stage as rains continue The Skagit river, swollen by a heavy deluge of rainfall last night, is expected to reach a flood crest of near 21 feet some time tonight, according to information from the Skagit County Engineers office. Twenty-one feet is considered a danger point as far as possible dike break-throughs are concerned, but is several feet short of the height necessary before water would spill over the levees. . . . The flood crest, which takes approximately 20 hours to reach Mount Vernon from the upper stretches of the Skagit and tributary rivers, is expected here this evening and the river is steadily rising in the meantime. . . . Dams on the Skagit river have opened flood gates to let excessive water escape. |
UNDOCUMENTED FLOOD
Expected to crest near 21 feet (Moose Hall gage which would be 1 foot over flood stage at current gage). 21 feet considered danger point for dike breaks but several feet short of going over dikes.
Dams on Skagit opened flood gates. |
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peak is reached in skagit river The Skagit river is subsiding somewhat today after reaching a peak of 20 feet nine inches at 10:45 p.m. last night, according to an official checks made by the county engineer’s office. At 7:15 o’clock this morning the height registered the same but a slight drop has been noted since that time. No immediate threat of a flood of dangerous proportions was forecast although fear was expressed that dikes will be considerably weakened if the heavy flow of water continues for the next three or four weeks as predicted by weather bureau authorities. Farms Isolated A few farms were isolated by waters of the river going over its banks at points where no dikes exist. East of Mount Vernon in the Nookachamps creek area, the Skagit flooded roads providing ingress and egress and farmers were using rowboats to reach higher land. . . . South of here in the Fir Island district high waters broke a dike that has been recently repaired and isolated at least one farm family and led to the closing of a farm road leading south from the Fir-Conway bridge. . . . |
Flood Barely Over Flood Stage
20.9 would be 28.9 at current gage.
Main concern was dikes being weakened if high water continued.
Fir Island dike broke. |
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buller warns of high water peril in skagit runoff This is no time to be sitting complacently behind the Skagit river dikes saying “It can’t happen here,” Richard Buller, long-time resident of the upper valley, told a Daily Herald reporter yesterday. Dropping in to the Herald office on a visit to Mount Vernon, Buller said: “There are the makings of another flood like that in 1894, up there in the Cascades.” “There is more snow in the high Cascades right now than for any of the 58 years I have been at Marblemount,” Buller said, “and a series of hot days could duplicate the result of a similar situation in ‘94.” . . . The upper valley, Buller said, has had only three days of warm weather so far this spring and up until the past week end snow thawed on the mountains part of the day and froze again at night. |
Local Resident Fears Snowpack
More snow then in last 58 years. |
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Editorial—Skagit Flood Protection
Do the two Seattle City Light dams on the Skagit river assure us that days of Skagit Valley floods are at an end? That is a question of vital interest to all residents of the valley. It can be answered conditionally, especially since the recent freshets that sent the river to within two feet of the level of grave danger. The provisional answer is that the dams can be, as they have been in the last two weeks, used to hold down flood crests. There is as yet no assurance that they will prove adequate to prevent serous flood rise in all cases, particularly in November or December. . . . But the City Light dams definitely have forestalled serous flood conditions in the current freshet period. At its crest last week, the Skagit reached 21 feet at Mt. Vernon, two feet below the point at which danger of dikes being overflowed or washed out would become serious, Walberg reports. “Ross dam was used to hold back water for ten days,” Walberg told the Argus Wednesday. “It helped keep the river level down by possibly several feet.” As the Seattle Times reported Sunday from an interview with City Light officials, “if the 567,000 acre feet (of freshet waters purposely held behind Ross dam) had been added to the water flowing down the lower Skagit river, after its junction with the Sauk near Rockport, the lower valley probably would be having its flood problem right now,” The lower valley needs to continue to maintain its dikes, and to watch them carefully at freshet time, but at least it has some protection that it once did not have. |
The flood event referenced in this editorial is not recorded by the Corps or USGS.
Dikes would break when river reached 23 feet at Mt. Vernon?? Important to remember is that was 23 feet at the downtown Mt. Vernon gage at the Moose Hall. Would be approximately 31 feet at current location. 31 ft carries approximately 90,000 cfs.
567,000 acre feet held for ten days. |
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flood work snarl blamed on official In a telephone conversation with the Daily Herald today, Mrs. Austin Lytle blamed County Commissioner Lowell Hughes for the possible “slow down” of work on the proposed Burlington Bend project following the awarding by a superior court jury of $1800 for property along that section of the river owned by the Lytles. “We agreed to a settlement out of court for a figure only half as much as the jury awarded us,” Mrs. Lytle said, “but Commissioner Hughes refused and brought it to court instead.” . . . Commissioner Hughes stated yesterday that the county had no funds to pay the $1800 for the portion of the Lytle property and that the proposed flood control project might be slowed down until some method of raising the necessary money could be worked out. |
Burlington Bend Project Moving Slowly
Austin Lytle family stated county refused to pay them for their land. Commissioner says no funds available. |
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ask permission to dam brown slough Three Skagit county dike districts and a drainage district have asked permission of the army engineers to build a dike across Brown’s slough, a quarter-mile from the north fork of the Skagit river. . . . (Brown’s slough is one of a number of waterways across the Skagit river delta. The proposed dike and dam across the slough would be located a short distance south of the North Fork bridge, just off the LaConner-Conway road. There are at present dikes on either side of the slough. It is proposed to connect these and prevent flow of flood water through the slough.) |
Dike District Wanted To Build Dike Across Brown’s Slough |
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skagit river threatening utopia farms – farmers as aid to stem erosion; wolfe farm loses land With the Skagit river threatening to break through into the low area near Minkler Lake, East of Sedro-Woolley, Utopia district farmers this week were signing a petition to be presented members of the Skagit Conservation district tonight, July 29, at Mt. Vernon. Five acres owned by Chris Wolfe have been washed away, taking with it Wolfe’s barn, chicken house and woodshed. The river threatened his home, which was emptied of all household goods and moved to higher ground. Wolfe is now living with his daughter on the Burmaster road. |
Skagit Threatening To Run Into Minkler Lake
Utopia farmland gone. Five acres washed away. Wolfe’s barn and chicken house washed into river. |
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Skagit bridge may require bond issue – sedro-woolley C. of C. host to county bridge enthusiasts; span at dalles discussed; financing is main problem; bond issue is suggested A bond issue, which may or may not have to be voted by Skagit county residents, was cited Wednesday night as the one means of financing construction of a bridge across the Skagit river between Concrete and the Dalles. With the entire delegation attending the dinner meeting at the Sedro-Woolley city hall agreeing that the bridge is vitally needed to assure this county’s future support from logging the number one problem became that of finances. . . . Lowell Hughes, chairman of the board of commissioners, said that the county has been attempting to get estimates of what a bridge will actually cost, and also surveys of where it should be built. He said that a man is expected to be in the county within “about two weeks” to make the survey. The commissioners said that when the figures are drawn up, the request for issuing the bonds will be put on the November ballot. . . . As the discussion closed, the group tossed he problem of building the bridge in the laps of the county commissioners and they in turn flipped it back to the voters, who they say must be educated to the fact that the bridge will save taxpayers money in the long run, and will ultimately increase the income of the entire county. H. O. Walberg, county engineer, and State Senator Jess Sapp eliminated the possibilities of financial aid from the U. S. Forestry service or the state highway department. . . . Sapp said that since there is no state highway which runs to the point where the bridge is tentatively scheduled to be built, the state cannot lend assistance either. |
Dalles Bridge Proposal
County Commissioners decided to have voters decide if bridge should be built.
No aid from state or federal government because road was not a state highway. |
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sterling hill dynamited to get rock for Burlington bend A distant, powerful explosion felt in several Sedro-Woolley homes last Saturday noon made available more than 30,000 yards of rock for flood control revetment work on the Skagit river near Burlington. An 11-ton charge of dynamite, buried deep in the southeast end of Sterling Hill about two and a half miles west of this city lifted thousands of pounds of rock and pebbles into the air and poured up dust, When the scene cleared, several acres of a farm in front of the hill were littered with rocks ranging from pebbles to pieces 10 feet thick and 15 feet long. . . . The combined forces of the U.S. Army Engineers, state and Skagit county officials are carrying out the $175,000 flood control project. |
Sterling Hill Mined For Burlington Bend Rock Revetment Project
Rock for revetment project came from Sterling Hill. |
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Editorial—A Bridge for the Upper Skagit
The voters of Skagit County will have an important issue to decide for themselves at the November 2 election—whether or not to authorize a $700,000 bond issue for the construction of a bridge across the upper Skagit River in the vicinity of Concrete and of the necessary connecting roads on the south bank. . . . Three principal claims are made for this bridge. From the standpoint of the taxpayers’ pocketbook, it would eliminate the present costly operation of two or three county-owned ferries. These ferries are not only an expense but also a worry to county officials because of the danger of an accident, especially during the high water periods. A second claim for benefits from this bridge is that it would open to logging timer areas . . . A third claim is that the lands south of the river may be suitable for further settling. |
The Dalles Bridge
Area would have been timbered anyway however, logs would have been sent to Snohomish County mills instead of Skagit’s. |
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proposed span at concrete would tap timber resources For 15 years the subject of a bridge across the Skagit river at Concrete had been discussed and proposed with little success resulting. This year, however, voters throughout the county will have a chance to vote on a proposition of bonding the county for a total of $700,000 with which to construct the span and access roads leading thereto. . . . The annual tax levy to be collected by the county over a 10-year period, has been set at between 2½ and 3 mills, which will provide sufficient funds to carry out the program. . . . The bridge will open up a loop highway from the eastern end of Skagit county to Darrington and the Snohomish valley, in addition to providing an outlet for the largest single stand of virgin timber in the nation, soon to be placed on sale by the U.S. Forestry service. The huge timber stand is located on the slopes of Finney Creek. Building of the bridge will eliminate three of the county’s most costly ferries at a saving of from $30,000 to $60,000 a year. . . . In January of this year a committee of leaders from every town in the county got together to prepare a county-wide road and bridge program for presentation to the Legislative Interim committee. In doing so they designated the Skagit river bridge at Concrete as the second most need project of the county. The number one project was, of course, the Cascade highway. |
Dalles Bridge To Go To Vote Of The People To Vote On Dalles Bridge
County to bond $700,000 for cost of bridge.
Bridge would save County 30-60,000 a year on ferry expense.
Bridge second on list of public works projects right behind Cascade Highway. |
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what about this upper skagit river bridge |
Advertisement for Bridge |
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Army Engineers to Resurvey Skagit River Basin
Valley Considered For Flood Control Aid, Cain Reports
Skagit River Valleys flood dangers and current problems are going to be resurveyed immediately by the U.S. Army Engineers, Sen. Harry P. Cain disclosed here Tuesday afternoon in an Argus interview. . . . “The committee adopted the necessary resolution a week ago Friday (Sept. 24),” Sen. Cain told the Argus. This was done with a view to translating the recommendations from the engineers into necessary authorizations. In the recent past the U.S. Engineers have largely kept hands off the Skagit basin because they had been told that the state was going to pay for whatever work was needed.” |
Another study.
State was going to pay for whatever work was needed??? |
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Bridge Issue Before County At Election Official election notice for a $700,000 bond issue for the purpose of building a bridge and access roads across the Skagit river in the vicinity of Concrete has been published by Skagit county commissioners with a special vote to be held at the November 2 general election. . . . The bridge will open up a loop highway from the eastern end of Skagit county to Darrington and the Snohomish valley, in addition to providing an outlet for the largest single stand of virgin timber in the nation, soon to be placed on sale by the U. S. Forestry service. The huge timber stand is located on the slopes of Finney creek. . . . The upper Skagit bridge proposition has been a problem of the county for the past 15 years. In January of this year a committee of leaders from every town in the county got together to prepare a county-wide road and bridge program for presentation the legislative Interim Committee. In doing so they designated the Skagit river bridge at Concrete as the second most needed project of the county. The number one project was, of course, the Cascade highway. |
Dalles Bridge
Bridge allowed “largest stand of virgin timber in the nation” to be harvested.
Bridge project was #2 on County list. #1 was the Cascade Highway. |
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danger to school children who cross skagit on ferries cited Those who know the Skagit river and have seen it a raging torrent of swollen flood waters each year can readily appreciate the danger faced by the 60 school children who must rely upon the ferries 180 days out of the year to further their education. . . . That is one of the strong arguments being voiced today in favor of constructing a bridge across the river near Concrete which decision will be up to the voters of the county during the general election in November. . . . Scow on Cables The typical river ferry is a steel or wooden scow with railings on each side and a hinged ramp at each end. They operate solely by the power of the water against the side of the scow, the scow being swung on cables that permit it to be set at an angle against the current which pushes the scow sideways to the opposite landing. The entire mechanism hangs from a rolling trolley riding a taut cable stretching across the river from high poles on each side. Due to water variation, landings at each side of the river are impossible to maintain at one level. As a result the cars attempting to board or leave the ferry scow have considerable difficulty. . . . The ferries operating two shifts of 9 hours each, or 18 hours a day. However, they must be closed down in high water due to danger of floating debris and the extra strain on cables, and in low water because of insufficient draft to float the scows. Also in low water the natural eddies at each landing tend to swing the ferry scows around and send them into the current with the cables on the lower side of the scow. On several occasions this has resulted in capsizing the ferry. Slip Away From Landing Other hazards of ferry operation include the danger of the ferry slipping away from the landing as the cars attempt to drive aboard– the ferry moves out and drops the car into the river. Other instances have found cars sliding off the opposite end of the scow in loading. . . . The proposed Skagit river bridge in the vicinity of Concrete will immediately eliminate two of the four ferries, and will eliminate a third within the very short time needed to build a few miles of access road. These ferries will be the Faber ferry, the Concrete ferry and the Presentine ferry (Birdsview). . . . The Faber ferry has capsized in the past. It and others have broken loose, Aprons of the ferries have dropped down and caused the ferry to submerge. Many of these occurred while vehicles and passengers were aboard. . . . At high water periods, the upper Skagit is swollen and violent. Crossing is very dangerous and at those times the ferry does not run. Last school year this happen on a total of 15 days. |
Ferries Dangerous – Dalles Bridge Needed To Replace Them
Ferries have capsized several times in the past.
Cars have slipped off the ferries into the river.
Faber, Concrete and Presentine (Birdsview) Ferries would be eliminated. |
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plan conference on flood control Congressman Henry M. Jackson will confer next week with Col. L. B. Hewitt, district head of the U. S. Army Engineers, in an effort to work out a flood control problem along the Swinomish slough near the Dorsey farm west of here, it was announced today. . . . Extensive dredging of the slough has resulted in wearing away of the dikes, making break-throughs possible. One such break-through occurred in that area last year, flooding several acres of farm land under two to three feet of salt water. |
Dredging Swinomish Slough Damaging Dikes Dredging resulted in wearing away of dikes, allowing “break-throughs”. |
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bridge is vital, chamber is told . . . McIntyre pointed out the between 3½ and 4 billion feet of virgin timber is contained in the Sauk and Suiattle watersheds which would naturally be diverted through Skagit county if a bridge were constructed across the river. He also pointed to the eventual savings to the county through the elimination of ferries and also the elimination of danger to school children who now must depend upon the ferries to get them to their classrooms. “Approximately a 2½ or 3 mill levy is all that would be necessary,” the speaker asserted, “to raise the $700,000 required to construct the span.” . . . |
Dalles Bridge Needed To Get To 3.5 to 4 Billion Feet of Virgin Timber
Timber driving force to build Dalles bridge. |
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proposed span key to vast timber resources, report The southern half of Skagit county above Sedro-Woolley contains untold wealth in timber. For many years logs have been rolling into Skagit county mills from this area by truck and rail, but a point has now been reached where it is no long practical to bring logs to the river or try to run a railroad up the south side of the river as has been done in the past. The logging of today is by motor trucks. . . . According to the U. S. forestry department all the timber in the Finney creek, Mill creak, Pressentin and Quartz creek areas would logically move down the Skagit valley with a crossing at Concrete. Timber also could move in a downhill route from the Suiattle river district. . . . The Finney creek timber has not yet been placed on sale by the forestry department, but will be highly sought by timber operators when bids are called in the next few years. |
Dalles Bridge Needed To Get To Untold Wealth In Timber
Without bridge, timber would be sent to Snohomish County mills. |
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bridge is key to timber The southern half of Skagit county above Sedro-Woolley contains untold wealth in timber. For many years logs have been rolling into Skagit county mills from this area by truck and rail, but a point has now been reached when it is no longer practical to bring logs to the river or try to run a railroad up the south side of the river as has been done in the past. The logging of today is by motor truck. One of the largest remaining stands of virgin timber in the nation today lies on the slopes of Phinney Creek, just south of the Skagit river at Concrete. This timber is within Skagit county yet a great portion of this wealth will be taken out through Snohomish county, to Snohomish county mills if no access is provided by a bridge to the railroad lines on the north side of the river. |
Dalles Bridge
Bridge is key to timber resource. Logging changed from floating logs down the river to “motor truck”. Bridge would keep timber from being sent to Snohomish County mills. |
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set hearings on river projects . . . The Skagit river hearing will be held in Mount Vernon at the court house April 12 at 10 a.m. . . . The Skagit river improvements to be discussed are all in the delta area. They include completion of a training dike and work on the river at the Skagit city bar to increase the available depth. Already completed are regulating dikes and a mattress still near the head of the north fork, a dike at the mouth of the south fork and the closing of subsidiary channels at the delta. |
Skagit River Public Hearing Work proposed on “training levees” on Fir Island. |
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Public Hearing on River Work Set April 12
U.S. Engineers Seek Local Opinion On Projects Navigation Main Topic The hearing it is understood, is called primarily to poll local opinion as to the projects the engineers propose, principally dealing with improving navigation on the lower Skagit River.
Project Described “The existing project provides for channel stabilization through the delta by means of a dike at the mouth of the South fork; regulating dikes and a mattress sill near the head of North fork; and closing subsidiary channels at the delta; and for increasing the available depth at Skagit City bar by dredging and by training walls. The length of the section included in the project is 9 ½ miles. The mattress sill, closing dikes, and 10,450 feet of training dike at dike at the mouth of the South fork are completed. The training dike was completed to a length 5,550 feet less than project length. The work at Skagit City bar awaits the local cooperation required by the act of 2 March 1919. |
Corps Project
Documents obtained from Corps files show that the dredging at Skagit City bar did not happen as they never got local cooperation from the farmers. |
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many fish caught final day; 2,500 total for season More than 2,500 steelhead probably were caught in the Skagit river during the recent season, reports fro local fishing guides and Game Protector Vern Gee indicate. Five guides reported a total of 1,117 steelhead taken during the season. . . . Local fishermen who do not use guides would account for enough to push the total well over the 2,500 mark. . . . Howard Miller caught an eight-pound female steelhead near Day Creek. At least 13 fish were taken at Gillam Creek Thursday. |
Fish Issue -- Steelhead Abundant 2,500 steelhead….how many in 2004? The local legend around Howard Miller is that he made two casts with a fly rod and caught two steelhead and went home. |
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bridge survey A county surveying crew yesterday began work on the first major step toward construction of the $700,000 Skagit river bridge which voters have authorized for the upper Skagit valley, County Engineer H. O. Walberg said this morning. . . . Prior to the beginning of the actual survey, county commissioners, engineers and up-river residents made several field trips into the area under consideration to gain preliminary information on the problems involved in construction of the up-river span. |
Surveying Work Begins On Dalles Bridge
Voters Give Okay on Bond Issue |
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flood warning setup dissolved Skagit county’s flood-control warning system, developed by the county planning commission three years ago, is being abandoned; it was learned here today. . . . The flood control warning system was coordinated by the weather bureau in Seattle who received periodic reports from the gauge readings in the upper Skagit and readings at Skagit river dams, and then relayed warnings to the county engineer’s office here when floods or high water are apparent. |
Flood Early Warning System Abandoned
See 11/22/45 Courier Times article. |
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Skagit’s Runoff To be Heavy, Say City Light Aides
Snow 16 Per Cent Heavier On Upper River Than in 1948 Record Fall An all-time record spring runoff is expected from the upper Skagit river for the April-August period, I.L. Cottom, Assistant superintendent of Seattle’s City Light, announced here this week. Snow surveys indicate 16 per cent more snow, on a water content basis, than last spring when a 40-year runoff record was broken. A prepared statement from City Light promised as much control of spring and high water as possible from its Diablo and Ross dams, but advised “construction of and a high degree of maintenance of diking facilities” on the lower river. . . . During the period May 24 to June 12, 1948, the natural flow of the Skagit river at Diablo dam maintained daily flows ranging from 16,000 cfs to 32,000 cfs which is the highest spring runoff of record at that point on the river. Due to the large storage capacity of the Ross Reservoir, the City of /Seattle was able to store the greatest amount of the runoff and the flows actually released at Diablo dam during this period ranged between 2,500 and 8,000 cfs. Actually 78 percent of the total runoff at Diablo was impounded in the City’s reservoirs during this period, which reduced the average flow in the lower reaches of the river by 18,000 cfs. Between June 9 and June 12 the Skagit river was at or near the 20-foot stage at the county gage at Mt. Vernon, and reached an observed peak stage of 20.3 feet at 7:15 p.m. on June 10. The operations of the City’s dams at this time resulted in a net reduction of 211,800 cfs in the natural flow of the river. Assuming that one-third of this flow, had there been no regulation, would have been absorbed in valley and channel storage such as the Nookachamps basin, there would still have been 14,000 cfs greater flow in the Skagit at Mt. Vernon, which would have resulted in a river stage of 22.3 feet instead of the 20.3 feet which actually occurred. . . . The city of Seattle in describing the effect of the operation of its reservoirs on the flows in the lower river does not wish to convey a false feeling of security against floods in the lower Skagit valley. The most damaging floods have practically always occurred during the winter period from the middle of October to the middle of March. It is desired to emphasize the fact that during winter floods, such as occurred in February 1932 and December 1921, the contribution of the upper Skagit river to this type of flood ranges between 15 and 18 percent. Therefore, even complete regulation of flow in the upper Skagit could only effect peak flows in the lower river by 15 to 18 percent. Until such time as large storage facilities are available on the lower tributaries of the river, such as the Cascade, Sauk and Baker rivers, the possibility of damaging floods in the lower Skagit valley will continue to exist. . . . This statement by the city of Seattle, department of lighting, has been issued in order to inform the residents of the Skagit river valley of the flood control service that has been and will continue to be rendered by the city in the operation of its hydro-electric projects and reservoirs located on the upper reaches of the Skagit River.
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The entire statement was printed in the article. Looks like they were using Diablo for flood control in 1949. Why can’t they do it now?
78% of total runoff at Diablo was impounded!! |
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harry devin was city’s historian, weather recorder Harry L. Devin, born in Ottumwa, Ohio, June 16, 1862, came to Sedro in 1889 on a visit and liked the locale so well that the following year he brought his family here and established his home. He opened a real estate office in 1890 on the bank of the Skagit river and in 1892 was appointed postmaster, later resigning in favor of the Woolley postmaster. He spent two years in the Klondike prospecting and upon his return spent nine months in North-eastern Washington, managing the Silver Butte mine. He came back to Sedro-Woolley, and in 1902 entered the real estate business with C.J. Wicker, forming the Skagit Realty Co. Mr. Devin had a major part in every important development that has taken place in Sedro-Woolley since its founding and his reference library was the haven of every person wishing facts of figures pertaining to Sedro-Woolley. He was official weather recorder here for forth-three years. |
H. L. Devin He is directly responsible for passing on the “Indian Legend” of the 1815 flood event. “Our fellow townsman, Mr. H.L. Devin, was some years ago engaged in surveying in the upper valley in the vicinity of Baker Lake. Being detained over night in an Indian camp, he was told the history of a great flood. They said that about 60 years ago a great slide had choked up the narrow outlet of the Baker valley and that the water accumulated in the basin thus formed until the whole valley was an immense lake, full 80 feet deep. By this time the imprisoned waters had burst through the dam and in a few hours this great volume of water was precipitated into the Skagit flooding the whole valley. The water marks still plainly visible high up the sides of the Baker valley and the great variation in those upon the trees as you come down the Skagit would indicate that this was the real cause of that terrible disaster." (Reprinted from the Skagit County Times, Serving Sedro and Woolley, Skagit County Washington, Thursday, November 19, 1896.)) |
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Worst Flood In Years Passes Crest; Falling The Skagit River, a few days ago a peaceful stream, turned into a raging torrent last night, spilling over its banks in several spots, marooning many families and causing untold damage to property and loss to livestock. The flood, which reached its peak here at 4:40 a.m., this morning with a crest of 26.5 feet, was the worst in Skagit County for the past 27 years. . . . Yesterday afternoon and last night the entire community of Hamilton was cut off from the outside world and travel to the eastern end of the county is still at a standstill. Most of the families living in and around the community of around 200 persons, left their homes before the water spilled through the streets to a height of about two feet. Amphibious ducks, operated by private individuals and members of the state patrol, evacuated approximately 50 marooned persons there during the evening. This morning hundreds of acres of land in the Fir Island district near Conway are under water due to at least three breaks in river dikes. . . A trestle and 165 feet of the Great Northern’s main line railroad track just south of Conway was washed out during the evening… . . . The main business district of Mount Vernon was seriously threatened during the night but flood crest stopped two feet short of the top of the dike. . . . Greatest flood damage in Skagit County was centered today in the Conway district where workers were unable to stop a dike breaking through at Fisher’s slough and above Conway on the North Fork. |
NOVEMBER 28, 1949 FLOOD USGS 154,000 cfs Concrete (40.8), 149,000 cfs Sedro-Woolley, 114,000 cfs Mt. Vernon (34.21)
Worst flood since 1921. Hamilton underwater. East end of County at a standstill. Water 2 feet deep in Hamilton.
One has to wonder if getting rid of the Flood Early Warning System was a good idea.
Fir Island levees fail. Conway levees fail.
Water stopped 2 feet short of going into downtown Mt. Vernon.
Conway levees failed at Fisher’s Slough. |
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Travel Restored To All Main Roads In County Rapidly receding flood waters in the Skagit Valley today spelled an end to the emergency conditions that have existed since the Skagit River poured over its banks Sunday evening and broke through dikes south of here yesterday. There is still plenty of flood water covering valuable farmlands, particularly in the Conway-Fir Island region, but the threat of further damage is over. The river, which had risen to a height of 26.5 early Monday morning, was down to 19.8 feet at 10 o’clock today. . . . The break in the dike at Fisher’s Slough which had threatened the town of Conway saw concerted action on the part of volunteer workers last night but the waters of the river have receded so rapidly that further damage in that area is not expected. . . . Most of the damage appeared to be to roadways, farm buildings and to winter crops, the latter mainly seed crops in the Fir Island district. . . . Skagit County Commissioner Lowell Hughes reported today that the county’s Lyman ferry “completely disappeared” during the flood. . . . Travel between Marblemount and Newhalem is still blocked off. . . . Residents of Hamilton, who were perhaps the hardest hit by the flood waters, were busy today cleaning out their homes of the mud and debris that rode into the city on the crest of the flood waters, estimated from two to two and a half feet. |
River Drops 6ft in 24 hours
Most farm damage was to seed crops on Fir Island.
Lyman ferry completely disappeared. Travel between Marblemount and Newhalem still blocked off.
Water 2 to 2½ feet deep in Hamilton. |
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Quick River Rise Surprised Residents, But Cut Damage The sudden flood, which subsided almost as quickly as it rose, deposited less silt than most residents had feared and damage to homes was in most cases confined to water-soaking, he said. Mr. Williamson found new evidences of structural damage on a survey tour of the Hamilton flood area yesterday. . . . On his trip yesterday Mr. Williamson found 35 homes in Hamilton had been flooded, some to a depth of five feet, but the water had subsided and most families are now moving back and going about the job of cleaning up the flood debris and damage. |
35 Homes In Hamilton Damaged
Some homes had 5 feet of water in them. These must have been homes closest to the river as previous reports stated water only 2 ½ feet in downtown Hamilton. |
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flood clean-up is continuing Residents of Hamilton were beginning to settle down to normal living again after spending the past two days shoveling mud and muck from their stores and residents in the wake of Skagit county’s near-disastrous flood of the weekend. . . . No definite estimate on the amount of damage to Skagit county as a result of the flood has been made yet . . . Quoted figures of two million dollars is believed to be high. . . .Water is still on many acres of farmland today in the Conway area but inundated lands in the area east are rapidly becoming free of water again as the Skagit river continues to drop. |
Hamilton Cleans Up
Reported damage figure of 2,000,000 said to be too high for County. Water still in Conway area. |
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County Keeps Weather Eye on Hills As Skagit Flood Cleanup Progresses Fresh Rise In River Not Held Cause For Fear An anxious Skagit county kept its eye on the Skagit river late Thursday as word came from the state highway department of new snow and winds in the Baker area. But although the river had climbed to 19.6 feet early Friday the weather bureau’s flood warning office told the county engineer’s office there appeared “no cause for alarm.” The river started falling at Concrete at midnight. Snow was falling high in the mountains. Engineer Hjalmar Walberg said a 20.8 foot peak was expected about 2 p.m. Friday, a level that ordinarily causes no trouble.
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November 28, 1949 Flood Event
USGS records show 40.8 ft at Concrete and 34.21 feet at Mt. Vernon. Why is there a 14 ft difference between the downtown gage and the new gage?
NOTE: This article was cut-off during copying. Need to obtain full article. |
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Burlington Escapes Serious Damage During Devastating Skagit Flood Burlington, due to a number of reasons, was one of the few towns in the Skagit Valley suffering only minor damage last Sunday night and Monday during one of the worst floods in over 25 years. Lyman, Hamilton, Mount Vernon, Conway, and Stanwood communities suffered the worst. The factors that saved both Burlington and Sedro-Woolley, five miles to the east from the fate of other towns were first, that the Seattle City Light retained hundreds of tons of water behind their dams up-river, second, dikes breaking near Conway relieved the pressure here, . . . The high stage came about 4:30 Monday morning with a crest at near the 26 foot mark. . . . |
November 28, 1949 Flood Worst flood in 25 years.
Ross and Diablo used as flood control. 26 ft at Moose Lodge gage in Mt. Vernon. USGS reports 34.2 ft at current gage. 114,000 cfs. 8 ft drop in elevation btwn gages. |
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Ross Dam Plays Large Part in Preventing Flood Seattle City Light’s Ross Dam on the upper Skagit played a large part in keeping the serious flood from being even worse, E. R. Hoffman, Lighting Superintendent, said today. The valves in the big dam were closed Wednesday, November 23, and no water from the entire upper river was allowed to pass. From Thursday midnight until Sunday midnight enough water was held behind the dam to cover 116,000 acres of land to a depth of one foot. At the crest of the flood approximately 42,600 cubic feet of water were impounded every second. Elevation of Ross Lake, nearly 20 miles long, came up ten feet, and is now forty feet higher than anticipated for this time of year. On November 28 there was still enough storage space to impound another 200,000 acre feet of water behind Ross Dam. The valves were still closed and no water was getting past the dam. The flood crest at Concrete, first large town below Ross Dam, reached 149,000 cubic feet per second on Sunday, November 27. This would have been disastrously worse except for the water held behind Ross Dam. The crest passed Mt. Vernon early Monday morning, November 28, and the entire river was reported to be receding. “Ross Dam does a great deal to keep floods on the Skagit from being much worse”, Hoffman said. “However, it cannot be expected that a dam so far up the river will prevent floods altogether. “Only about one-fourth of the river lies above Ross Dam, and the tributary streams feeding the upper fourth are a good deal smaller than the streams below the dam.” |
ROSS DAM November 28, 1949 Flood
No water allowed out of “entire upper river” from Thursday midnight (November 24th) until Sunday midnight (November 27th). Ross Lake came up ten feet and is now forty feet higher than anticipated for this time of year. 40 feet??? Another 200,000 acre foot still available.
One fourth of river above Ross. |
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emergency aid given flood victims – residents “mop up”; flood loss set at two million dollars Emergency assistance today was being given flood victims of Hamilton and the up-river district whose homes and household belongings were damaged or destroyed in one of the worst floods in Skagit county history. Hamilton residents were shoveling silt, mud and sand from their homes and were trying to salvage damaged household goods and merchandise in their places of businesses. . . . Ranked the worst since 1921 this week’s flood caused an estimated $2 million loss of property, land, homes, household goods, clothing and food, the highest loss of any flood in Skagit county history. Sedro-Woolley residents assert that the floods of 1932, 1921, 1909 and 1897 were worse for this city, but for upriver residents, this week ranked with the 1909 and 1921 disasters. Hamilton, floodswept community of 290 residents, is now cleaning up. . . . Thirty-five houses sustained flood damage, the Red Cross said. . . . Hamilton, Rockport and farmers in the Utopia and Lyman-Hamilton district suffered most loss and damage from the floodwaters. . . . Estimates of damage in the community of Hamilton alone ran into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. . . . Hamilton school had more than three feet of water in the first floor rooms and cafeteria and six feet in the boiler room. . . . Most Sedro-Woolley residents were slow in learning that the flood was coming. . . . In the afternoon the water spread out in the low area north of the disposal grounds and by evening crossed the lower extension of what would be Township street. By nightfall water covered the southern extension of Third street halting traffic to Clear Lake. The Nookachamps also backed up inundating all the flat, low country in its vicinity. By Sunday night many communities were isolated, including parts of the Sterling district. . . . The water rose along both sides of lower Third street (highway 1-A) and came to within a few feet of the Union Oil bulk station and drove farmers south of town from their homes. . . . Local residents, who have seen earlier floods, frequently commented that this one was not as bad as those of earlier days. . . . Sunday and Monday’s flood had remarkable similarity to the 1909 disaster which occurred almost on exactly the same days, and in the same way. This weeks flood followed a heavy downpour of rain last weekend and a warm Chinook wind which melted snow in the hills and brought down a deluge into the mainstream of the Skagit river. The 1909 flood started after rains and a Chinook wind on Sunday and Monday, November 28 and 29, 1909 according to a copy of the Herald-Recorder, Skagit county’s official newspaper of that day, which was printed at Hamilton. |
NOVEMBER 28, 1949 FLOOD USGS 154,000 cfs Concrete (40.8), 149,000 cfs Sedro Woolley, 114,000 cfs (34.2) Mt. Vernon.
“highest loss of any flood in history” The 1917 flood caused more damages in the county. See 1/10/18 MVH article.
Hamilton had 290 residents. 35 homes damaged.
Hamilton school had more than 3 ft. of water in it.
Need to find where was Sedro-Woolley’s garbage dump.
Water came within a few feet of the Union Oil bulk station.
Rain on snow event.
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damage high in hamilton, utopia districts Total loss caused by the flood has not been determined but a partial list of estimated damages and loss in Hamilton, the surrounding area and in the Utopia district indicates the final totals will run into high figures. Hi Lead Tavern, $4,500; Cascade Grocery $6,000, . . . Mrs. Cecil McDougle, Courier-Times correspondent, reports the Matson family, who lives on the peninsula known as the “Island” between Lyman and Hamilton, lost five cows and cannot find a sixth. |
Flood Damage
Lots of livestock lost upriver.
“Island”. Cockerham Island?? |
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ross dam lessens flood damage Seattle City Light’s Ross Dam in the upper Skagit played a large part in keeping the serious flow from begin even worse, E. R. Hoffman, Lighting Superintendent, reports. The valves in the big dam were closed Wednesday, Nov. 23, and no water from the entire upper river was allowed to pass. From Thursday midnight until Sunday midnight enough water was held behind the dam to cover 116,000 acres of land to a depth of one foot. At the crest of the flood approximately 42,600 cubic feet of water were impounded every second. Elevation of Ross Lake, nearly 20 miles long, came up ten feet, and is now forty feet higher than anticipated for this time of year. On November 28 there was still enough storage space to impound another 200,000 acre feet of water behind Ross Dam. The valves were still closed and no water was getting past the dam. . . . The flood crest at Concrete, a large town below Ross Dam crested at 149,000 cubic feet per second on Sunday, Nov. 27. This would have been disastrously worse except for the water held behind Ross Dam. The crest passed Mt. Vernon early Monday morning, Nov. 28 and the entire river was reported to be receding. “Ross Dam does a great deal to keep floods on the Skagit from being much worse.” Hoffman said. “However, it cannot be expected that a dam so far up the river will prevent floods altogether. . . . The flood was caused by heavy rains and unseasonable warm temperatures that melted snow already in the mountains. From Tuesday through Sunday approximately 11 inches of rain fell on the upper Skagit. About 4 inches of rain fell in 24 hours on Saturday and one and one-half inches on Sunday. Maximum temperatures were from 45 to 58 degrees, melting an undetermined amount of snow. |
Ross Dam Flood Control No water passed out of Ross during 1949 flood event.
42,600 cfs held back from crest of flood.
USGS reports crest at Concrete at 154,000 cfs and 149,000 cfs at Sedro-Woolley.
Flood was rain on snow event. 11 inches of rain in 5 days. 4 inches in 24 hours. |
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mother child rescued as they hang from rafters Mrs. Albert Watson yesterday described a hectic night which she and her three-year-old son, David Allen spent floating on mattresses and finally hanging onto the rafters of their small frame house near Rockport in the raging flood of Saturday and Sunday. . . . “The baby and I were alone as my husband, A.L. Watson and our grown son had been away working and couldn’t get back across the river, Mrs. Watson said. “When the water backed up in Mosquito Slough Saturday night and started to come in our house, I was scared,” the woman continued. “I got up on a chair and then the baby and I stood on a dresser. Then I piled one mattress on top of the other and we floated on them.” . . . Mr. And Mrs. George Moses and their children, also residents of Mosquito Flat, climbed into two dugout canoes, paddled into some trees where they tied up, and spent the night with blankets over their heads. |
Rockport House Floods
House next to Mosquito Slough.
Lived on Mosquito Flat. |
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things to be done (Editorial) After all, it might have been far worse. No irretrievable damage has been done. The thing to be done now is to clean up, begin the work of repair, and proceed as though nothing had happened. Skagit county has a glorious future and not even extraordinary misfortune can set it back for any length of time. The weak-kneed brothers will move out; those made of sterner stuff will stay and reap the rewards of grit and energy. It is no time for calamity howlers, and they should not be tolerated. Let them go their way; their places will be filled by better men. No expense should be spared to put the roads and bridges in as good and better condition than they were in, before the freshet. If necessary, the taxpayers should not hesitate to bond the county for any needed sum, and no man who has the interests of his county at heart will balk at such a move. It is no time for hysterics or petty politics—calm judgment, definiteness of purpose and indefatigable and well directed energy must now be combined. (The above editorial appeared in the Dec. 4, 1909 issue of “The Herald-Recorder,” Skagit county’s official paper published at Hamilton, the week of the “big flood”.) |
Floods Shouldn’t Deter Development
Proceed as though nothing has happened.
No time for weak-kneed calamity howlers.
No time for hysterics or petty politics.
Calm judgment, definiteness of purpose and indefatigable and well directed energy is what is needed. |
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organization Planned for future flood emergencies The Skagit river raised four feet in the past 24 hours due to torrential rains that fell last night but clearing and colder weather has prevented any reoccurrence of the disastrous flood that struck the county last week-end. Meanwhile it was announced that the Skagit county board of county commissioners will set up an organization in the immediate future to coordinate all activities in case of any emergency that may arise because of flood conditions later on. |
County To Plan For Flood Contingencies |
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log jam breaks, pours tons of debris on farm; railroad blocked Railroad repair crews have been working sixteen hours a day since last Thursday trying to clear the Northern Pacific track just back of the Frank Oliver farm at Prairie, seven miles north of Sedro-Woolley, of some ten feet of tangled logs, gravel and other debris which came crashing down the mountainside sometime between six and nine o’clock that evening. A huge log jam, apparently released by the recent heavy rains and melted snow, suddenly broke loose far up the canyon above Heck Falls about dusk last Thursday and, gaining momentum in the increased flow of water below the falls, pummeled down into the valley, piled against and over the top of the track for an estimated eight to eleven hundred feet and spilled over valuable hay land on the Oliver farm. |
Log Jam on NPRR Bridge in Prairie
Prarie is located in the Samish River Basin. |
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Dike Leaders Rep. Jackson to meet here
Want Action on Cleaning Out Lower River The group, formally organized Wednesday as Skagit River Control association, will confer with the congressman at 9 a.m. at the city hall as to immediate steps that may be taken to prevent a recurrence of the recent near-disastrous flooding along the river. County and diking commissioners agreed that the lower river bed has silted in until it takes much less water in the stream than it did in former years to cause dike breaks and overflows. . . . It appeared possible that Rep. Jackson might be questioned also about withdrawal of army engineers from dike repair work in recent days. One break in the dike along the North Fork was repaired but other work was called off although there were at least two breaks across the river. |
New Flood Association Formed
Recent near disastrous flooding?? This would be the November 28, 1949 flood event which USGS says only had 114,000 cfs at Mt. Vernon.
Three levee breaks. |
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city to repair broken sewer outside dike
Immediate emergency steps to plug the damaged sewer line that let Skagit flood waters back up into southwest Mt. Vernon streets and yards are being taken. Investigations this week showed that three sections of 30-inch tile between the city’s old sewerage pump station and the accompanying “deep well” had collapsed. During the flood the break was covered by flood waters some 19 feet deep. |
See 10/16/47 article about dike commissioners concerns. |
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soil conservation office submits flood damage report for county Seventy farm houses and buildings in Skagit county were washed out or damaged severely by the Skagit river flood November 27 through 29, Paul C. Dickey, district soil conservationist reported this week. Cost of rehabilitating the buildings was estimated at $160,000. The soil conservation office estimated cost of all damage except crop losses due to the floods at $806,965. . . .over-all loss caused by the flood to $1 million, Dickey said. . . . 14,765 acres of land in the county were inundated during the flood, and 2,700 feet of dikes were washed away. . . . “This flood was caused chiefly by sudden and heavy rainfall, augmented by quick melting of new snow on the mountain slopes. During the three days previous to the flood moderate rains fell and to this was added a popularly reported four inch precipitation during a 24 hour period on November 27 and 28. . . . The peak flow of the Skagit river, according to the gauge at Mt. Vernon was 132,000 cfs. This is the highest flood since 1921. The cause of much of this flood damage is simply that the water rose to a greater height than the farmers had prepared dikes for, and that too many of the dikes were not of sufficient cross section to withstand a flood that remained high on them for any considerable time. This was a quick flood. Probably there would have been much greater break-through if the river had remained high over an extended period. . . . Dikes should be raised and greatly strengthened to prevent a recurrence of flooding that might very easily be disastrous under conditions les fortunate than existed this time. |
Soil Conservation Flood Damage Report on November 27-29 Flood
Damage figures would be approximately $1,240,310 for building damage and $6,255,813 for overall damage in 2003 dollars.
USGS has this flood as having only 114,000 cfs at the Mt. Vernon gage. It was the highest since 1921.
Levees neither high nor wide enough. |
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skagit river flood damage is estimated at $306,965 Flood damages totaling $306,965 excluding crop losses which might with other reported damages bring the total to over one million dollars, were reported this week in a survey of the recent Skagit river inundation by the soil conservation service. . . . Seventy farm buildings were either washed out or severely damaged in the flood, according to the SCS report, and 14,765 acres of land were inundated. Fortunately, according to the survey, damage to the rich top soil in the flooded areas was very minor and stream, bank and gully erosion was also surprisingly small. The flood washed out 2,700 feet of dikes, destroyed five bridges and made it necessary to rebuild three and a half miles of road, the report states. The peak flow of the Skagit reached 132,000 cfs, the highest since the flood of 1921. |
70 Farm Buildings Damaged
14,765 acres inundated. 2,700 feet of dikes washed out. 5 bridges destroyed. 3.5 miles of road to be rebuilt.
Peak flow 132,000 cfs is different then what USGS is currently reporting for that flood. USGS 1949-11-28 91000 Corps of Engineers 114,000 cfs |
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Dike Leaders Push For Early River Clearing Insist North Fork Cutoff, Dredging Are Flood Aids Efforts to get the government to clear the channel of the lower north fork of the Skagit river are going to be continued even though hope for quick action was discouraged by officials who conferred in Mt. Vernon Tuesday with the new Skagit River Control association. . . . Hughes declared a dredge could cut a proposed shortcut channel for the mouth of the North Fork at not too great expense. The new channel, across the point toward Craft island would shorten the river by about two miles “getting flood waters out into the Sound just that much quicker,” Hughes explained. . . . Here for Tuesday’s discussions, Col. Itschner said he believed the North Fork cutoff was of such a size that it would have to be put through as a new, rather than an emergency project and that would take time. It would also require jetties at the mouth and regular maintenance work, he said. Col. Itschner and Rep. Jackson said $60,000 was being requested for emergency dike raising at Milltown and dike and road raising in the Dodge Valley vicinity. |
The Corps of Engineers is all about “time”.
Levees to be raised.
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2/9/51 |
Skagit rises foot here this morning . . . Nearly three-quarters of an inch of rain in 24 hours up to 8 a.m. today, coupled with moderately warm winds have continued to raise the river more than two inches per hour. Rainfall in the 24-hour period as reported by the experiment station was .71 inch, making 1.41 inches since last Saturday. |
River Rises 2 inches per hour |
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Skagit rising fast upriver; dike breaks At 1 p.m. the river was at the 25.1 level in Mt. Vernon, 1.4 feet above the 1949 crest. A shortage of sacks and workers in some districts hampered the job, but dike strengthening was going ahead at a rapid pace. . . . The county engineer’s office predicted a 28.5 foot level in Mt. Vernon by 9 p.m. almost two feet above the a November 1949 crest . . . The river was up to 38.85 at Concrete this morning and continuing to rise. Rain was still falling upriver at noon, but a cool wave was reported coming in from the north, which might check the river rise later. . . . Water boiling through a 40-foot gap in the dike on the George Moore farm, on the south bank of the North Fork just below the bridge west of Conway, had covered over 1,000 acres of pasture-land on the northwest side of the island west of Fir Island at noon and blocked all but very pressing traffic on the south approach highway to the bridge. . . . Although the river is still two feet short of the top of the dike in most places on the lower part of the river, sandbagging was needed in some spots and water continued to filter through and threaten another break farther down. . . . All traffic at the upper Skagit Valley was cut off at Lyman where the road is under water. Another stretch of road above Marblemount is flooded and the road to Newhalem is closed. |
FEBRUARY 11, 1951 FLOOD Corps of Engineers 139,000 cfs Concrete (38.99), 150,000 cfs Sedro-Woolley, 144,000 cfs Mt. Vernon. USGS, 1951-02-11, 138000 cfs Mt. Vernon 25.1 feet in Mt. Vernon would be 33.1 at current gage. 28.5 ft level would be 36.5 feet at current gage.
River at Concrete would continue to rise to 38.99 feet.
River still two feet below top of most dikes. |
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thousands of acres flooded in rich valley The worst Skagit river flood since 1921 inundated thousands of acres of rich Skagit valley farmlands over the weekend and left two county towns, Stanwood and Hamilton, standing in water ranging up to six feet deep. . . . Fir Island Flooded Water from the Conway break spread over an estimated 4,480 acres, to a depth ranging from a few inches to several feet. . . . Highway 99 was closed to traffic yesterday afternoon and was under water for four and a half miles today. . . . Crested At 28.2 The river reached a crest at 28.2 at 5 a.m. yesterday and held very near to that mark for several hours before feeling the effect of cooler weather on the upper Skagit. . . . Hamilton residents evacuated without incident but some chose to remain on the second flood of their homes. Eight families were taken out of the flooded Nookachamps valley Saturday by civilian “ducks”. . . . One of the most serous threats to the dike was in the river bend area west of the Riverside bridge where leaks and boils in the road which parallels the dike caused concern throughout Saturday night and Sunday. . . . Across the river, from the bridge to the Avon vicinity, the dike held but showed the same tendency toward seepage, with water bubbling up in the road and adjoining fields until stopped by the sandbag treatment. . . . A portion of the drawrest on the West Side bridge across the Skagit was swept away and there were times at the crest of the flood when the bridge was felt to sway noticeably, but held fast. The new rip rapping on the dike in downtown Mt. Vernon came through with flying colors and the higher level of the dike was credited with preventing serious flooding of business buildings along the riverfront. |
Worst Flood Since 1921
Fir Island and Conway flooded.
Riverbend and Burlington area dikes threatened with seepage.
Portion of Westside bridge swept away..
Work on Mt. Vernon revetment credited with preventing serous damage. See 11/13/47 MVDH article. |
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volunteers fight valiantly to save conway dikes—almost win battle The break in the dike a mile south of Conway, which started from a muskrat hole and inundated some 4,500 acres of farm land between dawn and early evening yesterday, was one of the most heartbreaking features of a thoroughly heartbreaking weekend for Skagit county. . . . Miller tried to cross the gap in his rowboat to the solid part of the dike running in the railroad trestle at Fisherman’s slough, but the bottom fell out of the boat and he saved himself by grasping a fence post. Owen Tronsdale and another man saved him from the waters, taking him to the railroad. . . . Footsore, bleary-eyed and arm weary the 30 odd emergency workers thought they had won the battle against the rampaging Skagit, as they climbed the soggy dikes, carrying sandbags to over-floe points west of the town. . . . But still the river rose, necessitating a second or a third row of sandbags. . . . Dikes Like Jelly Greatest fear was held for the dike behind the fire station to which there was access from only one point below and from either end. Stumbling through ankle-deep mud, the men carried sacks to the top, tight-roping between the river and the side of the dike covered with blackberry vines. . . . Break Was Sandbagged The breaking point was one of the first spots on the Conway dike to receive attention Saturday evening, when a crew of eight or ten made an attempt to stop what was then a “rat-hole” leak, about eight feet below the top. Sacks were stuffed into the hole, after which others broke out and sandbags had to be piled all over the side of the dike – they held for about 10 hours. . . . By seven, water was coming in force down the streets of Conway and the coffee and sandwiches had been removed from the fire hall. |
Muskrats Blamed For Conway Break
Conway dikes became like jelly.
Water in downtown Conway.
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Flood story more than statistics; hundreds had personal interest Muskrats and beavers better not show their heads anywhere near any Skagit valley farmer or volunteer dike worker. These and other burrowing animals are blamed for most of the dike leaks and possibly for the breaks. . . . Hit three ways by the flood nobody in Skagit county had as many worries as Miss Lucille Axelson, whose farm was one of those hardest hit on Fir Island. She and her brother are believed to have lost 80 head of stock. In addition to her duties at home Miss Axelson is president of the Skagit Valley Red Cross chapter charged with the responsibility of feeding and housing evacuees and assisting in the rehabilitation of flooded out families and is the chairman of the diking commission in her district. |
Lucille Axelson Hard Hit |
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21,000 acres affected by river overflow With the Skagit River far below the danger point, flood waters that inundated an estimated 21,000 acres of Skagit Valley land over the weekend were receding in some areas. . . . Although the acreage affected by the break below Conway and the overflow of the Samish River was greater, the heaviest damage from the Skagit’s biggest flood in 30 years was in the Fir Island area, flooded by breaks near the North Fork Bridge and leaks and overflow in other areas. A hole blasted in the sea dike was expected to gradually drain the water level to a point where the North Fork dike break could be stopped. The river ripped a hole in the dike below the North Fork bridge that permitted a virtually new channel for the raging stream wiped out the buildings at the George Moore farm and inundated half of the main section of Fir Island. |
Floodwaters Receding |
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house, split in two, floats in hole gouged by north fork near bridge . . . The large old-style farmhouse, one of the landmarks in that area for many years, was hit by the full force of water pouring through a break in the North Fork dike Saturday. The river, virtually taking a new course directly through the house gouged out a hole under the dwelling deep enough to float the large structure, which split in two, the two portions resting on their sides. |
George Moore House Destroyed On Fir Island During Flood |
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slow runoff hinders surveys to determine flood damage Hampered by the slow runoff of flood waters which leave thousands of acres inundated in the lower Skagit valley, surveys are now in progress to determine the extent of damage in the disastrous Skagit river flood. . . . The county agent’s office is conducting a checkup on farm damage, particularly livestock and crops, and the county engineer and drainage districts are surveying damage to roads, bridges, dikes and ditches. . . . Incomplete results of the SCS survey plainly show that the cost of this flood will far exceed the 1949 disaster, when an estimated $306,965 damage was caused by the overflow of Skagit county streams. The extent of flooding the Samish area was about the same then as now, according to Austin Summers of the Soil Conservation service, and damage in the Nookachamps and upper Skagit areas is expected to be at least as great to farms. The lower Skagit flood this time was far more serious in area and damage done with greater cost to dikes, ditches, roads, farm buildings and stock. . . . The rapidity of the water rise at Conway and on the island prevented the saving of much of the personal property and furniture in homes, and the loss will no doubt be heavy. In the Hamilton vicinity, there was sufficient warning- through a siren system- to permit most residents to save their mattresses and furniture that would be ruined by water, a Red Cross spokesman reports. . . . The dike below Conway was ripped from top to bottom, with a 40-foot gap torn in the protecting wall. The emergency pumping equipment of diking district 17 is under water and the tide gate of district 36 was ripped out. Dike damage, both breaks and weak spots, is very extensive and a great many ditches on Fir Island and in other flooded areas were filled with silt and sand. It is impossible to estimate road damage as yet, but the Dollar road is still closed due to a washout east of Burlington and roads in the lower valley were seriously eroded. |
1951 Flood Did More Damage Then 1949
Cost to dikes, ditches, roads, farm buildings and livestock.
Dollar Road (Highway 20) damaged and closed to traffic. |
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Losses Low In Record Flood
Conway, Hiway 99 Still Underwater Bailing out after a record high water, Skagit county was finding late this week that its losses were not as great as the first frantic press and radio reports indicated. . . . Hamilton residents wee swamping out their homes and stores today in the first-flooded community but in the second, Conway, it was to be a matter of days before there could be hope of relief from overflow waters. The flood-breeding combination of a Chinook wind and heavy, warm rains last Thursday night set the Skagit river off on its 1951 rampage. By Sunday morning it had risen to what the county engineers office said was an all-time high of 28.2 feet in Mt. Vernon, as against the previous, November 1949, record of 26.05. Worse At Conway In ’21—Conway residents declared the 1951 flood was two feet, ten inches below the 1921 inundation in their community, due probably to the fact that this time the Fisher’s slough dikes broke southward before the South Fork river dikes gave way. “Close Call” In City—In Mt. Vernon Saturday night Main street was sandbagged when the water crept to with six inches of spilling over into the business district, 7000 sandbags were piled on the dikes and bottoms around the sewage disposal plant, and overflowing waters were dammed off with sacks o the West Side. 15,000 Acres Covered—A total of 10,000 acres south of Mt. Vernon and 500 in the Nookachamps and upriver were inundated, Harold Strombom flood-fighting coordinator for the county estimated. Fir Island between the South Fork and Dry Slough, however, escaped serous flooding, but waters from the Conway breaks flowed eastward to the foothills and northward to within two miles of Mt. Vernon. Water Systems Hit—The PUD resorted to pumping and filtering river water when flood waters barred its 14-inch high pressure “mountain water” main on the Dollar road between Sedro Woolley and Burlington Sunday. The line burst, speeding the washout of one road lane for a distance of 1000 feet.. Major Breaks Listed—Major dike breaks were, in approximate order of happening: Fisher’s slough, flooding Milltown, Friday night; North Fork, above bridge, pouring into area between Brown’s and Dry slough; others on Brown’s slough in Beesner district, sea dike near Von Moos farm and Brown’s slough near Charles E Olson lands; two at and below Conway Sunday morning. One sea dike at least was dynamited to relieve part of the island area. Reports of other flooding ranged from small isolated incidents to the fantastic, such as the inundation of part of Burlington and the Riverside Bend area. Actually there was only one break in the Burlington bend, that quickly plugged, and none of consequence between Mt. Vernon and Burlington. Avon was bothered only by seepage. Fir Island Proper Escapes—Fir Island between the South Fork and Dry slough escaped any serous flooding and access to the area remained open via the river road from Mt. Vernon. |
February 11, 1951 Flood Event
Record Flood?? USGS published figures for this flood is 139,000 cfs at Concrete and 144,000 cfs at Mt. Vernon 36.85 feet.
County engineers say “all time high”. 28.2 feet in downtown Mt. Vernon.
Conway residents were right.
7,000 sandbags. How does that compare to what was used in 1990 or 1995?
500 acres in Nookachamps is wrong. There are 8,000 acres in Nookachamps and Sterling and in talking with residents who were there in this flood every acre was covered.
Most levee breaks on Fir Island and Conway.
Burlington levee break “plugged”. |
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Strombom Gives Flood Report, Day-By-Day
Flood Coordinator Harold Strombom of the County Engineer’s office yesterday made public the entire operations of engineer units during last weekends flood. In daily reports, here is what happened: Friday—8 a.m. Skagit at 19 feet, rose to 20 feet by 12 a.m. Hamilton flooded by evening. Saturday—Steady rise all day with 38.35 feet reported at Concrete and 25.1 in Mt. Vernon. Engineer H.O. Walberg appointed coordinators at 12 a.m. . . .first dike break at Fir island west of the bridge on the North Fork, covering about 1000 acres …the Samish flooded …roads were closed at Conway, Clear Lake and up river…volunteers were called in the evening to strengthen dikes. Sunday—Continued dike breaks near Conway flooded Fir Island and later Conway about 6:30 a.m. …volunteers worked throughout the night evacuating families and placing sandbags on weakened dikes. Flood crest was 28.2 feet. Tuesday—River down to 18 feet. Wednesday—River at 15 feet, all schools open except Conway. |
Would be approx. 28 feet at current gage.
Approx. 33 feet at current gage.
36.85 feet at current gage. |
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Riverside Flood of 1921 Was Worse: Argus
As flood waters receded through-out the county this week many long-time county residents began comparing the incident with the one taking place in December of 1921. Old issues of the Argus give quite a few details about the matter and make it easier for those who did not witness both floods to compare the two. The flood began late Monday night, Dec. 12 when the dikes began breaking after three days of heavy rains and warm winds. The river soon reached a level of twenty-four feet in Mt. Vernon and both Burlington and Conway were completely flooded as dikes broke here. Early Tuesday morning the dikes burst near Riverside and the entire area was covered with several feet of water. One home in the area split in half by the water and the family hung on the roof as the better share of their dwelling was swept away. Over 2000 feet of railroad tracks were washed away near Riverside and no autos or trains reached Mt. Vernon from the south for several days. Several stores along the river front in Mt. Vernon had portions disappear when the raging waters tore away their pilings. Two days after the record water level the county had several days in which the temperature did not exceed twenty degrees. This froze all of the standing water to a depth of several inches and did much damage to livestock in the valley. |
1921 Flood Event See 12/15 and 12/22/21 articles.
Approx. 32 feet at current gage. |
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Wylie Recalls Sea Flood
What will the Skagit flood waters do to the farms? Not as much as many fear, says one pioneer of the flats beyond Fir Island. Recalling the 1921 flood that was followed by a freeze, pioneer John Wylie, PUD commissioner, said his lands were isolated, under sea water for 51 days. First year afterwards he got no crop, second year, 10 bushels to the acre. Then the lands began coming back. Brief immersion in sea water will not be seriously harmful, Wylie declared. Lands flooded and silted, rather than covered with sand or debris, will benefit. Wylie cited a number of farmers who, he said, were “made” by silt from floods—the resulting bumper crops. |
Brief immersion in sea water not harmful. Lands flooded and silted will benefit resulting in bumper crops. |
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skagit flood causes big damage – hamilton, conway areas hard hit; roads washed out Reaching a near record crest of 28.2 feet at Mt. Vernon at 5 a.m. Sunday, the Skagit river’s worst flood in several years, caused many thousands of dollars damage to highways and property, and left many families temporarily homeless. The Hamilton area was the worst hit, east of Sedro-Woolley and the Fir-Conway district south of Mt. Vernon. . . . Mt. Vernon and Burlington were spared from a bad flood. The county engineer reports that the Burlington road will be ready for use Saturday night. All roads upriver are passable and most of the roads in the Nookachamps area are again in use. . . . By Saturday all traffic to the upper Skagit valley was cut off at Lyman where the road was under water. Another stretch of road above Marblemount was flooded and the road to Newhalem closed. . . . Traffic on the Clear Lake road was closed at 11 a.m. Saturday as a log jam threatened destruction of the bridge. Later the road was covered with water. . . . The river broke through the railroad embankment east of Burlington, which acts as a dike, and tore through the Dollar road, cutting the PUD 14 inch main serving Burlington. Hamilton was flooded for the second straight year, but fortunately many of the residents had more warning about the coming high water. About midnight Friday night the water began to come over the top of the dike and continued to rise until approximately 2,000 acres in the Birdsview-Hamilton area were covered with water. . . . It has been reported that many of the people in Hamilton were going to sell out and move, but nearly all of the for sale signs seen on homes now had been up before the flood. The oldtimers who had been going through floods for years take it in stride. |
FEBRUARY 11, 1951 FLOOD USGS 139,000 cfs Concrete (38.99), 150,000 cfs Sedro-Woolley, 144,000 cfs Mt. Vernon (36.85) The 28.2 ft. reading was at the Moose Hall gage in downtown Mt. Vernon. There is a 8 ft. drop in elevation from the current gage to the Moose Hall gage.
Marblemount road flooded.
Log jam threatened Highway 9 bridge.
Railroad embankment along Highway 20 (Old Dollar Road) acts as a dike. |
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Water Recedes In Skagit River Flood Waters of the Skagit River are slowly returning to normal following one of the most critical floods in years. Although some damage was reported in the upper reaches of the river, it was the Conway and Stanwood areas that suffered the greatest. Early last Saturday morning it was apparent that the river would be nearing the top of the dikes by nightfall and emergency crews began functioning. . . . In this area the only breakthrough of any consequence was near the former Doctor Cleveland home where the water spread over the Dollar road between Burlington and Sedro-Woolley for quite some distance doing considerable damage. The Sedro-Woolley–Clear Lake road was also covered with water resulting in some damage. |
FEBRUARY 11, 1951 FLOOD
Conway and Stanwood hardest hit. Saturday was February 10th. River nearing top of dikes by nightfall. Breakthrough near Dr. Cleveland home, water over Highway 20. USGS reports flood level was 36.85 at new gage. |
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planning needed to avert floods Fixed planning for future control of the Skagit river is a “must” in order to save the resources of the valley, Herman Hansen, Mount Vernon superintendent of public works, told the Kiwanis club at the weekly luncheon meeting yesterday noon at the President hotel Togi room. |
Planning For Floods A Must |
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state pledges aid for flood repairs The board of county commissioners yesterday reached an agreement with Lars Langloe of the state department of conservation and development for state aid in flood reparations, Chairman A. B. Wiseman reported this morning. . . . Although work right now is concentrating on dike repair to take care of the emergency, river dredging work was mentioned in the discussion and may be an eventuality, Wiseman stated. |
River Dredging A Possibility |
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Flood Damage To Farms Over Half Million Agricultural damage from the Skagit County floods will total “at least half a million dollars” a Soil Conservation Service official said today. Based on a nearly completed SCS survey, which shows 28,776 acres of Skagit County land flooded. Austin Summers of the local soil conservative office placed the estimate on flood damage which does not include damage to houses, furnishings or personal property, or to roads and bridges. It does include damage to land and crops, dikes, ditches, farm buildings and equipment and livestock. Of the total acreage inundated, 8,320 acres were flooded by the Samish River in the northwestern corner of the county and the rest by the Skagit River. Approximately 117 acres of land were “destroyed” for agricultural purposes by erosion, the report shows, with 50 acres of that land on Fir Island and most of the rest around Lyman. . . . Included in the loss was an area of mature bearing filbert trees on the Loop place in the Nookachamps area. . . . One of the heaviest strawberry field losses was on the Noble Lee farm on Fir Island, washed over by the river when it broke a private dike. About 75 acres of bulbs were flooded, with almost no change of any salvage on most of them. . . . Diking districts have a monumental task of repairing flood damage. A total of 4,300 feet of dikes were washed out (200 feet on the Samish River), and the tide gate of District 13 was ruined. The district’s tide box installed in 1937 at a cost of $7,000, was wrecked by the flood and salt water had been coming in on the land at each high tide. |
28,776 Acres of Farmland Flooded
$500,000 damage figure includes damage to land and crops, dikes, ditches, farm buildings, equipment, and livestock. Does not include houses, furnishings or personal property.
117 acres destroyed by erosion around Lyman and Fir Island.
Private dike failed on Fir Island.
4,300 feet of dikes were washed out (200 on the Samish River). |
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Engineer Pessimistic On Flood Control Work The US army engineers are nearing completion of a comprehensive study of Skagit River flood conditions, but a representative of the Seattle district office today held out little hope for any action by the army engineers in the foreseeable future to remedy the situation. Byron Clark, speaking before the members and guests of the Mount Vernon Kiwanis Club this noon at the President Hotel, said that the flood control plan considered most feasible by the engineers – raising of the dikes along the entire lower river – could probably not be justified economically to earn Congressional approval for the project. He said the long-proposed Avon Bypass plan, cutting a channel for emergency overflow from the Skagit River to Padilla Bay would be “slightly more expensive” and indicated it would not have compensating features making it a first choice plan. . . . “Not a penny has been appropriated for the Avon By-Pass to date,” Clarke said in answer to a question. Clarke pointed out that under the existing law flood control projects must be “economically justified” by showing that damage which would be prevented over a period of years would exceed the cost of the work, spread out of the same period – say 50 years. He said that even the least expensive way of meeting the flood situation on the Skagit could not be justified on that basis. . . . This year’s flood, he pointed out, was exceeded in volume and damage by several in the past and he was inclined to doubt that “floods are getting worse.” He also disputed a remark that “the Skagit is silting up,” quoting studies made of the river bed near its mouth in 1930 and 1950, showing comparatively little change. He discounted the importance of closed slough outlets as a flood cause, and said their effect would be very local and not too great since the sloughs carry off little water in comparison to the main stream. He said Swinomish Slough jetty work had absolutely no effect on the Skagit. Clarke also minimized the effect of cutting over timber as a cause of floods. “The main cause of floods in this area,” he said, “is the appearance of storms concentrating in the area of the watershed.” Clarke did not think that dredging the Skagit would have any great effect on preventing floods, at least in the area above the North Fork bridge. He dismissed as far too expensive to consider the diversion of the entire river. The engineer pointed out that Ross Dam has had a helpful effect in reducing flood levels and estimated that the most recent flood would have been one to two feet higher if the dam’s reservoir had not operated as a check. “That margin,” he pointed out “could have been very serious, as you all realize.” |
Corps Flood Study Near Completion
No hope for flood control project in foreseeable future. Raising all levees not economically feasible.
No money appropriated for Avon By-Pass.
Corps does not believe floods are getting worse or that river is “silting up”. No change in mouth of river since 1930.
Swinomish Slough jetty work has no impact on floods.
Corps doesn’t believe cutting timber contributes to flooding.
Dredging would not work.
Ross dam helpful in 1951 flood. River would have been 1 to 2 feet higher without it. |
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Editorial Comments The severe damage caused by the flood last weekend again calls attention to the need for doing something about the Skagit river…the run-off of the Skagit watershed will continue to be a problem to contend with.—Puget Sound Mail It was an experience we have no desire to repeat…It is a problem that the lower valley must prepare to meet. We hope they can find a solution and be spared future disasters.—Concrete Herald “…lessons that may be learned about constructing homes well above flood water levels, building and maintaining stronger dikes, and buildings that provide better protection from endangered livestock. If these lessons are heeded the people who live in lowland areas will be better prepared for the next lood that comes along. And another flood will come make no mistake about it.”—Twin City News
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Editor comments on 1951 flood event. |
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Engineers Work Overtime Fixing Dikes and Roads
. . . Army Engineers A Gullidge and an assistant, with Lars Langloe of the state department of conservation and development, made surveys on Monday and Tuesday, and met with the county commissioners and diking district members in the court house. Langloe assured a perturbed group that the state would pay for all saltwater dike breaks, as well as temporary dikes. Diking districts would have to take care of all easements and right-of-way, and might be asked to pay for 25% of the expenses. US Soil Conservation Dept. Officials are completing their extensive survey of flood damage this week. They claim that about 28,000 acres of county land were flooded, including 8,320 acres around the Samish river. About 4300 linear feet of dikes were washed out in the flood, 200 feet along the Samish. |
Compare this article to 2/15/21. 28,000 acres underwater. |
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Speaker Doubts Flood Money To Be Available Doubt that federal aid would be forthcoming for flood control in the Skagit valley was expressed by Byron Clarke, of the Seattle office of the United States army engineer corp. . . . The question of the often discussed Avon bypass was put and Mr. Clarke contended that at present construction costs it would amount to about nine million dollars. The other alternative, repair, and improvement of the present dike and jetty system would cost in the neighborhood of five million dollars. Although the army engineer survey of the situation is not quite complete at his time Mr. Clarke stated that it was his belief that there would be no recommendation to the federal government for aid in any of these projects suggested. The speaker left the impression that if anything was done to improve the situation in the county it would be up to the home folks. He did say he believed the most economical plan was to repair, widen and raise the existing dikes, both the bypass and dredging at the mouth of the river being impractical from the financial viewpoint. |
No Federal Money For Flood Control
Avon By-Pass cost 9 million. Levee improvements 5 million.
Flood Control up to “local folks.”
By-Pass and dredging impractical from financial viewpoint. |
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Commissioners Defend Flood Coordination Blackstone Says No Coordination During Flood “There was no coordination to speak of, at the county level. This was through no fault of the hastily appointed coordinator (Engineer Harold Strombom) but due to the failure of one non-technical individual being given the authority and responsibility, a reasonable length of time before a coordinating set-up was needed. (Signed Fred Blackstone Jr.) . . . No One Responsible—Consensus of opinion around the court house was that no one individual or office was entirely responsible for flood control or coordination, but that the dike districts are supposed to take care of all dikes, including strengthening during high waters. |
No coordination during flood event alleged.
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New Dike Levy Bill Awaits Signature The bill empowering diking districts to levy assessments on the basis of regular property valuations awaits signature of the governor at Olympia. The measure … passed the senate this week by a 37-2 vote. . . . diking districts at present were meeting expenses under an 1895 law assessing property on an acreage instead of a valuation basis. The result has been that valuable buildings, occupying small land areas, had been paying much less than farms embracing many acres. |
Changed assessment from acreage to buildings for Dike Districts. |
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Dike Vote Close In District Twelve In the closes dike district election yet reported from Tuesday’s elections in the county, Bob Shroeder was elected in district 12 with only 31 out of the 84 votes cast. Shroeder won by only three votes over Harold McMoran (28), who was followed closely by Bill Jewett with 25. |
Only 84 Votes Cast In Dike Election |
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hanson creek’s flood problems to be discussed The problem of Hanson creek in its flooding of farmland is being studied by state and county officials, at the request of farmers owning land along the creek. . . . It was reported that at present Hanson creek has deposited so much dirt and gravel from the foot of the hill and on to its mouth at the river, that it is now too shallow to hold its water, after a heavy rain, and adjoining farmland is threatened. . . . The Soil Conservation men have conducted a survey since the meeting, and recommend a dredging of the creek bed, as in some cases the gravel is higher than the adjoining fields. . . . The farmers felt that the state should pay a large part of the cost and perhaps county help could be obtained. |
Hanson Creek Flooding
SCS recommended dredging the creek. |
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County Dikes Completed, 62,000 Spent by State and County
State Provides $52,000; Diking Districts Work—Milltown Dike Fixed by U.S. Engineers Skagit river dike repairs by the county engineer’s office have cost $62,000, with the state furnishing $52,000, according to the latest figures, released by Assistant Engineer Harold O. Strombom, who was in charge of much of the dike work. U.S. Army Engineers are rebuilding river dikes below Conway for District No. 3 with 100 per cent federal funds. News was received yesterday from an army engineer that work is now completed on the dike at Milltown, , south of Conway near the county line. Sea-Water Dikes Finished—Salt-water dikes were finished in March, according to Strombom, with the state furnishing all funds. Local diking districts are still working on these river dikes: No. 1 along Harmony school district from the county farm on down; No 13, extending the county dike at George Moore place to connect with Brown slough; and No. 15, from Brown slough west. |
Dike Work |
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Mt. Baker Once Had A Spanish Name Mount Baker was known by the Indians as “Koma Kulshan” or “Steep Mountain”. In 1790 a Spanish explorer named Manuel Quimper put it on his maps as La Montana del Carmelo – “The Great White Watcher”. Then came Lt. Joseph Baker in 1892 and his report gave it his own name. The first ascent of the mountain by a white man was made in 1886 by E. T. Coleman.
Note: La Montana del Camelo does not translate to "The Great White Watcher". What Mr. Quimper actually put on his map was La Gran Montana del Carmelo. It translates to The Grand Mountain of Carmel which was named after "Our Lady of the Carmelite Order". (Source: “Mt. Baker, A Chronicle of its Historic Eruptions and First Ascent” by Harry M. Majors, 1978,) |
Mt. Baker According to the book titled “Mt. Baker, A Chronicle of its Historic Eruptions and First Ascent” by Harry M. Majors, 1978, what is reported in this article may not be correct. Mr. Majors writes: Kulshan Koma was the name applied by the Lummi Indians to Mt. Baker. The Lummi word kulshan can variously mean damaged, broken, scar, or wound. Thus the Lummi tribe knew Mount Baker as the “damaged/broken/wounded/scarred mountain,” probably in reference to an eruption witnessed many years ago by the Indians. . . . The Nooksack Indians, who lived much closer to Mt. Baker and for a longer period of time than the Lummis, referred to this peak as Quck-sman-ik which signifies “white rock.” To the south, the Koma Indians on the lower Skagit River knew of Mt. Baker as Tukullum, meaning “white stone,” likely in reference to its snow-clad slopes.” Similarly, the more distant Clallam Indians called the peak Puk’h’kowitz, a term meaning “white mountain”. |
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Water Power From Baker Was Much Too Powerful One of the early day “busts” in Concrete was an attempt to use the Baker River as power for the Washington Cement plant. A wooden flume was built through the Baker canyon and for miles up the river where an earth dam was installed to divert the water into the flume. The flume itself was a marvelous piece of carpentry, wide enough for two horses to run abreast and deep enough to hold a sizeable river. The only trouble was that the earth dam would not hold against flood waters and the flume had to be abandoned. It stood for many years until it was gradually torn town by folks who needed some of its fine lumber. |
First “Dam” on Baker River
One now has to wonder if the oil marks found by Stewart at the Washington Cement plant were from the 1921 flood or oil marks left from a flood when the “earth dam” broke during a flood. |
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Barron Was Upper-Skagit Ghost Town An interesting tale is told in the Forest Service records of the upper Skagit about the town of Barron. During the gold excitement of the early ‘90s there appeared almost overnight a cluster of log cabins that became known as Barron. Alex Barron had gone into the Slate Creek country in 1895 and upon his Black Jack claim the town was built. This was three miles from the Cascade summit and forty-five miles from the nearest supply station – but at one time it boasted a population larger than Concrete at this present time. It had a post office, hotels, restaurants, saloons and a dance hall. There were several mills cutting timber for flumes and buildings, two large mines were operating in the vicinity. |
Town of Barron Skagit County’s true ghost town.
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Birdsview Hatchery Started In 1900 About the year 1900 a small hatchery was established on Grandy Creek at Birdsview as an auxiliary to the Baker Lake hatchery. Salmon eggs for the hatchery were obtained from both Grandy Creek and Phinney Creek. In 1911 extensive improvements and construction of buildings were made, including a new hatchery building, barn, and several residences, and the old hatchery building was made into a workshop. The office of the Baker Lake hatchery superintendent was then moved to the Birdsview hatchery since the field operations became enlarged and Birdsview was more accessible for mail and transportation, as well as being more centrally located since the hatcheries on Hood’s Canal were also added to the field. After 1911 from time to time further improvements and construction of buildings were carried out as became necessary. However, by 1947 the run of salmon into Grandy Creek had declined greatly and the water of the creek during winter and early spring was muddy for such long periods that fish cultural work could not be carried out with maximum efficiency. Logging off of the creek watershed caused the changed condition in the creek. The long periods of muddy water in the creek during the winter months especially, appeared to be a factor in the decline in the numbers of salmon entering. The creek and at times fingerling fish in the ponds could not be properly fed for several weeks at a time. |
Fish Issue
Birdsview Hatchery. By 1947 the run of salmon into Grandy Creek had declined greatly and the water of the creek during winter and early spring was muddy for such long periods that fish cultural work could not be carried out with maximum efficiency. Logging off of the creek watershed caused the changed condition in the creek. . . . Closed in July 1947.
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City Light Projects Harness Powerful Skagit River After Long, Hard Struggle It was over 70 years ago that the first white man battled his way into the fearful Skagit river canyons above Marblemount. They were hunting for gold then, but overlooked a wealth far greater than any metal in the many power sites along the upper reaches of the river. But the country became known and in 1907 engineers made a trip through the same rugged canyons, this time with transit, and level as they mapped out eleven miles of the deepest gorges and made plans for the building of a hydro-electric plant larger at that time than any in the world. By 1919 the project was ready to go and workmen swarmed into the upper country to clear the site for Newhalem and the Gorge Dam, first step in the plan. The Gorge plant, with a capacity of 60,000 kilowatts, was completed in 1924 and the generators were started with great ceremony – President Calvin Coolidge pushing a button in, the White House to start them turning. From then on the project has been in continuous construction. Diablo Dam, 7 and a half miles up from the gorge Plant was completed in 1930. It was built in Diablo Canyon, a gorge of solid granite with vertical walls rising 160 feet from the river bed, yet were less than 100 feet apart. The third step in the plan was Ross Dam, built near Ruby Creek and originally called Ruby Dam. At the death of J. D. Ross, whose dream made the dams possible, his name was given to the latest and largest of them all. Ross Dam was started in 1937, the first step completed in 1940. The second step began almost immediately and the dam is now 545 feet high and has formed a lake 24 miles long. |
Gorge, Diablo & Ross Dams
Gorge completed in 1924. Diablo completed in 1930. Ross still under construction.
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The Story of the Baker Lake Fish Hatchery is Historic Lore Artificial propagation of sockeye salmon began in 1896 when in that year the State of Washington originally established the hatchery at Baker Lake where existed the only natural spawning grounds of sockeye salmon in United States waters on Puget Sound. By that time there were already pack horse trails on both the east and west sides of the Baker River and a number of pioneers had located homesteads on both sides of the Baker River and on the shore of Baker Lake. Mrs. Richard Thompson (Emma Ruth) I believe is the only one of such pioneers now remaining in this locality. At that time and for several years after there was considerable prospecting for gold several miles up Noisy Creek. A cylinder containing about 200 pounds of mercury was left by one of the miners at his claim when he was starved out and in 1916 he returned and packed the mercury out since by that time such metal had greatly increased in value. . . . Then in 1924 a total of 14,558 sockeye salmon were caught and from these a total of 22,000,000 eggs were obtained. However in 1924 the construction of the Baker River Dam at Concrete begun and in 1925 only 40 sockeyes got through to Baker Lake and only 51,490 eggs taken therefrom. However, there were thousands of sockeyes in the Baker River canyon that were unable to get beyond the dam site. In 1926 a total of 2,823 sockeyes arrived at Baker Lake and 3,921,000 eggs obtained therefrom. From then on the annual runs gradually decreased until by 1933 only 493 sockeyes got to Baker Lake and only 356,000 eggs were obtained. This did not warrant operation further on a year around basis for sockeyes and the hatchery was eventually discontinued entirely. |
Fish Issue
History of the Baker Lake Fish Hatchery.
Lower Baker Dam had a tremendous impact on the Sockeye runs on the Baker River. We went from 14,558 sockeye caught to just 493 in just 9 years. Hatchery was opened in 1896 and closed in 1934. |
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A History of the Upper Skagit Valley And It’s Pioneer People History, as we know it from books, begins with the coming of the first settler to the wilderness. The upper Skagit valley was still a wilderness 100 years ago. At that time it was known there was a large river tumbling into Puget Sound from a wide, flat delta within sight of a beautiful snow-capped peak, but this information was relegated to the logs and maps of the explorers who were busy charting the shores within reach of their boats. So the upper reaches of the Skagit had to wait. In some ways they are still waiting, for after a hundred years there are many sources of wealth that lie untouched, awaiting the proper and convenient time to be turned into jobs, into materials, into dollars. . . . The first recorded visit to the upper Skagit was a trip made by Major Van Bokkelen and party in July of 1858. According to his report the party started up the river only to find three huge log jams in the first twelve miles of progress. After working their way past these obstructions they found easy going and followed the river through many miles of forest-lined banks. . . . In 1883 a bill was passed in the legislative assembly of the territory setting up the county of Skagit. Previously all the Skagit valley country had been part of Whatcom County. |
The History Of The Upper Skagit
This is a very lengthy 14 page article that should be required reading for every citizen of Skagit Valley.
First and only mention of “three” log jams. Skagit County formed in 1883.
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Skagit Valley Grew Up With Logging Industry Logging, as one of our old-timers put it, is “gittin a tree to water.” Over the centuries this primary objective has remained unchanged – only the method has been improved. As logging has been, and still is, one of the upper Skagit’s biggest industries, the history of the valley has been closely tied in with the cutting of the enormous stand of fir and cedar that was found by the first explorers up the river. . . . At this area cedar was most plentiful, so early homes were built of the easily worked and nearly split wood. A cedar home could be built with half the labor of a log cabin. … A like manner, cedar was most in demand and took most of the attention of the first loggers. |
The History of Logging in Skagit County
Cedar was most in demand. First they floated the logs. Then loaded them onto the railroad cars. Then by logging trucks. |
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The First Days of Marblemount Marblemount is a small town a half-mile upriver from the mouth of the Cascade River. A couple of hotels, two stores and three beer parlors scattered over a mile of state highway comprises Marblemount today but in 1890 fifteen hundred miners made it, in the words of several astute boosters – “The Coming Leadville of the Pacific”. For in the Cascade valley near Gilberts’ cabin hundreds of prospectors hacked at outcroppings of Galena ore and silver and lead. . . .Coming back to Sedro-Woolley Carl, Mother and I took the “Indiana,” a stern-wheeler, up-river but it only went to Birdsview leaving us on the river bank. Next week the “Henry Brady”, another boat, picked us up and went as far as Rocky Riffle and again we were put ashore just two miles from what later on was Marblemount. |
The History of Marblemount
This article was authored by Dick Buller, father of Tootsie Clark who still lives in Marblemount and runs Clarks Eatery home of the best French fries in Skagit Valley. |
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Fish Hatchery Is Attraction At Marblemount The Skagit River hatchery was built by the State Department of Fisheries in 1946 and 1947 at a total cost of $293,830. The purpose of the hatchery is to offset somewhat the inroad of the upper Skagit dams on the salmon run in the Skagit River. . . . Operations began at the hatchery in 1948 when 586,900 Chinook fingerlings and 220,900 silver fingerlings were planted. The plantings have increased year by year until the 1950 planting totaled 1,344,000 fingerlings and 400,000 yearlings. The returns so far have been gratifying in that a run of more than 3,000 silver salmon put in their appearance in Clark Creek as a result of the 1948-49 plant from the 1947 brood fish. This was the first time more than 400 silvers had appeared in the creek. |
Marblemount Fish Hatchery
3,000 silvers returned to Clark Creek out of 220,000 fingerlings planted?
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Rockport Began It’s Career As Stopping Place for Tourists The City Light throngs that made Rockport into quite a busy little community a few years ago was not the first time the town was a resort for tourists. In fact that is why it became a town. In 1892 Al Von Presentin opened a hotel and general store there for the travelers up and down the river. With the coming of the Seattle & Northern Railway he built the big hotel that still stands as the principle landmark of the town. This modern stopping place was built in May 1901 at the enormous cost of $4,500. Built on a solid foundation of rock, the building had 21 rooms, hot and cold water, a dining room, and a bar, all offering real comfort to the miners and tourists who visited the upper valley. |
History of Rockport Built in 1901.
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Ruby Creek Named After Early Find The stream on the upper Skagit now known as Ruby Creek got its name from two of the early prospectors in that area, Sutter and Rowley, who visited there in 1872. The two men were washing the gravel when Sutter recovered a nice ruby in his pan. The creek received it’s name then and there. |
History of Ruby Creek Found a ruby so named it Ruby Creek. |
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Sauk and Sauk City Disappear Over Years Ghost towns are frequent in the desert mining country, but in the Skagit valley only one thriving community vanished completely from the map over the past fifty years. This was Sauk – a bustling little community at the junction of the Sauk and Skagit rivers. In 1884, a post office was established there and a town grew up around it – today you would be hard pressed to show a person where the town had been. It was fire, the greatest enemy of the pioneers that caused Sauk most of it’s trouble. After the town had grown to a sizeable place for the first time, a fire in January of 1889 burned down all but the store of George Perrault. . . . Another similar town of a similar name “Sauk City” was started on the south bank of the Skagit and was reached by a ferry from old Sauk. This was in 1890 when Thomas Moody of Hamilton and J. W. Sutherland of Fairhaven bought 260 acres and began to build a city from the ground up. |
History of Sauk & Sauk City
In 1891 a promotion was under way to form a new county from the portion of Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish lying east of the Baker River. Sauk City was to be the county seat. There are no more Sauk cities in the upper valley. |
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The History of the Sauk-Suiattle Tribe Long, long ago, before there were any white people in the country, Pepstoats was the chief of the Sauk tribe. The land of the tribe is the territory from the junction of the Sauk and Skagit, up the valley on the West side, east up to the Summit at the head of the Sauk and hence along Glacier Peak ridge to the Summit at the head of the Suiattle River; the Suiattle River on both East and West sides. The Indians lived on the Sauk on both sides of the Sauk River, and on Sauk Prairie, and some people had big houses at Buck Creek and Tenas Creek on the Suiattle. |
History of the Sauk-Suiattle Tribe
This article was authored by Leo Braun, a tribal member of the Sauk-Suiattle Tribe. |
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Superior Cement Plant Is Bulwark of Town Like most small communities, Concrete’s hopes and plans, its past and future, has been tied up with the fortunes of the town’s largest industry – the making of cement by the plant of Superior Portland Cement, Inc. Though not the first to discover and make use of the unlimited supply of limestone in this area, the Superior Company became firmly established here early in its formation and is now as permanent as the mountains which hold its raw material. It was John C. Eden who first investigated the possibilities of establishing a plant here. The Washington Portland Cement company had already begun operations and Mr. Eden visited the district to further probe the resources he had heard about. His findings were many and his decisions were shrewd. He found plenty of un-exploited limestone and clay, a good power sight at Bear Creek, plenty of space for the large plant - - and he wasted little time buying up all these properties for his company. |
History of Cement Plants in Concrete | ||
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Samish Indians sue for $41,500,000; to meet at LaConner The Samish Indian tribe of Washington as filed suit against the U.S. Government for the sum of $41,500,000 on the basis of breach of the Point Elliott Treaty of 1855. The Samish originally owned land in Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties for which they received no consideration when it was taken over by white settlers. Other Western Washington Indian tribes are suing for a total of $700,000,000. They are being represented in the lawsuit by Warren J. Gilbert and Harwood Bannister of Mt. Vernon and Frederick Post and Malcolm McLeod of Seattle. |
Tribes Lawsuit
Should contact Gilberts son and find out what happened to this litigation. |
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Diking District Expansion Sought for Southeast Area Eighteen businessmen, farmers and representatives of the city of Burlington and the dike commission visited the area south east of Burlington Friday afternoon to inspect the site of the proposed new dike which would add about 1000 acres of farm and residential land to that now protected from flood waters by the existing dike. . . . Object of the get-together was to get some of the preliminary work done so dike work could get underway this summer if the annexation of the new acreage is approved by the commission. Dike work will be at the discretion of the diking commission. . . . Possibility of development of residential area within the acreage was discussed and according to the diking commission the proposed new dike could be relied upon to give good protection to the area east of Burlington. |
Dike 12 New Dike
1,000 acres to receive flood protection.
“Possibility” of new development in acreage to be protected by new dike. |
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Allocate $60,000 For Dike Repairs WASHINGTON, March 16 – (U.P.): The Corps of Army Engineers has allocated $60,000 to repair four breaks in dikes along the Skagit River in Washington caused by recent floods, Rep. Henry M. Jackson, D. Wash., said today. . . . A 50-50 division of the cost between the government and local agencies is being considered, he said. |
Federal Money To Fix Levees
50-50 cost sharing proposed. |
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flood cost, effect of new law, hit county taxpayers Last spring’s flood and the effect of a new state law will hit the taxpayers’ pocketbooks in Skagit county next year. Cost of rebuilding and strengthening the dikes along the Skagit accounts of a boost in the levy for most of the districts affected by the flood as well as some of the others. The new state law, providing for levying dike taxes on the basis of improvements as well as acreage, has sent the valuation of the districts soaring, particularly those which include city property. . . . All the diking districts but one affected by the flood have higher levies in the coming year. Diking district 15, on Fir island, has doubled its rate from 100 to 200 mills. Diking district 20, paying for past improvements, keeps its rate at 170 mills. The two districts which include parts of Mount Vernon, No. 1, on the west side of the river, and 3, on the east, show the biggest jump in valuation. District 1 has a valuation of $1,081,545, as compared with $347,855 before the new law went into effect. District 3 has upped its valuation from $401,636, when only acreage value was counted to $2,138,350, representing improvements as well as land. Reduce Mill Rate Thanks to the big boost in valuation, district 3 was able to reduce its mill rate from 37 to 7, to produce approximately the same amount of revenue. District 1 increased its rate from 15 to 20 and its revenue from $5,218 to $21,630. . . . |
Dike District Assessments Soaring
Dike District 15 on Fir Island charging 200 mills ($200 per $1,000 assessed valuation).
Dike District #3 reduced from 37 mills to 7.
Dike districts now allowed to tax improvements instead of just land. |
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county starts job at devil’s elbow Dynamiting of the rock promontory at Devil’s Elbow on the upper Skagit river began Monday as the first step in construction of the rock road bed across the small bay on the south side of the river southeast of Concrete, the engineer’s office reported today. About 5,000 of the necessary 25,000 cubic of rock will be obtained from the spot for the dike, which is part of the second unit of the Dalles bridge project. About 13,000 yards of rock are needed for the base of the revetment, another 12,000 to establish the subgrade and about 40,000 yards of earth to complete the fill. . . . |
Dalles Bridge Work Begins |
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IX. Council Discusses Diking Situation Wednesday Night The only matter to bring any amount of discussion at the monthly meeting of the Burlington city council Wednesday evening was the current and timely subject of the dike problem. An ordinance was submitted to the council to give city officials the power to sign a petition to have city property taken into diking district No. 12. . . . During the discussion it was suggested by some members of the council that the City of Burlington form their own diking district and in that way have some control over what local citizens might be taxed and what work might be done on the dike. . . . It was also pointed out that there is still some controversy as to just where the diking district lines are and what personal property are in the district. The result of the discussion was that Mayor Swanland referred the ordinance and petition to the council dike committee of Smith and Buterfield for further study and information. |
Dike 12 Expansion
City discussed forming own dike district. |
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Real Estate Ads |
What Farms Used to Cost |
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Dike Situation Needs Attention Norm Wallace, chairman of the flood control committee, told the Journal this week that plans for repairing the dike in the vicinity of Burlington and north and east has come to a serious impasse. He stated that the dike commissioners of district number 12 informed him that they cannot legally spend any money on dike repairs upriver from Rio Vista in Burlington. They have discovered that as far as records go few if any persons in this area have ever or at least in the last few years paid any taxes into the dike district. Therefore this section of the county is not considered in any dike district. |
Dike upriver of Rio Vista not in Dike District 12. Dike was in County, not City of Burlington. |
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A Solution to Both Highway & Dike Problem In as much as it looks like a four lane highway through Burlington will not be visualized, people who have the interest of Burlington at heart as well as those residing in the nearby communities are busy trying to find a suitable place for a four lane highway north and south of Burlington. . . . A solution to this bad solution could be made by routing the highway east of Burlington. If the highway started at the Conway hill and followed the hill to Mount Vernon city limits then directly north to Hoag hill following the dike road north, it would intercept highway 99 just two miles from the fish hatchery. This could make the highway run just one fourth mile east of Skagit street on the dike. It would reduce the cost of maintaining the dikes approximately three-fourths if the state did use the dikes as the highway. |
New Road Proposed
This proposal is almost the same as was originally proposed by the WSDOT for the freeway.
Good example of a missed opportunity. Old Burlington dike was on Skagit Street. |
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Cascade Days Will Dedicate New Bridge Cascade days at Concrete, will be held this week-end, August 8 and 9 sponsored by the American Legion Post No. 132 of Concrete. This year’s celebration will be high-lighted by the dedication and opening of the new Dalles bridge across the Skagit river. |
Dalles Bridge Opens |
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Dike District Information Given On behalf of the City of Burlington and those interested, you have asked when the new dike which is to be built under the plans of Dike District No. 12, east and northeast of Burlington, will be built. Our present difficulty arises from the fact that we have some trouble acquiring a small portion of the right-of-way but we expect this will be ironed out shortly. As soon as right-of-way is fully acquired, and weather conditions permit, we expect to proceed immediately. It would be costly to the taxpayers and foolish to attempt piece-meal construction. We have received and hope to continue to receive the support of the majority of interested parties. |
Letter to Burlington from Dike 12 re status of new dike. |
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C-C Names 3-Man River Group on Barge Route Continuing their drive to open the Skagit river to more river traffic the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce selected a three-man “river-committee” at its noon meeting yesterday in the President hotel. Leo Beckley was appointed chairman of the committee by Ted Reep, chamber president. Andy Loft and Bob Ringman will also work on the project. . . . The Chamber initiated action last week to have the Skagit river dredged from Mount Vernon to Puget Sound. |
Chamber of Commerce Wants River Dredging for River Traffic |
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Baker River Dam Planned At Concrete A dam on the Baker river north of Concrete is one of several major power projects now under consideration in the Puget Sound – Cascade region, which would more than double the present power supply during the next eight years. . . . The project on the Baker river, which is currently being investigated by the Puget Sound Power and Light company, would add 140,000 kilowatts of new capacity. Surveys for the dam, which would be located just inside the Whatcom county line, already have been made to a great extent. |
Upper Baker Dam Planned |
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Information On Dike Problems I am writing to you in behalf of the Sterling Dike Association, a group which we recently formed to explore the possibilities of obtaining adequate dike protection for our area. As you will note from the enclosed map, we have a small area of about 600 acres representing homes and farms of over 40 families and individuals. This is excellent agricultural land and portions of it now are opening up as subdivision property. As the situation now stands, Dike District No. 12 has recently included additional lands within their district, and including the city of Burlington. Other areas to the south of this are included along the Skagit River, but Sterling district has been dike out. . . . We feel that by being on the outside of the dike we will be subjected to increased flood damage since about 600 acres down the river from us will be included in the new dike, thus tending to confine the flow of the river and force it back into unprotected area. Those who have built new homes in the vicinity are very concerned that the land which has not previously flooded will be subject to overflow as a result of the new protected dike and it is obvious that a dike at our backs would lessen the value of our property. |
This was a letter to State Senator Paul Luvera from B.J. Bourns, Secretary of the Sterling Dike Association
Recognized water would back up on their property from Dike 12 new dike. |
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Skagit Farmers Protesting Dike Location ‘Walls Off’ Their Lands . . . Residents of Sterling, a farming community 600 acres up the river, have written to State Sen. Paul N. Luvera of Anacortes protesting the location of the new dike. Mrs. Johnson says that she and her husband have a lawyer fighting the dike placement for them. “About half of the people of Burlington are for us,” she said, “they think it is an awful thing they are doing to us out here.” The land for the dike, which has already been acquired by Dike District 12, follows the old railroad logging grade from the Burlington acreage towards Sedro-Woolley. Lawrence Boettcher, who owns 18 acres in front of the new dike location, is sharply critical of the dike plans. . . . Mrs. Florence Johnson said she and her husband are “almost sick” over the situation. “My husband was born this land and has lived here for 60 years,” she said. “We built our new house high so it would be protected from floods, but it won’t be any good now because the dike would raise the water level two feet if we have a flood.” |
Sterling Residents Protest Dike 12 Moving Their Dike
Residents felt new levee location would raise flood waters by 2 feet. |
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Mount Vernon C-C Asks Federal Aid in Struggle for Inland Port Nine-Mile $500,000 Barge Route in Skagit Sought Mount Vernon today renewed its long fight to win status as an inland port by creation of an all-year nine-mile $500,000 barge route down the silt-choked channel of the Skagit river to salt water below LaConner. . . . Receives Copies Mrs. Anna Grimison, president of Skagit River Navigation and Trading company which currently operates shallow-draft sternwheelers on the Skagit, will receive copies of the letters to Westland and Jackson. If she indicates that river dredging will benefit river commerce, the Chamber said, a hearing will be asked with the Army engineers. The Engineers estimate that about six miles of dredging would be necessary, with the federal government bearing bulk of the cost if the project is approved. Approval would depend on area ability to show annual savings of at least $350,000, the Engineers said. The last major improvement work on the channel was completed in 1911, and dredging of the river was entirely discontinued in 1941. Today, a government snag boat is the lone craft assigned to clear river jams. . . . Need Justification . . . Delta silt at the mouth of the Skagit is one of the main obstacles to passage of all but shallow draft craft. The project won immediate support from Mount Vernon officials and industry spokesmen. “The Skagit river would become another outlet for transportation for Mount Vernon and the Chamber of Commerce should spark-plug it,” Ted Reep, Chamber president, said. . . . Seek Schedules . . . Channel deepening would permit extensive tugboat operations on the river. . . . Trouble Develops . . . Dunlap says a jetty is needed near the mouth besides dredging if the river is to stay navigable.
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Mt. Vernon Wants Barge Route On Skagit Proposed 9 mile Dredged Channel To Puget Sound
Last major improvement to mouth of Skagit was in 1911. Dredging (side-casting) stopped in 1941. |
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Skagit Officials to Make Barge Route Inspection Top Skagit county and Mount Vernon officials – fighting to win a year-around tug and barge route on the Skagit river from Mount Vernon to salt water – tomorrow will personally inspect low water navigation hazards on the nine-mile route. . . . Lowest tides of 1955 will be recorded on the Skagit river delta today and tomorrow, and official will see firsthand how the delta blocks passage of all but shallow-draft traffic for 22 hours daily under worst tide conditions. Jim Dunlap, tug company operator, estimated that tomorrow the exposed bar will be passable for only two hours when covered by six feet of water from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Under ideal conditions, Dunlap said, his tugs should have seven or eight feet for operation. . . . Strong representations were made to the area representatives in Washington, D.C., to press for the project, estimated to cost about $500,000. |
Local Officials Inspect River Lower River Hazards
Mouth of Skagit River covered by 6 feet of water only 2 hours a day. |
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(picture Caption)- Inspect River Members of the board of the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce and county officials inspect the silt choked north fork of the Skagit River this morning. The party was the guest of the Dunlap Towing Company. The men were to be guests at a salmon barbecue this afternoon. The chamber and other county groups are trying to have the driver dredged so that barge traffic can get up to Mount Vernon. |
Picture of River Inspection |
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Fill Materials To Be Dredged From Skagit Highway To Use Half Million Cubic yards Dredging operations for fill material for the stretch of highway construction between the overpass of the Great Northern and the new bridge now in construction at Riverside probably will not get under way Monday as first planned, but will soon thereafter. . . . About a half million yards of material is to be taken from the Skagit River in the vicinity of Young’s bar by Osberg and Manson to be used on the PJ Anderson contract job. The State Highway Dept had purchased land north of Fir street in the vicinity of the cemetery for borrow materials for fill but the contractor is said to have figured costs on dredging cheaper for these materials. . . . Some concern has been expressed as to weakening the east bank of the river but one authority said yesterday that a deepened channel might ease the wear on that bank. On the other hand it is believed that all sand and silt removed will soon be replaced by the erosive action of the river. Young’s bar has extended its reaches gradually for many years gently swinging the river eastward. |
Dredging by Young’s Bar |
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Fear Damage To Pipeline Across River Commissioners Object to Dredging Near Pipeline Fearful of possible damage to the river pipe line across the Skagit At Riverside through dredging operations the Commissioners of PUD 1 yesterday instructed Attorney Warren J Gilbert to take all necessary steps to protect the line. . . . meeting has been held with contractors who plan to get highway building materials through dredging between the two bridges at Riverside…Commissioners took a positive stand in that no excavation or dredging at all was to be done close to the 12 inch water line under the Skagit. They pointed out that water through that line is furnished to about 10,000 persons and considerable industrial work in Burlington and Sedro-Woolley and that a cutoff of the line would necessitate at least three of four days to get more line through order and about the same time to install it.. |
Dredging at Young’s Bar |
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Dredging Will Affect Valley, Hughes Warns County Commissioner Lowell Hughes warned the Chamber of Commerce board yesterday that dredging the Skagit river could produce good or bad results to the lower Skagit Valley depending on what work was done to the river. “What you do at the mouth of the river affects the lower valley,” Hughes said. He said that dredging the river would help in flood control, but would not be permanent since river silt would fill the bottom. A “wing dam” would be needed to create a permanent channel, but such a dam might increase the danger of floods along the lower part of the Skagit, he explained. |
Dredging Good & Bad |
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In Skagit Dredging – Chamber Requests River Industry Aid A series of letters soliciting aid in getting the Skagit River improved for better water transportation were mailed today by the Chamber of Commerce to various industries along the river. . . . Harry Grimison of the Skagit River Navigation and Trading Company, founded in 1890, said his two stern wheelers have not been able to navigate the silt filled north fork of the river for the past ten days. Jim Dunlap, speaking for the Dunlap Towing company in LaConner, said the firm towed $2 million worth of timber down the river last year from upper Skagit County. “We brought down 32 million board feet of timber which otherwise would have been carried on the highways and there is more to come,” he said. Both men said they could only use the river at high tides to get over the delta land at the mouth of the river. |
Dredging Letters Sent
$2,000,000 worth of timber floated down the river in 1954. 32 million board feet. |
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Engineers Will Deepen Skagit Mouth Immediately – Westland – North Fork River Work The plug is about to be pulled out of the silt-filled mouth of the north fork of the Skagit River. Congressman Jack Westland, second district sent the Daily Herald the following telegram this morning: “Regarding action to improve conditions at the mouth of the north fork of Skagit River. Army engineers advise work will be undertaken immediately to deepen channel depth about six inches. This deepening will mean the difference between vessels and rafts standing or making the passage safely.” . . . “This action by the Army Engineers came as the result of work by the Chamber of Commerce which has sparked the drive to clean out the river and improve it for more use of water transport transportation,” Reep said. . . . Commercial rivermen Harry Grimison and Jim Dunlap told Chamber of Commerce Board members two weeks ago that river boats and log rafts could now get through the north fork only during high tides. |
North Fork Mouth Of River To Be DREDGED
“Dredged” (actually side-cast) six inches deeper. Done entirely for the benefit of river boats and log rafts. Had nothing to do with flood control. |
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8/11/55 |
River Channel Work Started, Limited Scale Further Work Recommended by Engineer Study The US army engineers’ snag boat Preston was set to work this week to lower the bar at the mouth of the Skagit river north fork by six inches as emergency relief to freight boat and log rafting operations. . . . Westlands research assistant Jack Anderson told the Argus from Everett today that the six-inch figure was correct. He explained that the engineers funds for such work was limited. The river users said, however, according to Anderson, that the six-inch lowering of the bar would be a big help for high tide crossings. |
Dredging in Mouth of River Corps records indicate the following amounts of cubic yards moved. 38,788 N. FORK 79,603 S. FORK 38,325 UPSTREAM M.V. |
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Puget Power To Borrow $20 Million in 3 Years Puget Sound Power and Light announced from Bellingham today that it has entered into a credit agreement with nine local and nine eastern and midwestern banks to borrow up to $20,000,000 in the next three years. . . . McLaughlin said the upper Baker project, with a potential of 85,000 kilowatts, would also enable the installation of 55,000 additional kilowatts at Puget Sound’s present lower Baker plant. |
Upper Baker Dam Needed $20,000,000 Loan |
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Puget Seeks License For Expansion Upper Baker To Provide 85,000 KWs Added Power
Puget Sound Power & Light Company expects to apply by early September for a federal power commission license to develop its Upper Baker river hydroelectric site . . . Hoped for completion date of the Upper Baker development is 1959. |
No mention in article of providing flood control. |
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X. Dike Job Is ¼ Completed XI. Construction of the new Dike District 12 dike East of Burlington is about one-quarter completed, according to the job foreman for P.J. Anderson and Sons, contractors. Of an estimated 160,000 yards of dirt required for building the two-mile dike, about 40,000 yards had been hauled by Tuesday. If favorable weather holds the dike could be completed in about another month. The soft and spongy nature of the river silt being used as fill has slowed down the Anderson equipment. |
Dike 12 Project
“soft and spongy nature of the river silt being used as fill” |
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U.S. Skagit Flood Aid Unjustified, Army Says The U.S. Army’s Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, following a review study in Washington, D.C., this week, again has found that federal participation in flood control projects along the Skagit River would not be justified. . . . Under study was a Skagit River flood control program authorized by Congress in 1936, but never implemented because of the unfavorable reports of engineers who held that the work could not be justified from the standpoint of the ratio of costs to benefits. This week the engineers told the board that a $29,000,000 Upper Baker Reservoir might possibly be justified if built both for flood control and power production purposes, but that such a project would face heavy opposition from fishery and recreation groups operating in the area. |
Corps Again Says No To Skagit County Upper Baker Dam Might Be Justified |
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Skagit Flood Control Is Recommended Dropped In 1936 the army engineers made extensive surveys on the Skagit and set up many projects that could be used for flood control. These included the earth dam at Faber, the Avon canal and similar ideas. All have been found unfeasible from the standpoint of cost in ratio to benefits. The board recommended this week that the program be killed by Congress. |
Corps Drops Flood Control For Skagit Cost benefit ratio has always been what has killed flood control in Skagit County. |
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Westland Backing $20,000 Survey Second District Congressman Jack Westland pledged his support yesterday in seeking a $20,000 appropriation in Congress to finance a survey of the Skagit River by the Army Corps of Engineers. . . . Harry Grimison of the Skagit River Navigation Company said his boats could cross the sand bar at the mouth of the river only at high tides, which makes a regular schedule impossible. He noted that the engineers had opened a channel on the north course from Bald Island to Smuggler’s Cove this summer, but said it could not be used when certain types of winds are blowing. |
$20,000 To Study Skagit River |
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Puget Power Plans $35 Million Project The Federal Power Commission yesterday issued a license to Puget Sound Power & Light Company to construct a $35,000,000 Upper Baker River power dam, and the upriver town of Concrete immediately began wrestling with the problems which will result from the construction boom. The site of the second dam on the Baker River will be eight miles north of Concrete. . . . The new dam will be 300 feet high, 200 feet wide, will be constructed of concrete with a straight gravity section, and will be 1,200 feet long with a 12-foot wide road across its top. . . . Ed Monrad, Concrete businessman and past president of the Upper Skagit Valley Booster Club. Said this morning that “right now we are trying to figure out how we are going to put up just 35 engineers and official who will be arriving in the next two weeks. There just isn’t any empty housing in town, and the communities further down the valley also have their problems.” Monrad said he was “shocked” by a poor turnout for a booster club meeting last night – only seven persons appeared – at which discussion of how the community is to solve the housing and other problems which will be posed by the dam project was highlighted. . . . Behind the new dam a reservoir some nine miles long and storing 980,000,000,000 gallons of water will be created. North of the dam a dike 1,260 feet long and 50 feet high, requiring 270,000 cubic yards of earth and rock fill will be constructed. |
Upper Baker Dam Cost $35,000,000 |
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Flood Breaks Dike—2000 Acres Underwater Dike Breaks to Flood Fir Island
Considerable loss of crops, some damage to property but no loss of lives and questionable loss of live stock seems to sum up the high water and flood situation this morning. Break At Lundeen’s—A break in the dike on Freshwater slough near the Lundeen farm southwest of the Fir-Conway bridge plunged about 2,000 acres of farm land under water Wednesday afternoon. Although the dike was being patrolled at the time, the break came suddenly and the dike seemed to “fall in” all at once over a 75-foot width. . . . The dike caved in a little after noon with the water still two or three feet below dike level. River Going Down—Local river reading reached 23.7 and top reading at Concrete was 35.17. The crest was reached at 7 a.m. Wednesday and held fairly steady for several hours. Some Damage—high waters in the Nookachamps area had been anticipated and there seems to be little damage there. . . . Rains caused the rapid rise. It was reported that a 4.36 inch rain fell within 24 hours at Diablo. |
October 26, 1955 Flood Event
No reading was provided by USGS for this flood event at Concrete but article says 35.17 observed which would be about 115,000 cfs. Mt. Vernon is reported by USGS to have been 30.69 or 84,900 cfs.
4.36 inches of rain at Reflector Bar in 24 hours. |
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Ike To Urge Flood Insurance New England’s second disastrous flood in three months is likely to spur Congress to its first serious consideration of some form of federal flood insurance. President Eisenhower assured New England governors by letter from Denver Tuesday that the administration will make specific legislative suggestions next month. |
Federal Flood Insurance Is Born |
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XII. River and Harbor Board Unfavorable Toward Flood Control Program The Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors at its meeting on September 20, 1955, held in Washington, D.C., concurred in general in the unfavorable recommendations of the District Engineer, Seattle District, Seattle, Washington, and the Division Engineer, North Pacific Division, Portland, Oregon, regarding the advisability of Federal improvement of the Skagit River and Tributaries, Washington, in the interest of flood control. The Board is of the opinion that the benefits to be derived by provision of local flood protection works are insufficient to justify construction of such works by the Federal Government at this time. Storage possibilities for flood control alone and in combination with hydroelectric power generation were also considered but none was found to be feasible for development by the Federal Government at this time. The Board further finds that the degree of protection that would be provided by the Avon bypass authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1936 could be secured at less cost by improving the existing levee system but that such improvement cannot be justified at this time. No action has been taken to provide the required local cooperation for the authorized project and no work has been done. The Board, therefore, recommends that the existing project for flood control of Skagit River be abandoned. |
Corps of Engineers turns down Skagit County for flood control. “No action has been taken to provide the required local cooperation for the authorized project and no work has been done.” |
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XIII. PSP&L Applies For License To Construct $27 Million Plant Application to the Federal Power Commission for a license to build an 85,000-kilowatt hydro-electric on the Upper Baker River at an estimated cost of more than $27 million was announced today by Frank McLaughlin, president of Puget Sound Power & Light Company. The proposed dam, some 300 feet high, would be located about eight miles above the Company’s present Baker River project and would impound about 238,000 acre-feet of water in a reservoir nine miles, thus providing greater control of the Baker River flow. This will permit another 55,000 kilowatts of added capacity to be installed at the present Lower Baker plant. The two projects will total 140,000 kilowatts of new generation, at an estimated cost of $35 million. |
UPPER BAKER DAM PROPOSED
No mention of flood control. |
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Crest in Skagit River Passes; Nokkachamps Valley Flooded – High Water Follows 2 Rainy Days . . . The county engineer’s office reported that the crest of the flash flood was reached at 7 a.m. with a gauge reading of 23.7 feet. It rose to that level from a low of nine feet Monday morning. . . . The high water gauge reading hit Concrete at 7 p.m. yesterday and was 35.17 feet. . . . Some reports of flooding over the dikes in the lower valley were received, but again no one reported serious loss. . . . Nookachamps Valley residents were commuting by boat this morning. Superior Judge A. H. Ward said by telephone that about 200 of his 230 acres was under water, but that all his cattle were safe, as were those of his neighbors. . . . For those interested in the pure statistics Whitnall revealed that this flood closely paralleled that of 1949 in its quick rise but was much less severe than the 1951 inundation which hit a high mark of over 25 feet at Mount Vernon. At its peak this morning there were 87,000 cubic feet of water a second passing by the revetment. In 1951 there were 140,000 cubic feet of water per second . . . |
OCTOBER 26, 1955 FLOOD
USGS 84,900 cfs, 30.69 Mt. Vernon
35.17 Concrete gage according to article.
“Some reports of flooding over the dikes in the lower valley were received “ on just a 30 foot river?
87,000 cfs reported at Mt. Vernon |
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Flood Highlights Riches instead of nature’s wrath is often brought to the Nookachamps Valley by high water, County Agent Homer K. Rowley said this morning. “The flooding of the valley leaves behind a rich soil containing potash which fertilizes the ground,” Rowley explained. |
Flood Water Good For Farmland
See articles on 1906 flooding. They said the same thing. |
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Engineers May Blast Salt Water Dike at Fir Island – District Flooded Plans to dynamite the salt water dike at Fir island were being made this morning by the Skagit County engineer’s office if the flood waters which ripped a 150-foot hole through the Fresh Water Slough dike yesterday do not slack off. The dike broke on the slough at a point about a mile and a half south of the Conway bridge at 1:30 p.m.. . . . The county engineers and area farmers estimated that at least 2,000 acres have been covered with over a foot of water even though the flood-swollen Skagit River had dropped from a high point of 23.7 feet yesterday to 18.5 feet at 10:30 this morning at Mount Vernon. The salt water dike which protects the low-lying farm land from the waters of Puget Sound was acting as a dam bottling up the District No. 2 and the county engineers were considering blasting that barrier to provide an outlet. . . . Farmer Bill Brown, who has gone through this before in ‘32, said the flood has “picked” his ten acres of broccoli. He and his wife Alice cleaned out their basement when they saw the water coming. . . . An on-the-spot inspection of the ruptured dike was made by assistant county engineer H. O. Strombom and Gregory M. Hastings, supervisor of the state department of Conservation and Development. “I’d estimate that there is a half a million gallons of water a minute coming through right now,” he said at 5 p.m. last night “This has been a real eye-opener for me and I intend to declare this area eligible for emergency funds from the state flood control maintenance fund.” Assistant County Engineer W.R. Whitnall noted somewhat wryly that a rabbit or gopher hole at the base of the earth dike probably was the flaw that weakened the dike for the flood waters. |
Fir Island Levee Breaks After Flood Waters Dropped 5 feet
Dike break blamed on rabbits or gophers. I’d like to know the last time a gopher was sited in Skagit County. In that location it was more likely then not a river otter or a beaver.
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Level of Skagit River Goes Up After 4-Inch Rain Hits Area – Crest May Come Tomorrow Morning . . . The river forecast center in Portland predicted this forenoon that the Skagit River will crest at 27 feet at Mount Vernon by 8 a.m. Friday. . . . Whitnall explained that an electronic brain machine at the river forecast center in Portland takes all available information on river level, snow, and rainfall and compares it against past records, then gives the prediction. At 9 a.m. this morning the river at Concrete had reached a gauge reading of 29.17 feet and was rising at the rate of a foot an hour. The flood last week reached its high mark at 35 feet there. A high mark of around 37 or 38 feet is expected at Concrete tonight by 6 o’clock. . . . In the 24 hour period ending at 8 a.m. the weather bureau reported that 4.03 inches of rain fell at Diablo Dam. 3.68 inches at Darrington, and 3.85 inches at Marblemount. The Northwestern Washington Experiment Station reported that yesterday’s rainfall of 1.71 inches in the Skagit Valley was the highest amount in a 24-hour period since records were started in July, 1949. The freezing level was at 9,000 feet this morning. “The dike at Mount Vernon withstood 28.2 feet in 1951, but it was right up to the top and lapping over. We should still have a foot or two to spare at tomorrow morning’s peak.” commented engineer Whitnall. |
4 Inches Of Rain Fell At Diablo In 24 Hours
Highest amount of rain in 24 hours in Mt. Vernon (1.71 inches) since records started being kept (1949).
Floodwaters lapping over top of Mt. Vernon dike.
Fir Island still underwater from October 27th break. |
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27-Ft River Due by 8 a.m. Friday The Skagit river may go as high as 27 feet by 8 a.m. Friday morning is the prediction of the weather department according to an announcement by the engineer’s office today at noon. The river was at the 18.7 mark at noon and rising. The break at Conway has been closed but high tide will come at the crest of the rise it is said. Highest point reached in 1951 was 28.2. The county engineer’s office reported that a careful watch will be kept but that there is no so-called “weak point” in the dike system. They are most concerned with the break last week at Lundeen’s farm, especially as the tide may (be) coming in at the crest. |
November 4, 1955 flood event.
USGS records say flood reached 106,000 cfs at Concrete or 34.48 and 107,000 cfs at Mt. Vernon or 33.52. |
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Sandbaggers Hold Own -Critical Period Due In This Afternoon . . . With the Skagit River due to crest at 25.5 feet in Mount Vernon shortly after noon today there was still no immediate relief in sight. Associate County Engineer W. R. Whitnall figures that the crest will be of long duration, further weakening the already water-saturated dikes. . . . And the weather bureau’s electronic brain in Portland had re-figured the expected Skagit crest and lowered its forecast from the 27 feet at Mount Vernon which it originally had predicted for this morning. However, both Seattle City Light’s Ross Dam and Puget Sound Power and Light’s Baker River Dam were holding back enough water to cut the crest 1.5 feet. Ross Dam was purchasing power from the Bonneville Power Administration to supply its lines. Stream flow at the dam was reported to be something on the order of a small creek. . . . The most critical point was at Ted Lundeen’s Fresh Water Slough dike, which broke during the flood last week. Some 12,000 sandbags had been placed on top of the dirt fill to keep the rising water back. . . . Earlier this morning there was a break though at Fisher’s Slough, two miles south of Conway. Crews from the county engineer’s department and volunteers stopped the break in time. Farm families in the Nookachamps Valley took their stock out yesterday morning and afternoon as the waters crept upwards. The Nookachamps road was closed this morning as was the old Mount Vernon – Clear Lake road. . . . River water was reported in the Hamilton School yard after that community had been isolated when a culvert on the last access road was washed out. |
NOVEMBER 4, 1955 FLOOD
USGS 106,000 cfs, 34.48 Concrete; 113,000 cfs Sedro Woolley; 107,000 cfs, 33.52 Mt. Vernon
Lower Baker and Ross Dam held back water. |
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Skagit Hits Crest; Some Flood Danger Persists Over Lowlands – High Waters Begin To Recede Slowly . . . The river reached its peak in the Skagit Valley at 5 p.m. yesterday at 25.7 feet at Mount Vernon. Unlike the flood of a week ago the river did not start to drop quickly, but stayed up over 25 feet until 1 a.m. this morning. At 9 a.m. this morning it was 24.7 feet. . . . Associate County Engineer Jack E. Frets put it this way: “Once the river drops to 20 feet we should be fairly safe, but even then a major break in any of the dikes could flood a lot of farm land. A 12-f0ot tide will start going out a noon and things should be a little better after that, but we probably won’t be able to breathe easily until 8 tonight.” The tide at the mouth of the Skagit acts as a dam against the outflow of the flood river, slowing down the flow of water as it passes the patched up Fresh Water Slough dike break near Ted Lundeen’s home on Fir Island. The reason for the long crest of the river is that the main tributaries of the Skagit, such as the Sauk, Cascade, and Baker rivers, reached their peaks at different times, thereby keeping the Skagit up. A high point of 34.5 feet was hit at Concrete Thursday at 10 p.m. The readings at Concrete then began to drop but as the offshoots of the Skagit reached their high marks the level came back up to 33.74 yesterday at 1 p.m. . . . A group of 90 sailors was at the Fresh Water slough through the night while 30 more were plugging a threatening break at Fisher’s Slough, about 3½ miles above Conway. The Great Northern Railway sent up a crew of 40 from Seattle with a load of rock to re-ballast the roadbed near the South Fork which had high water seeping through it. . . . The dredge from Seattle, hired by Dike District Two officials for repair work, was still tied up at Whidbey Island, unable to cross the channel in the rough water. Very little erosion was reported on the Burlington Dike and the Lyman-Hamilton detour was back in service after being washed out Thursday. |
12 Foot Tide Slows Flood Waters
25.7 downtown Mt. Vernon gage. 33.5 new gage.
The tide at the mouth of the Skagit acts as a dam against the outflow of the flood river, slowing down the flow of water… |
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Flood Loses Held Down By Unsung Heroes The break at Freshwater Slough has been rebuilt with the dike set back on the Lundeen land. The state is cooperating with the dike district in putting in 1,500 feet of new dike but not all will be done now. State money is expected t pay for 40 percent of the cost. Roads Escape Damage—Hardly any damage was done to roads although several bridges upriver didn’t come through unmarked. |
November 4, 1955 flood event. Evidently not a very serious flood event.
First setback levee in Skagit County? |
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XIV. New Dike Withstands 8-Foot Wall Of Water During Last Weeks Flood Local officials, particularly the members of the dike commission, are very happy over the way the new dike withstood the recent battering of flood water. According to Robert Schroeder, dike commissioner, the dike withstood an eight foot wall of water in most places and although a few places were roughed up slightly and sluffed off there was no apparent damage to the dike itself. . . . Previous to and during the flood conditions considerable comment was heard concerning the removal of the old dike. Some people were very indignant over its removal. But these same people can now be assured that it was a good and sensible plan. . . . First, if they will only take the time and trouble to go out, now that the waters have receded, and see what good condition the new dike is in they will see that there is better protection than the old dike ever gave, even when new. Secondly, had that new dike broke an the old dike remained in place, people and property between the two would suffered much heavier loss than they would have with the old one removed because the water would have been that much deeper. Thirdly, the dike commission saved the taxpayers, according to Schroeder, considerable money by using dirt from the old dike. Had they had to buy dirt and possibly haul it a considerable greater distance, the cost would have been several thousand dollars more than the plan used. |
November 5, 1955 Flood
USGS level 33.5 at new gage. 107,000 cfs |
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Editorial—We May Have To Modify Our Defenses Against Floods The raging old Skagit (Wildcat in Indian language) has cooled down and now flows meekly along as if nothing eve disturbed it or ever will again. But the Old-timers know better. . . . Seems to us we will have to alter our plans but no doubt engineers are aware of this. Higher and stronger dikes and dredged channels no doubt are the answers. Sometimes modern conditions are not all they are cracked up to be. At least when they come to greater threats that were not so serious in the old days. |
Skagit means “Wildcat”?
Dredging and Dikes |
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11/18/55 |
Dike Funds Hit $17,445 State tax money totaling $17,445.20 will be spent by the Department of Conservation and Development in the rip-rapping of a salt water dike and two Skagit River dikes in the county whose final cost will total $43,613. George R. Thompson, assistant director of the department, notified State Sen. Paul N. Luvera of Anacortes today that the state will pay $2,965.20 of the $7,413 cost of having two rock revetments built on the Skagit River near Burlington. The Wilder Construction Company completed the job last week at both the new and old Darigold intakes. Dike District No. 12 and the county river fund will pay the remaining 60 per cent of the job. |
Rip-Rap Dike Projects |
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$7,000 Provided – State’s Funds Aid River Job The state will participate in the cost of a riprapping project on Fir Island on the north fork of the Skagit River. . . . Rock for the job is being taken from the Fir Island quarry and is being placed on the river bank on the west side of Fir Island in Dike District No. 13. Walberg said the state is paying 40 percent of the cost while the county and dike district each pay 30 per cent. This, he added, is the normal arrangement for such projects. . . . Walberg said the county this past weekend accepted as complete another riprapping job on the Skagit River in Dike District No. 12 near Burlington. |
Rip-Rap Dike Projects |
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Flood Control, Navigation of Skagit to Be Studied An emergency meeting of the Skagit County Flood Control Council has been called for Friday at 1:30 p.m. . . . to discuss feasibility of cutting a new channel at the mouth of the Skagit River. Supporters of the proposal claim that a new channel at the North Fork of the river substantially would control flooding in the Skagit flat area and open the river to navigation. . . . Hughes pointed out that the new channel could be dredged in a westerly direction, taking of from Valentine’s Bend, across state owned land and tidal flats, and arriving at deep water, after covering a distance of about four miles. . . . County Engineer H.O. Walberg…revealed that the water level was as high at the North Fork bridge during the November 3,4, and 5 flood threat as it was during the more severe 1951 flood. Silting at the present mouth was one of the factors which accounted for this. . . . According to Asst County Engineer Harold Strombom, 147,000 cfs of water rolled down the river in 1951 high water as compared to the lesser figure of 110,000 cfs in last Novembers danger period. |
Cutting a New Channel at Mouth of River
Dredge a new channel.
Could this be because there weren’t any levee breaks in the last November flood? |
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Panel Named to Seek Federal, State Help for River Channel – Increased Traffic Sought Old man river, stay away from my door. That was the theme of yesterday’s meeting of the Skagit County Flood Control Council in the Skagit County Courthouse. Over 50 persons, including representatives from 11 diking districts in Skagit County, were packed into the small courtroom to discuss the possibility of creating a new channel for the mouth of the silt – choked north fork of the Skagit River. Up-shot of the hour and a half meeting was a unanimous resolution by the council to support an emergency program with state and federal powers to dredge the new channel. . . . A proposal to cut the new channel from Valentine’s Bend proceeding westerly past Bald Island to deep water was the main topic of discussion. . . . “We used to be able to enter drawing 5 feet 8 inches. Now we can’t get into the river drawing 5 feet,” Captain Spencer commented. LaConner area farmer Jim Hulbert said that the effect of the heavy silting was to raise the level of the mouth of the river which then backed the water upriver endangering low-lying farmland. . . . Chairman Hanson noted that the water level at the river’s mouth during the Nov. 3-5 flood was as high with a 25-foot level at Mount Vernon as it was in the more serious flood in 1951 when the Mount Vernon reading was 28 feet. . . . Several of those at the meeting noted that the same idea had been proposed to the Army Corps of Engineers after the 1951 flood. “If we are going to get anything done we have got to be of one mind and get on the ball and get this thing rolling,” said County Commissioner Lowell Hughes, who is a Fir Island farmer himself. |
Dredging Mouth of River Proposed |
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Editorial—Its Up To Flood Council To Spur Engineers Into Action
Since the first white men settled in the Skagit Valley there has hardly been a more irritating or time-consuming problem than flood control. The river, aptly named Skagit by the Indians, goes on a rampage now and then and in so doing often provides materials that practically choke the stream, thereby setting up the stage for further floods. . . . We are indeed fortunate to have on that Control Council men who understand the situation—men like Earl Hanson, Lowell Hughes, Nobel Lee, Leo Beckley, Jim Dunlap, Dan Sundquist and Charles Christenson. County Engineer HO Walberg will be adviser to the Council. . . . We no longer have the great forests that sop up rain waters and let them seep out slowly. We still have a great expanse of rainshed, regardless of the fact that dams do some good in holding back excessive water. |
Names of committee members.
Logging recognized as impacting floods.
Dams recognized as helping during floods. |
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‘Skagit’ Again used for name “Skagit” may seem new to the present generation of Mt. Vernon daily newspaper readers as part of the name of their publication, but actually the usage dates back 71 years. The original predecessor of the Skagit Valley Herald was The Skagit News, a weekly established in Mount Vernon on March 4, 1884, by William C. Ewing, who announced, “This paper was due a good while ago . . .” |
History of the Skagit Valley Herald |
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Steady Rains Fail To Cause Flood Threat . . . The gauge reading at Mount Vernon at 11 a.m. this morning was 10.7 feet, about a feet higher than the reading taken 24 hours previously. . . . The gauge reading at the Dalles station on the Skagit River near Concrete at 7 a.m. this morning was 18.14 and rising. Observers for the power station said, however, that most of the water is surface runoff and would not prove dangerous unless the temperature rose and snow began to melt. |
Flood Scare
Flood never materialized. |
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Hanson Reports Emergency “Out” On New Channel Other Aspects Encouraging To Committee of 8 Hanson said that Col. Mathius told the committee that the matter could not be handled as an emergency measure but must get necessary and direct appropriation from Congress for the survey and, if approved, money for the actual work of forming the channel to salt water. |
Corps had to study it first. |
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River Group Awaits Information By Army In Planning New Move The answer was no, but they’re not done yet. Such was the feeling yesterday of the eight men from Skagit County as they left the Seattle District Army Engineers headquarters in Seattle after having their proposal to declare an emergency to have a new channel in the mouth of the Skagit River turned down. . . . Gives Resolution Hughes presented resolutions from the 11 dike districts in Skagit County to Col. Norman A. Matthias asking that the work be done in order to provide a faster runoff of the Skagit’s water and lower the river level by a foot more. “You can’t realize how important the difference of a few inches on the dikes during a flood mean to us,” commented Hughes. Members of the colonel’s staff pointed out that their studies showed that the river bottom of the Skagit has remained more or less stable in the past 18 years. . . . Funds Sought . . . George Kurttilla, civil engineer for the Army in the planning section for navigation projects, pointed out that their office has a report on flood control and navigation made on the Skagit now in Washington D.C. before the Chief of Engineers. He said action is expected on the report in the next two years. . . . Kurttilla said that some of the main recommendations in the report were for extension and raising of the dikes from Burlington down to the mouth of the river. Agree to Study In addition to this information, the Army Engineer agreed to have his staff make a comparative study of 1937 soundings of the river and the tide flats as against those taken in July, 1955, and forward the report to the Skagit County engineer, H.O. Walberg, next week. |
Corps Says No To Declaration Of An Emergency To Have River Dredged
Corps study says river bottom hadn’t changed in 18 years. |
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State Agrees To Help Pay for Dike Job The State Department of Conservation and Development announced today that the state will pay 40 per cent of the cost of a$14,800 rip-rapping job on the Skagit River opposite the north city limits of Mount Vernon. . . . The Skagit County engineer’s office located the job as being between the old Skagit River bridge and the new span now under construction. The north bank of the river will be rocked between these two structures for a length of 1,600 lineal feet. “This is a project that Dike District No. 12 has asked for because of the high velocity of the river which is tearing the bank away at that point.” Assistant County Engineer H. C. Strombom explained. |
Rip-Rap Dike Projects |
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Senator Jackson Drafting Bill To Allow River Mouth Work – Lawmakers To Seek Plan for Engineers To Speed Projects The drafting of federal legislation which would release U.S. funds for the deepening of the mouth of the Skagit River for flood control and navigation purposes has been disclosed in Washington, D.C. . . . Senator Jackson said he is drafting legislation which would authorize the Army Engineers to undertake flood control projects costing $500,000 or less which they determine to be justifiable. . . . The Senator pointed out that he and Itschner agreed that no work could be accomplished without new legislation. . . . Jackson writes: “My purpose in sponsoring the new legislation will be to eliminate the procedural bottleneck which now prevents work on small but vitally needed flood control measures. Passage of this legislation by the Congress will provide the means by which federal assistance for flood control on the Skagit – now apparently hopeless – can be gained.” |
Dredging Mouth Of River Proposed
See 8/8/55 MVDH article. |
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log jam removal helps city grow Strange are the quirks that sometimes dictate the destines of a town or a region. Consider the Skagit Valley, where the removal of old log jams from the Skagit River hastened the death of one town and undoubtedly contributed much to growth of the thriving modern community of Mount Vernon. The huge log barriers from time immemorial had blocked the river and affected early fortunes of the valley after the white man’s arrival. Had it not been for the initiative and perseverance of pioneer settlers, who bent to the almost insurmountable task of eliminating the jams, the demise of Skagit City, then the area’s principal town, would have been postponed, and Mount Vernon might not have become the sizable city it is today. |
Log Jams |
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River Vessel To Continue Skagit Trips The stern-wheeler river boat, the Skagit Chief, will continue to ply the waters of the Skagit River indefinitely, according to word received today by the Skagit County commissioners. . . . It was brought out at that meeting that lowering the height of the fixed-span bridge from 55 to 36 feet would reduce the cost of construction some $58,000. However, it also was noted that the Skagit Chief and some types of pile drivers and dredges required a 55-foot clearance height in order to enter the river beneath the bridge. H. E. Grimison of the river navigation company said in part in his letter: “It is our intention to indefinitely continue operating using our present equipment. We might also point out that, even though we should switch to the use of barges at a future date, the height of the clearance would not be materially altered, inasmuch as the freight elevator on a barge would be approximately as high as our vessels.” |
Stern-Wheeler Skagit Chief |
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first settlers begin moving into skagit By John F. Conrad, Historian, Skagit County Pioneer Association
The first white person to see the shores of Skagit County is believed to have been Lt. Salvador Fidalgo of the Spanish Navy in 1790 on one of Spain’s claiming expeditions which had begun 20 years previously. The English reached our county two years later in 1792 when Capt. George Vancouver made such a thorough exploration of the whole Sound area and contributed so many lasting names such as Puget, Baker, Rainier, Townsend, Bellingham and Whidbey. . . . March’s Point, where history is being made today by the oil industry, is reported by good authority to have been first settled in 1853 by Enoch Compton and John Carr on what later became Munks’ place. But due to dangerous Indians they were forced to move to Whatcom where Carr died. The Indian war came to a head with Compton enlisting. Then in 1859 he returned to find William Bonner on his old place. . . . One mill man William Bonner, went to March’s Point in 1859 and settled on the place vacated by Compton and Carr five years earlier, then sold his rights the same year to William Munks for $60 and a silver watch. Munks was the first postmaster at the post office called Fidalgo and is still credited with being the first permanent settler. |
Skagit County Pioneers |
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Rock Strengthens Section of Dike A 3,000 foot long section of dike on the east side of the Skagit River between Mount Vernon and Conway is now stronger by some 14,000 cubic yards of rock, the Skagit County engineer’s office reported today. County Engineer H.O. Walberg said the rip-rapping job in Dike District Three headed by Daniel Sundquist was expected to be finished today. Weymouth and Wheeler, Seattle contractors, did the work for Dike District No. 3 as part of the district and county’s continuing flood control program. |
Dike District #3 Rip-Rap Project |
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Engineers Get Plans For North Fork Span Skagit County has submitted for approval its plans for the new fixed bridge on the north fork of the Skagit River to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Seattle. . . . However, the colonel probably already is aware of possible objections as a result of a meeting held Feb. 14 in Mount Vernon to which interested parties were invited. It was brought out then that certain river craft such as large dredges would not be able to clear the proposed bridge if it were built. The site of the planned bridge is three-eights of a mile downstream of the existing highway bridge across the north fork of the Skagit, and the bridge, if built, will provide a minimum vertical clearance of 120 feet, normal to channel. . . . The application from Skagit County to the Army for permission to build the bridge, as required by the General Bridge Act of 1946, shows that the earlier suggestions to lower the height of the fixed span bridge to below 40 feet to save construction costs have been dropped. . . . Matthias said the decision as to whether or not the plans will be approved must rest primarily upon the effect the proposed work will have on navigation and/or flood control. |
North Fork Bridge Plans
Large dredges would not be able to pass upriver. |
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Will Start Skagit River Survey SoonA telegram from Congressman Jack Westland this week stated that General Louis H. Foote, U.S. Army Engineers, Portland area, states that army engineers will be able to allot enough money to start the Skagit River survey this summer. The full survey is estimated to cost $20,000 but only about one-fourth of this amount will be spent this year. The survey is to be made in the interest of flood control program in the Skagit valley. |
Another Corps study. |
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Not Worried About Flood – Bulson Scoffs At Snow Pack As the warm weather spreads throughout the Skagit Valley this week residents greeted it with mixed emotions – joy that Spring is arriving and fear that a heavy snow pack in the Cascade Mountains might melt rapidly and cause a sudden spring flood. To 88-year-old E. E. Bulson, a Skagit County pioneer, such fears, however, are not justified. “Only a strong, hot wind from the southwest will cause a really serious flood situation,” he says. “Otherwise I think we will make out all right.” . . . He came to Skagit County in 1892 and has been farming off and on in the Conway area area since that time. He will be 89 on May 9. His memory reaches back some six decades when the Skagit River had few if any of the controls that it now had is dikes, revetments, and dams. “When you farmed on Fir Island in those days, the ground was always wet. It was so wet that we had to put ‘tooley shoes’ on the horses’ hooves to keep them from sinking into the mud. What are tooley shoes? Well, they were round pieces of board that were fastened to the hooves kind of like a snowshoe. When it was real wet down there we used to kid each other and say we had to put tooley shoes on our wives when they went outside,” Bulson recollected. . . . He can remember the year that they had seven floods on Fir Island in the month of January. Then, too, there was the big flood in 1893 when the river became clogged with logs from Scorndal Slough for three solid miles backed up to Mann’s Landing. Bulson, a former “white water man” from Michigan where he worked on log jams on the White River near Muskegon was contacted by a “fellow name of Hanson for the Tacoma Boom Company to help break up that drift... we worked until the next spring with a donkey engine on a scow pulling logs out on that jam.” . . . However, Bulson does believe that there would be less danger of a flood if certain improvements were made on the south fork of the Skagit. “All those old pilings should be taken out. They act like a dam and those jams in Steamboat Slough should be cleared out also,” Bulson. . . . Engineer Walberg has spent many hours with the elderly gentleman recording historical facts about previously floods and high water marks in the county. |
Heavy Snow Pack Doesn’t Worry Skagit Pioneer
E.E. Bulson came to Skagit County in 1892.
Ground was always wet on Fir Island.
Used “tooley shoes” on the horses to pull a plow.
One year they had 7 floods on Fir Island in January. |
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Fish Runs Increased, Schoettler Declares Salmon runs in Washington and British Columbia streams have been substantially increased after years of depletion, according to Robert J. Schoettler, director of the State Department of Fisheries. . . . Rehabilitation on the other hand, he said, was the restoration and bringing back of the resource. In the case of the salmon that has been the reclaiming of lost spawning areas for the migrating fish and establishing new runs with hatchery plants. Dams, pollution and the loss of the forest cover are some of the main reasons which have closed streams to the spawning salmon. . . . The Washington Fisheries Department embarked on a long range program of clearing streams, building fishladders, and restocking runs in the new spawning areas. |
Fish Issue
Salmon runs increasing by reclaiming lost spawning areas and hatchery plants.
Runs depleted by dams, pollution and loss of forest cover. |
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XV. Ross Lake Dam Holds Water Back Ross lake is being kept at a reduced level in order to hold back some of the heavy runoff anticipated for the next few months, City Light Executive Assistant Superintendent John M. Nelson reported today. Ross Reservoir on the upper Skagit River is down to about 100 feet below full level, providing a storage space of about 900,000 acre-feet of water. Snow surveys made April 1 indicate that the runoff of the upper Skagit River will be the highest in 27 years for the period April 1 to August 31. The 900,000 acre-feet of storage space in Ross Reservoir represents about 1/3 of such runoff thus allowing a substantial amount of storage with which to reduce the discharge of the upper Skagit during the peak flows in the lower reaches of the river. |
ROSS DAM STORAGE
Ross Dam lowered 100 feet. |
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XVI. House Will Be Moved Making Way For Dike HOUSE WILL BE MOVED- The residence of the Harold Halvorson family will be moved the make way for the construction of the new dike. The house sits on a rise and has been flooded only once since the Halvorsons took up residence there in 1939. The surface of the river can be seen behind the house. Plans are underway for the construction and extension of the river dike this coming spring. The Sterling Development Area has requested that they become part of District Twelve and that the State will assist with funds for the dike construction. Between 400 and 600 acres are involved in the new area. The make way for the new dike, Harold Halvorson’s house, machine shed and garage will be moved. The Halvorsons plan to move their home back from the river, but will not make the move until March at the earliest. At one low spot on the Halvorson property, the dike will have to be 10 or 12 feet deep, while at other parts a minimum of 5 feet will suffice. When asked how they felt about moving their house, Mrs. Halvorson answered, “We’re for the dike! Naturally we don’t like to move the house, but we want to do what’s best.” |
Halvorson house to be moved for new dike in Sterling. |
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Meeting Sought By Council On State Flood Control Funds Mount Vernon City Engineer Denny LeGro was asked by city council members last night to attempt to arrange a meeting with Gregory Hastings of the Washington State Department of Conservation and Development to discuss the possible availability of state flood control funds to assist in the financing of the proposed dam on Maddox Creek. THE DAM is part of a city-advanced plan for the draining of storm water from the proposed south hill area storm sewer local improvement district – and from the area south and east of the city limits – into Maddox. . . . LeGro explained that the county board has consistently maintained that “the county should not be involved in the drainage business.” |
Maddox Creek Dam Proposed in Mt. Vernon |
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XVII. Dike Construction Will Continue The two new projects include the addition of another 1,000 feet of extended dike work west of the new highway and another 400 feet west of the old highway. These two new projects will supplement the work already done along the river. Projects already completed include an added 3,000 feet of dike west of the new highway and approximately 2,500 feet north of Carl Johnson’s farm. The dike was raised 29 inches from in back of the Mapes farm to the Great Northern bridge 14,000 yards of dirt was used to widen and raise the dike. While members of District twelve continues their efforts and plans, their counterparts in District 17 across the river are also busy. Don Bordner of District 17 reports that their district has completed another $60,000 worth of construction work along their side of the river. $10,000 was used for the fill dirt and $50,000 went for the rocks used. Next year the district hopes to extend their project to the Great Northern Bridge. Plans now call for the planting of greens along the dike, Bordner says this will add to both the scenic beauty and the stability of the dike itself. |
DIKE 12 & 17 PROJECTS
1,000 FT extension to 3,000 ft new dike.
Dike raised 29 inches.
Dike 17 new fill and rip-rap. |
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(picture caption) – at anchor The W.T. Preston, Army Engineer Corps snag boat which has been in Mount Bernon since Sept. 4, is slated to depart this area today or tomorrow. It is pictured at anchor beside the Moose Hall. The last stern wheel paddle steamer in the Puget Sound area, the Preston comes up the Skagit River at least once a year to keep the channel free. |
Picture of the Preston Sternwheeler
Last sternwheeler to come up the Skagit. |
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County sees no dangers to flood plan Skagit County commissioners yesterday explained that diversion of about $45,000 in river improvement funds to the county’s current expense account will not jeopardize any flood control projects. . . . SKAGIT COUNTY official had planned projects involving about $300,000 of state, county and dike district money during the last six months of 1959. But the state provided only $21,000 in matching money for this period and thus cut the volume of work planned. |
State Matching Money Dries Up |
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Washington rivers flood – Skagit River level drops during night The Skagit Valley faces no serious flood threat, despite the chance of more rain tomorrow, county officials said today. . . . The Skagit River apparently crested in Mount Vernon at mid-morning at 22 feet. At Concrete the crest passed before midnight. Readings at the Dalles Bridge showed 25.7 feet at 8 a.m., a drop of two feet since midnight. THE COUNTY engineers office reported that the Sauk River left its banks and covered the Concrete – Darrington Road between Concrete and the Forest Service bridge over the Sauk. The Arlington-Darrington Road between was also under water, isolating the Snohomish County community of Darrington from the outside. . . . Some 2.47 inches of rain fell in Concrete during the past 24 hours, with Sedro-Woolley reporting 1.37 inches and Mount Vernon 1.25 for the same period. |
Flood Scare |
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Not afraid River no threat to Charlie Storrs
Charlie Storrs has lived alongside the Skagit River for all but two of his 87 years. . . . Storrs, who lives on Penn Road just a stone’s throw from the west dike along the Skagit, has seen the muddy river leave its banks several times. He’s seen all of the valley floor, from a point about a quarter of a mile west of his farm all the way to the Swinomish Channel, covered with water. . . . This was the “big flood” of Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 1890. It’s been the last really big flood in Storr’s memory. . . . “Now, our high water usually comes in November,” Stoors said. Since there isn’t much snow to melt, winter floods usually aren’t too bad. . . . His father was the man who broke the Skagit’s famed log jam, coming here from Cedar Rapids, La., on March 9, 1874, when Charlie was only two years old. The jam was one of the worst in the history of the Pacific Northwest, extending for a distance of four miles up the river from what is now known as “Storr’s Bar”. This is a bend in the river about two miles below Mount Vernon famous for its steelhead and salmon fishing. The log jam, which was a solid mass of logs completely across the river, thus extended two miles beyond Mount Vernon. It took the elder Storrs and his crew of timber workers 4½ years to clear the channel. “They worked by hand,” Storrs said, “They had no dynamite, no cables, nothing.” |
Charlie Stoor’s Flood Memory
Last really big flood was 1890???
His father worked on the old Mt. Vernon log jams.
Storr’s Bar (Young’s Bar?)
Took 4.5 years to clear log jam. |
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Skagit River Seen Threat Rains, which fell almost continuously this weekend, sent creeks and other small streams over their banks and posed a possible flood threat along the Skagit River if there are any dike breaks or deluges of rain. The Skagit County Engineer’s office expected the rain-swollen debris-laden Skagit to reach a crest of 24 feet at Mount Vernon about 7 or 8 p.m. tonight. A SPOKESMAN at the office said an additional three or four feet of water could be taken care of without any serious effects if there are no dike breaks along the river. . . . AT CONCRETE, at 31.8 feet, was some five feet over the flood stage level of 26 feet, but it was falling rapidly and there was no great danger from flooding. In the Nookachamps Creek area most of the roads are underwater and only slightly passable and farmers are cautioned to keep livestock. State Highway 17-A was blocked just east of Lyman today by about three feet of water flowing across it where a dike on Cockerham Island and across Muddy Creek broke during the night an sent the creek over its bank. . . . At Concrete, a slide covered the backyard of the John Stadlman home in Crowfoot. Addition. Also the Shannon Lake Road on east side of the lake was blocked by a slide as well as several other roads in the area. Several small creeks in the Baker Lake area were up over their banks. |
NOVEMBER 24, 1959 FLOOD
USGS 89,300 cfs, 32.17 Concrete; 91,600 cfs, 31.58 Mt. Vernon
24 feet Moose Hall gage. 31.58 new gage.
Flood stage 26 feet (downtown)? Could handle 3 or 4 more feet.
Flood stage 26 feet Concrete?
Dikes on Cockerham. First mention of them.
Slides in Concrete. |
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Marblemount, Rockport hit by big slides . . . Rockport, where a section of a Sauk Mountain bluff broke away was the hardest hit. Mrs. L. K. Buchanan, Rockport resident, said the slide spilled mud, rocks and logs across Highway 17-A and rolled timbers and debris into the small business section of the community. . . . Mrs. Buchanan said another slide had blocked the highway at Jackman Creek near Van Horn. Jackman, as well as Swift, Sutter and other creeks in the area were over their banks. |
Sauk Mountain Slides |
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Power Dams Help Spare Skagit From Flood Skagit County was not without its high water hard work and individual hardships this week but it could thank a gentler weather man up this way, the Skagit and Baker river dam operators, and the various dike builders, that this area escaped the disaster that befell Snohomish and other counties. . . . Residents of the Nookachamps area took scant solace from the situation, after suffering two backups from the Skagit and seeing many of their farms once more flooded. . . . Seattle City Light’s Ross plant was partially shut down from Thursday morning, Nov. 19, to Monday noon of this week to reduce the amount of flood waters in the lower Skagit, Supt Paul Raver advised the Argus. Flow at Ross was cut to the point where even with the additional water from streams feeding into the Skagit below Ross, no water was spilled over the Gorge diversion dam. The only flow permitted at Newhalem was the normal amount necessary to operate the Gorge power house. During the Thursday-Monday period level of Ross lake increased 2.33 feet, or by 26,000 acre feet of water. Raver said power was cut by about 6,000 acre feet and the lost power replaced by purchase or interchange of about three million kilowatt hours of energy. A like contribution to Skagit valley flood protection was made by Puget Sound Power and Light company with its two dams on the Baker river, one in use this winter for the first time. Division Mgr. John Wallen in Bellingham reported to Mt. Vernon Mgr. Loft that Puget also began holding hack water early last Thursday and stored 27,000 acre feet of water that ordinarily would have gone on downstream. It closed gates to raise the level at Upper Baker by 5 ½ feet and at the old Lower Baker dam at Concrete, another foot. By terms of the federal power commission license, the company is not required to use the Baker dams for flood control but was glad to be ale to do so, Wallin said. |
11/24/59 Flood Event USGS figures show 89,300 cfs at Concrete or 32.17 ft river; 91,000 cfs at Sedro-Woolley; and 91,600 at Mt. Vernon or 31.58 on gage.
Residents of Nookachamps “suffer two backups” from the river.
No water came from Ross.
Baker dams not required to provide flood control but did so anyway. Upper Baker held back 5 ½ feet of water and Lower Baker another 1 foot. |
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Grocery Store Ads |
Apples 10 cents per pound. |
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Drainage Solution Expected (Editorial) At long last it appears that a solution to at least part of the Mount Vernon storm water disposal problem has been found. . . . Now the City Council has worked out a program with Drainage Dist. No. 17, to the south of the city whereby a 7,000 gallon-a-minute pump will be installed to lift water from the ditches of the district into the Skagit River. . . . The pump with a capacity well in excess of the run off from the 200 acre hill area now makes possible, if it works according to plan, a continuance of street paving projects. However, the agreement does propose that if for any reason the pump does not accomplish its purpose in a manner satisfactory to the Drainage District, the project can be halted. For this reason complete installation of a storm sewer system must await the outcome of one year’s experience with the new pump. |
Drainage District #17
Pumped water from ditches into the Skagit River. |
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Inter-county Flood Control Work Urged Herman Hanson, Mt. Vernon superintendent of public works has called for inter-county planning for flood control as a major discussion topic at the 25th annual meeting of Washington Flood Control council being held today in Renton. He is council president. It is obvious to anyone connected with river work that most of the river work done to date has been piece-meal construction, seldom accomplished in accordance with any over plan,” Hanson wrote in his call for the meeting. |
Flood work between counties has been “piece-meal.” |
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Results Show Scattered Vote On Dike Issues Results from 18 of the 24 diking and drainage district commissioner elections held Tuesday had been turned in to the office of Skagit County Auditor Al Johnson by this morning. Light voting was the rule in all but one of the districts – Diking District One, where 121 voters turned out. In other districts not more than 30 persons voted in each, and the average was nearer 15. In Diking District One, there was no apparent reason for the heavy vote. Mrs. Howard Persons, an election judge, thought a “get-out-the-vote” campaign might have been responsible. |
Dike District Elections
Voter turnout very light except in Dike District #1. |
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Open Skagit To Navigation Being Pushed The Waterways Association meeting in Portland Nov. 21 and 22, passed the Skagit resolution along with 31 other resolutions backing various waterways proposals, mainly on the Columbia River. . . . “The Skagit Valley already has exceptional natural advantages that favor economic growth.” U.S. Army Engineers would make the river study, determining if navigation would justify its cost, explained Magnuson. A report on the study would be submitted to Congress “at the earliest possible date,” he continued. Brief initial studies have indicated navigation on the Skagit will show economic justification, engineering soundness and relatively minor dredging costs, Magnuson recalled. |
Navigation Project for Skagit River Proposed |
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River Dredging Backed Funds to study dredging of the Skagit river from the Sound to Concrete, for navigation, may be asked of the next Congress, Senator Warren Magnuson has advised Leo Sullivan, chairman of the Mt. Vernon chamber of commerce industrial committee. . . . The project, said Sullivan, “has hearty endorsement from 36 business firms and chambers of commerce in the area,’ as well as the waterways association. . . . He said brief initial studies have indicated economic justification for the project could be shown and it would be engineering-wise sound. |
Dredging Study
This was actually done and the study was published 1/18/63 as FEASIBILITY REPORT, SKAGIT RIVER (Dredging barge channel), Col. Ernst Perry, Corps of Engineers |
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Survey Funds Sought For Dredging Skagit Funds for complete study of the feasibility of dredging the Skagit River will be asked at the next session of Congress. Such a study would be made by the Army Corps of Engineers to appraise the economic benefits and estimate federal costs entailed in dredging the existing course and channel of the river for shallow barge transportation. |
DREDGING STUDY River was to be dredged from Concrete to Fir Island. This was actually done and the study was published 1/18/63 as FEASIBILITY REPORT, SKAGIT RIVER (Dredging barge channel), Col. Ernst Perry, Corps of Engineers |
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Indians’ Fish Test In Court Trial of a minor criminal case – of major importance to Northwest Washington Indians – started in Skagit County Superior Court at 9:30 a.m. today. More than 100 persons, a majority Indians, were present in Judge Charles F. Stafford’s courtroom. Only one Swinomish Indian, Joe McCoy, is on trial, but the outcome of the case will affect fishing rights of all Washington Indians west of the Cascades and north of the Duwamish River. McCoy is charged by State with catching salmon during a closed season near the mouth of the Skagit River. THE STATE alleges Indians have unrestricted fishing rights on, but not off, their reservations. . . . The State, represented by County Prosecutor Walter J. Deierlein Jr., says the 1855 treaty, and another augmenting it in 1873, does not put the boundary out into the Skagit River channel. DEFENSE COUNSEL, Harwood Bannister, however, said he would show that the reservation reaches out into the channel. . . . The State is pressing this case because the rights of all fishermen, whites or Indians, sports or commercial, are involved, the prosecutor said. (MILO MOORE, State Fisheries director, has said the State mist be able to regulate the taking of salmon headed into rivers in order to halt the decrease in salmon runs.) |
Fish Issue A Prelude To The Boldt Decision
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Battle Lines Drawn In Fish Test Fishing closures are a necessity to the conservation of salmon in Washington, top officials of the State Fisheries Department testified in the Indian fishing rights test case yesterday afternoon. Testifying, for the State, were Milo Moore, director, and Edward Mains, research division supervisor. On trial in Skagit County Superior Court is Joe McCoy, Swinomish Indian. Arrested near the mouth of the Skagit River’s North Fork, he is charged with salmon fishing in a closed season. Moore, who said he previously lived along the Skagit about 40 years, said he feels the only way salmon fishing could be effectively “rehabilitated” would be a halt to all salmon fishing for two full salmon life cycles. In lieu of such a drastic measure, he pointed out, temporary fishing closures at certain times are a must. REGULATION OF fishing at certain places, particularly near river mouths and immediately below falls and dams – places fish congregate – is a necessary tool in the conservation of salmon runs, Mains said. . . . “A few individual fishermen unregulated on the Skagit could definetly destroy its salmon runs,” he emphasized. “By gill net they could take up to 98 per cent of a run.” |
Fish Issue
The only way salmon fishing could be effectively “rehabilitated” would be a halt to all salmon fishing for two full salmon life cycles.
“By gill net they could take up to 98 per cent of a run.” |
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U.S. Engineers to Advise During Floods The US Engineer Corps has assigned Frank B. Metzger and two aids to come to Skagit county in event of a flood and give advisory, or more direct, assistance . . . Because the county is more self-reliant in time of flood emergency, with its county and dike district personnel and staffs, the army engineers sent here will sit in only in an advisory capacity unless and until the flood situation becomes so critical that local authorities formally ask them to take chare, Metzger said. |
Corps to be advisory during times of flood events. |
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Valley Gets Head Start On High Water By early evening, four members of a flood-fighting team dispatched by the United States Army Corps of Engineers had established themselves at a headquarters in the Courthouse at Mount Vernon. . . . Fred Metzger, of Seattle, a spokesman for the Engineers’ flood team, said he expected the Skagit River to crest in Mount Vernon at 24 feet about 8 p.m. today. . . . At 1 p.m., when flood readings began, the river stood in Concrete at 26.85 feet. At 6:30 p.m., the Concrete reading was 28.09 feet. Then at 7 o’clock last night, three gates at Baker Dam, normally closed from Friday evening through Sunday evening, were opened. Engineers at the dam immediately forecast a normal river rise of half a foot. Then half a foot and additional water created by downpours of rain in the upper Valley served to increase the river’s level to 29.27 feet by 8:30 last night. Early this morning, at 12:30 a.m., the Skagit County Sheriff’s office reported the Skagit at Concrete had hit 30.08 feet – less than three feet below its predicted 6 a.m. crest of 33 feet. . . . Mount Vernon itself apparently faces no imminent flood threat, Metzger indicated. He said normal flood stage in the area along the city’s dike is 28 feet. |
JANUARY 16, 1961 FLOOD USGS 30.61, 79,000 cfs Concrete, 29.40, 76,000 cfs Mt. Vernon
Baker Dam Opened During Flood
Normal flood stage in Mt. Vernon 28 feet? |
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Skagit Harbor, River Projects In New Budget Skagit Valley rivers and harbors are included in the outlay of funds sought in President Eisenhower’s fiscal 1962 budget. Second District Congressman Jack Westland told the Herald last night. . . . Swinomish Channel, operation and maintenance, $125,000. Skagit River, navigation project, general investigation, $9,400. |
Navigation Project Study $9,400 |
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Road Flooded As the Skagit River crested late yesterday afternoon, a sheet of water swirled across Francis Road just north of its intersection with Lindgren Road and isolated much of the Nookachamps Valley. Several hundred acres of low-lying pastures and other farm land in the area was inundated. A group of chorus spectators can be seen watching the water pour east across the road. The camera is looking north. |
Picture of Nookachamps Flooding |
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Higher Dikes Plan Hit by Flood Group The Skagit County Flood Control Council is definitely opposed to building dikes any higher along the Skagit River, Lloyd Johnson, county flood control coordinator, said today that the group feels such action, because of the built up underlayments of sand, logs and general debris, would only mislead public trust and possibly end in a major break-through by the river at a weak point. Following the council’s planning session at the courthouse yesterday, Johnson said the organization will not endorse any one of the particular flood control plans, but will vigorously oppose the higher dikes thinking. . . . Johnson said that the Faber Dam proposal is recognized as an ideal solution to the flood control problem. However, such an undertaking would require from 300 to 400 million dollars, and the complete cooperation of people in the affected upriver area, and the sanction of the state fisheries department. . . . Another plan that warrants strong consideration is the proposed spillway near Avon to the bay. Johnson said that such a channel would completely eliminated flood dangers from Sedro-Woolley south. Above that point, he felt the condition could be controlled with dikes. The county flood control coordinator pointed out that the threat of floods is hampering the Valley’s economic growth. He said that it has been indicated that several large businesses have rejected sites here because of the danger. Johnson said that the Riverside Bend area which has been zoned for commercial development is very poorly protected against rising waters because the dikes are as high as practical on such shifty underfooting. |
Higher Levees Opposed
Higher levees would lead to a false sense of security.
Endorsed Faber Dam proposal and Avon By-Pass.
Riverside Bend area very poorly protected against floods. |
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Legislator Backs Upriver Dredging State Senator Fred J. Martin today disclosed he has written a letter supporting the dredging of the Skagit River as far east as Concrete to permit the stream’s use by shallow draft vessels and barges. . . . IN HIS letter, Sen. Martin listed five reasons for his support of the dredging proposal. They are as follows: 1. Dredging will “substantially lower the cost of transporting cement from the plant at Concrete to market and enable it to better compete with other plants more centrally located and will perhaps insure that the Lone Star Cement Plant at Concrete can operate full time, which it is unable to do at the present time because of the handicap of high freight rates.” 2. Dredging will “make feasible and profitable the transportation of lime rock from the large deposits in the Upper Skagit Valley to various other cement plants in the state.” 3. “It will make profitable the mining and transportation of marble, silca, talc, olivine and other non-metallic ores of which there are large deposits in the Upper Skagit Valley.” 4. “It will lower the cost of transporting alder, cottonwood, maple and other pulpwood varieties from the Upper Skagit Valley to markets.” 5. “The dredging of the Skagit River channel would have immense value for flood control as it would greatly reduce stream-bank erosion above Sedro-Woolley and thereby substantially reduce siltation of the river bed from Sedro-Woolley to its mouth.” |
Dredging Proposal Supported
“The dredging of the Skagit River channel would have immense value for flood control as it would greatly reduce stream-bank erosion above Sedro-Woolley and thereby substantially reduce siltation of the river bed from Sedro-Woolley to its mouth.” |
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Martin Cites Reasons for Skagit Dredging to U.S. Congressmen Additional support for dredging the Skagit River east to Concrete to facilitate shallow barge transportation has been voiced by Senator Fred Martin. . . . The Senator’s letters follows: “I believe that a proposal has been made to you that the Skagit River be dredged as far as Concrete, Washington, to permit the use of shallow draft vessels and barges. This proposal has a great deal of merit for many reasons which I list as follows: “It will substantially lower the cost of transporting cement from the plant at Concrete to market . . . “It will also make feasible and profitable the transportation of lime rock . . . “It will make profitable the mining the transportation of marble, silica, tale, olivine and other non-metallic ores . . . “It will lower the cost of transporting alder, cottonwood, maple and other pulp wood varieties . . . “The dredging of the Skagit River channel would have immense value for flood control as it would greatly reduce stream bank erosion above Sedro-Woolley thereby substantially reduce siltation of the river bed from Sedro-Woolley to its mouth. |
REASONS FOR DREDGING
Help the mining, timber and cement companies make money.
Stop erosion of river banks.
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Editorial--Our Greatest Asset Needs A Push! Recently it was announced that money had been appropriated in Congress for a survey of the Skagit river by Army engineers. Purpose of the study would be to determine the feasibility of dredging the stream for shallow barge transportation. To many people the full import of this project may be lost in the present day era when government survey funds are allocated for a multitude of programs ranging from rehabilitating the gooney bird to effecting world-wide birth control. It should be pointed out, however, that the proposed dredging of the Skagit is not just another crackpot scheme or a ridiculous proposal fostered by dreamers. On the contrary, the possibility of opening the Skagit for limited navigation is most real, the need most pressing, the potential most exciting and the impact on the economy of this region most promising. . . . In the vast regions of its headwaters lie timber, minerals and rock deposits, many of them virgin assets that call for dependable, economical transportation to market before they can be put to use. . . . Unlimited deposits of some of the finest limestone rock to be found anywhere in the world are located nearby. . . . Transportation by river barge would cut deposit-to-plant costs and mean more business and jobs for Skagit county. Limestone is but one of the many raw materials that might find its way down the river once the stream was deepened for navigation. Added flood control and soil conservation could be considered bonus benefits that would automatically ensue. |
MORE REASONS FOR DREDGING
Help the mining, timber and cement companies make money.
Flood control would be a bonus factor.
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Our River: Keep Navigable! The Mt. Vernon city council is going to guard the “navigable” status of the Skagit river. . . . Councilman James Kean brought up the question after Mayor Don Lindbloom had read the letter, drafted by the county engineer’s office, in which the city would sign in requesting that the old Riverside bridge be declared a fixed span. On first reading, nearly everyone thought the letter also was asking the engineers to declare the Skagit river to be non-navigable. But after considerable discussion and careful rereading of the letter, it was concluded the engineers were being invited only to declare the river “non-navigable” for vessels too big to pass under the Riverside and the Great Northern Railway bridges in closed position. |
River declared non-navigable (to big ships). |
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Left and Right: Seattle Needn’t Worry, Skagit Valley Still Remains On Map Seattleites may be surprised to learn that Mount Vernon hasn’t yet been washed away . . . a Seattle radio station carried the report over the weekend that the Skagit River was due to crest at 20 feet in Mount Vernon and that flood stage was only 21 feet . . . the report was attributed to the river forecasting division of the Army Corps of Engineers, which either was having a bad weekend on the job . . . flood stage in Mount Vernon is 27 feet . . . and if the river is going to flood, it’s always heartening to realize that all the disc jockeys in Seattle will know it long before the residents do. |
Flood Stage at Mt. Vernon
Flood stage 21 feet or 27 feet? |
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Skagit Bridge Contention Bone In State’s Teeth The owners of five movable bridges across the Skagit River want to cross them when they come to them. That’s why the State Highway Commission, Skagit County, the Great Northern Railway and Northern Pacific Railway have asked the Army Engineers for permission to lock the bridges permanently in place. THE APPLICATIONS were based on the fact that no commercial ships now operate on the river which cannot pass under the spans while they are closed. In Mount Vernon opposition is shaping up to protest the fixing of the spans. Members of the industrial development committee and the Chamber of Commerce are actively seeking to navigatable [navigable] depths for commercial vessels, in an effort to further open up the eastern section of the county. NONE OF the bridges have been opened since 1959. Two of them haven’t budged for 14 years. The two Highway Department bridges are in the Mount Vernon area, the Great Northern bridge is near Mount Vernon, the Northern Pacific bridge near Sedro-Woolley, and the Skagit County bridge at Fir. |
Railroads Want To “Lock” Moveable Bridges
None of the bridges had been opened since 1959. Two of them hadn’t been opened for 14 years. |
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Army Engineers reply to writer Geasey disputed the report and noted that the rivers flood stage at Mt Vernon actually is 27 feet. The Army replied today that 21 feet is decidedly a flood stage for the river at their gauge in Mt. Vernon. They explained the USGS operates another gauge upstream one mile where the zero damage point or crest is 27 feet. . . . To avoid confusion residents may note that 21 feet on the gauge at Skagit River at Mt Vernon means zero damage, but anything above 21 results in some flood damage. |
Difference Between USGS gage and Corps Gage |
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The Army way is still wrong way Today, on a whim the Herald began checking gauges. The Moose Hall gauge showed clearly that flooding would not begin until the water level reached 27 feet. A query at the County Engineers office disclosed that this is the correct gauge. County Engineer Frank Gilkey said, “I can’t understand what all the controversy is about. Normal flooding does not begin in Mt. Vernon until 27 feet. |
Gage Argument Continues
Nookachamps an overflow basin. |
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Volunteers Installing River Gauge for Fisherman . . . The big black numbers on a white background will be set in place to match the US Engineers gauge located on a piling behind the Moose Hall. The fishermen’s boatmen’s-river gauge will start at 5 feet, run up to 28 feet, with every fifth foot against a yellow background, and “21”, the engineers official flood stage set against slanting orange lines. . . . “Local residents may note that 21 feet on the gauge at Skagit river in Mt. Vernon means zero damage, but anything above 21 results in some flood damage. Residents would be living with a false sense of security if they believed 27 feet meant zero damage—for a stage of 27 feet on the Moose Hall gauge used by the Corps of Engineers and Skagit county personnel concerned with flood situations, would result in severe flooding and a critical situation in the lower Skagit river.” (Ed.—The zero damage point at 27 feet sometimes heard of is on another gauge, maintained by the US Geological Survey a mile above Mt. Vernon. And A Historical Note—Last major flood crested at 28.2 feet Feb 2, 1951. Main street was sandbagged when the water came within six inches of spilling over into the downtown area. . . . Two years earlier, in November, 1949, the river surged up to 26.05 feet, gave the valley its first real flood scare in many years. |
Mt. Vernon River Gage
1951—USGS—36.85—Moose Hall—28.2
1949—USGS—34.2—Moose Hall—26.05
NOTE: Is this due to an 8 ft fall in elevation or different datum? If the answer is elevation we could now determine at about what level the river was during 1917, 1921 floods when levees broke which would be about 31 feet. |
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power production Puget Sound Power and Light’s 285 foot Lower Baker River Dam near Concrete has been in operation since 1924, when it was the seventh highest dam in the country. . . . Puget Power officials say the Baker River is the first major river in the state to have its water resources comprehensively developed for multiple use of power, flood control, domestic and industrial water supply, fish preservation, and recreation. Lake Shannon is formed by the dam and is nine and one-half miles long. |
Lower Baker Dam Picture
In 1961 flood control provided by Upper Baker only was minimal. |
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Old Log Jam Dike Rebuilt Nearing completion this week is a mile and a quarter of bank protection and dike bolstering that should mean “we won’t ever have to worry” about a flood, to quote one commissioner of Dike District No. 1 . . . The extensive project extends from Edgewater park in West Mt Vernon to Penn road. . . . The downstream half of the improvement is at a sharp bend in the river, site of the tremendous log jam that kept the stream impassable for years after the settling of Mt. Vernon. The jam was removed by blasting and much hand labor. . . . To Commissioner Helde, dike work and concern about the river are remembered back to his childhood, including the big floods of 1909 and 1917. At his parents home, next to his own on Jungquist road, he recalls watching flood waters creep upward “one step away from being in the house.” |
Dike 1 never has to worry about floods.
Site of old log jam.
Jam removed by blasting.
NOTE: If we could find Helde residence on Jungquist Road we could determine how deep the flood waters were in 1909 and 1917. |
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Salmon run record seen A record breaking silver salmon run is in the making on the Skagit River with 11,434 silvers counted at the Lower Baker Dam to date this year. In the record year of 1935, only 4,307 silvers had been counted on this same date, and a total of 19,000 were counted for the entire season. . . . Sockeyes, 450 slightly below average. Puget Sound Power has maintained fish count records since 1929. |
Fish Issue Record year for silvers. |
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25 Year Flood Plan Said Favorable A 25 year flood protection program for the Skagit Valley appears practical, through diking improvements, the Skagit County Flood Control council was told in Mt. Vernon. Ray Scrinde, Stanwood Army Engineer reserve colonel reporting on progress of the engineers’ restudy of the Skagit, said a longer flood protection program, such as 50 to 100 years, would involve major works such as a bypass channel or a storage dam upstream. |
25 year flood plan. |
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river makes 20 foot crest, begins to drop The Skagit River, high and muddy almost a week as the result of heavy winter rains, crested last night in Mt. Vernon at 20 feet and began dropping. . . . Johnson said the Skagit River had crested at 25.7 feet at Concrete early yesterday. |
High-Water |
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7/26/62 |
Fish Expert Testifies At Indian Trial Testimony this morning in the trial of Indian fishermen Lawrence Joe and Raymond Boome was confined to the opinions of Edwards Maines, assistant director of Fisheries in the State of Washington. . . . He spent part of the morning giving a detailed accounting of the life cycle of the five types of salmon. Indians claim that there are six types of salmon–classifying the steelhead as the sixth type rather than as a game fish. . . . Interrupts . . . When Deputy Prosecutor Paul N. Luvera Jr. asked Maines if he felt set nets should be prohibited in order to conserve salmon. After lengthy arguments Maine was allowed to answer and said “Yes”. He said that set nets lend themselves to such a variety of construction that it is conceivable that one could be built that would imperil the whole salmon run. |
Fish Issue – Indian Trial
Nets in the river could imperil whole salmon runs. |
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Jury Given Fishermen’s Case Early The trial of Lawrence Joe and Raymond Boome, who have been charged with violating state fishing regulations by fishing with a set net in the Skagit River, is being heard in Skagit Superior Court. . . . Defense attorney Malcolm McLeod, Seattle, called just four witnesses in the Indians’ defense. He had indicated earlier that approximately 35 would be placed on the stand. Request Denied McLeod, known for his dogged determination that the Point Elliott Treaty of 1855 be interpreted in favor of Indians, asked the court to dismiss the charges against his clients on the basis of fishing rights granted them by the Treaty, but it was denied. . . . McLeod had Carl Boome, chief of the Upper Skagit Tribe, take the stand and testify that tribal members had always fished the Skagit form the Conway Bridge to the Diablo Dam. . . . Final Witness Raymond Boome, the other defendant, said that the Gilligan Creek location where he was fishing with a set net when game protectors arrested him, is an usual and accustomed fishing place for Indians. Taken in its broadest interpretation the Treaty states that Indians may fish in their usual and accustomed fishing grounds. . . . Second Surprise This morning the second surprise came. The state waived its right to rebuttal after the defense had finished presenting its witnesses, so steps were begun to instruct the jury on what it must consider in considering the evidence. . . . Each side had prepared instructions and Judge A. H. Ward had selected from each set [of] those instructions that he thought best fitted the circumstances. |
Fish Issue
Upper Skagit Chief testified his tribe had fished the River from Conway to Diablo.
Today Seattle City Light says no fish made it past Newhalem. Could they be wrong or did the Chief not tell the truth? |
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Jury Says Fishermen Are Guilty Two members of the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe were found guilty by a superior court jury Friday night of violating state game laws by net fishing for steelhead on the Skagit River. The two, Lawrence Joe and Raymond Boome, both of Sedro-Woolley, contended they held the right by treaty to fish in the river. . . . The Chinook gillnet catch in the Skagit through July 20 was 4,500 fish, said Starlund, about the same as in the record low years of 1956 and 1957. He noted, however, that in those years there was no fishing during closed periods, permitting some fish to escape upstream to spawning grounds. |
Fish Issue
Tribe members found guilty of netting steelhead. |
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Indians Ask Fish Rights Conference A plea to Indian fisherman to observe state laws, made Friday by the director of the State Department of Fisheries, has brought immediate response from the Swinomish Tribe. Speaking for the tribe, Tandy Wilbur replied to Director George Starlund’s plea today, and announced that the Indian fisherman have agreed to comply with the state request. Starlund had asked in a telegram made public, that Indian fishermen comply with closed periods and help “provide seed for future runs”. He said Indian gear has placed the 1962 run in great jeopardy. Asks Meeting Wilbur’s reply said that the Indians would like to meet with Starlund and his staff and work out a better understanding of their mutual problems. “Indian fishermen are greatly outnumbered and so compelled to exercise their treaty fishing rights to gain a livelihood”, he said. “They should be given exclusive fishing times and grounds.” . . . “Hungry People” Commenting on the contents of the telegram the Swinomish are sending to Starlund, Wilbur said that tribal fishing grounds have been taken away by one means and another during the past 50 years. “You are dealing with hungry people,” he said. “Fishing is the Swinomish peoples’ only means of making a living. They have no year around employment. They were granted fishing rights and it would seem to me these concessions made in the Treaty should be honored by the white man.” “The Swinomish are not fishing for selfish reasons. They have gone into court and claimed fishing rights on the Skagit River because their old fishing grounds on the Swinomish Channel have been destroyed through the years,” Wilbur said. |
Fish Issue
Tribes to comply with State law.
“Fishing is the Swinomish peoples’ only means of making a living. They have no year around employment. They were granted fishing rights and it would seem to me these concessions made in the Treaty should be honored by the white man.” |
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Fish ruling to go before state court The case of Indian fisherman Joe McCoy will come before the Stte Supreme Court Nov. 19. The nine man court announced yesterday that the decision of Skagit Superior Curt Judge Charles F. Stafford will be given a hearing in the state high court on that date. . . . The unrestricted right to fish is in the nature of a contractual right, reserved by treaty between the Indians and the United States government”, says Bannister. |
Fish Issue |
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indians to police own fishing ban Swinomish Tribe Indians announced yesterday that the tribe will begin policing its own fishermen and hand out stiff fines to any who fail to observe salmon conservation closures. . . . A spokesman for the tribe said, “The Swinomish Indians have agreed to voluntarily close all fisheries for a period of 48 hours during August 3rd and 4th. However, we have mavericks among us the same as any other group. We will operate our own patrols and catch the violators.” |
Fish Issue |
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avon canal to control river level A long-considered flood control project is undergoing new study in the Skagit Valley as probably the most practical means of curbing damage and offering a number of other advantages. The project is the Avon By-Pass first authorized in 1936, frequently discussed since then and now revived by the Corps of Engineers as the most practicable solution to Skagit River Flood problems. . . . “For the 1951 flood the Bypass would have lowered flood stages three to five feet in the Skagit River and two to four feet in the North and South Forks of the Skagit River”, the Engineers noted. |
Avon By-Pass
Cost of the By-Pass put at $19,000,000 |
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Bypass Could Produce New Skagit Fish Runs—Start in 1964 Is Possibility Development of new fish runs and of a several-mile length of excellent boating-swimming water are important by-products of the revived “Avon By-Pass” flood control plan for the Skagit valley that are being seriously studied. . . . “The experts say near-ideal conditions could be provided for natural fish propagation and it is possible completely new 4runs of fish could be produced.” . . . Johnson said it was possible the engineers could proceed with final design and construction as early as 1964. |
Avon By-Pass
To start construction in 1964. |
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Revised Flood Plan Eyed The Avon By-Pass…is being revised as a solution to flood control here by the Corps of Engineers. . . . Proposed by the US Engineers in 1936, the original by-pass plan was dropped because of local costs involved and because of strong objections based on the farm lands it would have taken out of production and feared effects on adjoining lands. Now the engineers propose a 340 instead of a 1600 foot wide channel. . . . About four million of the total nineteen million dollar estimated cost of the project would have to raised by the county…The by-pass plan would protect the valley from a “30-year” flood, the engineers believe. . . . The by-pass could have lowered the Skagit river flood stages three to five feet and the river level from two to four feet in the North and South forks in the 1951 flood, which broke dikes on Fir Island, at Conway, and lapped the top of dikes elsewhere up and down the river. |
Avon By-Pass
30 year flood protection, 340 ft wide channel instead of 1600 ft channel.
Bypass would have lowered 1951 flood 3 to 5 feet. |
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Avon By-pass Pushed The Avon By-Pass has again been proposed to Skagit County by the Corps of Army Engineers as the most practical means of additional flood control. Many miscellaneous other uses of this by-pass other than flood control are under study, such as fish farming, recreation, drainage, irrigation and water transportation. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife consider fish farming conditions in the upper part of the by-pass as very good and they are reporting as being enthusiastic about the prospects. The Skagit River water temperatures are near ideal for fish farming. Plans for swimming, boating and other recreation will be utilized to everyone’s advantage. . . . Flood damages for a flood larger than that of 1951 have been estimated at over six million dollars at today’s prices and with our present development. . . . The by-pass channel as authorized in 1936 contemplated a shallow channel approximately 1,600 feet wide. The channel now proposed has been deepened and narrowed to a 340 foot bottom with 3 to 1 side slopes. . . . Protection for about a 10-year flood is provided by the present levee system. With the by-pass constructed the area below the intake would have protection for about a 30-year flood. For the 1951 flood the by-pass would have lowered flood stages 3 to 5 feet in the Skagit River and 2 to 4 feet in the North and South Forks of the Skagit River. . . . Consideration is being given to additional flood protection by upstream storage. Complete protection from storage alone is not feasible because suitable storage sites are limited. The best sites for multiple purpose storage have been developed for single purpose uses. |
AVON BY-PASS
Flood damages over 6 million with present development. 340 feet wide vs 1,600 ft wide.
30 year flood protection
Dam storage. |
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Flood Study Boosted For Skagit county civil works, the budget asks $120,000 for dredging the Swinomish channel and revetment repairs, and $70,000 for continuance of the Skagit flood survey. . . . “Apparently, the Corps has decided a point of no return has been reached,” Westland explained. “Otherwise, the survey would have been discontinued. Only the possibility of a favorable benefit-cost ratio would warrant expansion and continuance of the survey from the original $135,000 to $275,000 now. |
More money to study the Skagit. |
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Flood By-Pass Route Revised—Project Given State Commissioners Backing The Washington Association of County Commissioners and Engineers…passed a resolution requested by the Washington State Flood Control association asking the legislature and the state highway department to cooperate in the by-pass project. . . . The new route will follow the line between Drainage Dist. No. 19 and Dike and Drainage Dist No. 8 |
New route for by-pass. |
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flood ditch plan moves from avon The Avon Bypass – a big ditch that is supposed to carry flood waters from the Skagit River to Padilla Bay – is no longer destined to be located at Avon. Ray Skrinde of the Corps of Engineers told a gathering of county people yesterday that redesigning has placed the bypass nearer to Burlington, and extended its length to approximately 8 miles. Compensating for the added length, however, is the fact that plans for the proposed ditch have narrowed it from 1,600 feet to 500 feet. . . . If the Avon Bypass is to be realized, it will require local financing of about $4 million and federal financing of $15 million. |
Avon By-Pass
Intake moved from Avon to Burlington and reduced in width from 1,600 feet to 500 feet. |
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avon—Burlington bypass |
Picture of new location of By-Pass |
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Skagit River By-pass Explained At Meeting The name of the water diversion channel is now a misnomer, but came about as a result of earlier plans for a similar plan to control the river during flood stages. Under the previous plan the river would have been diverted at Avon and flood water taken by a shallow ditch 1,600 feet wide and dumped into Padilla Bay. Recent plans call for changes in the intake location of the ditch and a width of only 340 at the bottom but deeper than originally proposed. The intake of the channel has been relocated to utilize Gages Slough south of Burlington and follow the hillside north of the valley keeping to a minimum the amount of valuable farmland required. Cost of the structure estimated at $19,000,000 with the Federal Government paying $15 million of the cost. Average annual benefits from the project are said to be $1,000,000. . . . The plans call for levee extension and improvement west of Burlington. . . . Protection for about a 10-year flood is provided by the present levee system. With the by-pass, the area below the intake would have protection for about a 30-year flood. The Army Engineer said river flow up to 200,000 second feet of water could be controlled under the plan. |
AVON BY-PASS
Intake relocated to utilize Gages Slough.
Cost $19,000,000, local cost $4,000,000.
Levees in Sterling.
Would control floods up to 200,000 cfs. |
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developers will support avon bypass Members of the Skagit County Development Association last night went on record as favoring and supporting the proposed Avon Bypass. |
Avon By-Pass |
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avon bypass foes speak at hearing Opponents of the Avon Bypass flood control plan last night expressed doubts the proposed project will offer a long-rang solution to the Skagit River’s major overflows. . . . Not all the 50 or more persons attending last night’s session were against the Bypass. . . . Several opponents leveled criticism and questions at Skrinde’s estimate that the Bypass will produce a million dollars in annual benefits for the Skagit Valley, largely by eliminating losses resulting from floods. . . . Another opponent said Skagit River flood waters had actually made his farmland more productive. . . . Asked last night about a time-table for the project, Skrinde said the Army Engineers hope to start design work and detailed layouts for the Bypass by July 1, 1964. . . . Skrinde told his audience last night the Bypass probably will have to be used only once every five or ten years when a major flood threatens the Skagit Valley. |
Avon By-Pass
One opponent termed a $19,000,000 insurance policy against floods foolhardy. |
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legislative study of avon bypass resolution okayed A resolution calling for a legislative-interim study of the proposed Skagit River bypass at Avon has been passed by the State Senate, the 40th District delegation announced today. Representatives Don Eldridge and Duane Berentson introduced the measure in the House and pushed it through to final passage. |
State Legislature Approves of Avon Bypass |
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avon bypass could be fishing paradise The proposed Avon Bypass for Skagit River waters may well prove to be a trout fisherman’s paradise when it becomes a reality. Recent discussions over recreational users of the proposed bypass have been focused on its development as a virtual eight mile lake containing an endless supply of trout…. |
Avon ByPass Fisherman’s Paradise |
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Channel to Concrete (Editorial) A new campaign in the continuing war between conservationists and proponents of industrial development is threatening to break out on the Skagit River. The focus of developing controversy is the proposed dredging of a 100-foot wide channel, six feet deep, to Concrete. The channel would open the river to tug and barge traffic and connect valley towns to salt water. With a stagnant economy, Skagit County sorely needs to strengthen existing payrolls and to develop new employment opportunities. Initially the navigable channel would create new activity at Lone Star Cement Company’s upriver limestone quarry. . . . Alarmed that fish spawning grounds will be disturbed, the state Game and Fisheries Department has made an official protest, pointing out that roughly a third of Skagit River’s Chinook Salmon are spawned in the area of the proposed dredged channel. . . . We don’t pretend that a dredged channel will not have some small effect on fish spawning despite adequate safeguards. There has to be a reasonable amount of compromise on the part of fish conservationists in order for Skagit County to enjoy vitally necessary economic growth. The conflicts that may seem to exist can most certainly be resolved by calm and constructive approach to the problem by all concerned interests. |
Editor Endorses Dredging Skagit
Dredging good for local economy. Would have “small effect on fish spawning”. |
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Fisheries Study Promised by U.S. Engineers As to flood control, Col. Garbacz pointed out that while the proposed Avon By-Pass would provide “partial protection,” the US Engineers felt this and existing levees would not give all the flood protection needed in the lower areas of the Skagit. The “ultimate solution” he said, “is to provide some type of reservoir upstream from the lower valley areas. Sauk Site Considered—Later in the interview the engineers spokesman said superficial examinations had been made on the Sauk river about seven miles upstream from the Skagit as a possible dam site. He called it “premature to say that site is a good site.” Dredging—The engineer did not duck the issue of potential damage to fish life from the proposed dredging of the Skagit channel between Mt. Vernon and Concrete for barge navigation. Sports groups have voiced great concern that such channel work would ruin spawning grounds and wipe out steelhead and salmon runs in the river. Fish Studies Promised--…”we are very much aware of the problem that dredging in that stretch of the river might cause to fishing” and promised that “we will have the fisheries experts of the state and federal agencies go into it a little bit later on. . . . Present thinking of the engineers is to have a river channel fout to six feet deep and about 100 feet wide. “Dredging alone doesn’t bother the run so much as it does the spawning of the sea-run fish. This is the particular concern I think that the sportsmen out there have and so does the Corps.” |
Fish Issue
Sauk River Dam
Dredging
Fish Study Promised |
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Flood Project Study: Report due in fall An early-fall target date has been set by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials for completion of reports to be presented to Congress on year-long study of the Avon Bypass flood control proposal. . . . Authorized In 1936 Johnson, working with the federal engineers as flood control coordinator for Skagit County, explained that the Avon Bypass project was first authorized by Congress in 1936. It has been frequently discussed since that time and was revived in the spring of 1962 by the Corps of Army Engineers as the most practicable solution to Skagit River flood problems. As outlined earlier by corps officials, the bypass would consist of a channel 340 feet wide at its bottom extending from the Skagit River to Padilla Bay. From an intake structure south of Burlington, the proposed canal would run eight miles almost directly west to Padilla Bay. Excess flood waters could be diverted into the channel during high water and emptied into the bay. Cost $19 Million . . . Cost of the bypass has been estimated at $19 million. Federal aid would provide about $15 million of this total, with local financing from Skagit County, the state, diking districts and possibly flood control zones financing right of way costs and construction of highway bridges made necessary by the project. |
Avon By-Pass Study
Cost 19 million dollars. |
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Cost Big Factor in Bypass Protests Warren Good and Norman Dahlstedt, farmers and truckers, and Ray Billups, custom carpet expert who lives in the bypass area, presided at the head table…Dahlstedt said he and others seriously questioned whether the flood overflow channel proposal would give adequate protection and would justify its $19 million estimated cost. He also said there was doubt that this would be found the final maximum cost by possibly many more millions of dollars. . . . Dahlstedt said the questions were whether “we can afford this” and whether “we want this or something else.” . . . Jim Hulbert, longtime LaConner farmer, said he had seen “water from Stanwood to Edison” and warned “you are going to have some more floods someday.” The Avon bypass is “the only thing they have ever recommended,” Hulbert went on. “It would be very foolish to laugh this off…to turn it down.” |
Avon By-Pass Protest
Can we afford it? |
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swinomish close fish trap at state request As soon as Starlund’s request was received Monday, Wilbur called a meeting of all Tribal Community officers to discuss it. They immediately halted operation of the trial trap from Monday through Thursday this week and next. In addition, individual gillnet fishermen who are tribal members agreed to halt fishing from Friday morning to Sunday night during the next two weeks. |
Fish Issue
Tribe agrees to halt fishing on weekends. |
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Editorial: Avon By-Pass… Boon or Boondoggle?From what we have seen and read, to date, we are unable to determine whether the misnamed Avon By-Pass would be a bonafide boon to our area or just another bureaucratic boondoggle. According to a recent release by Congressman Jack Westland the Corps is considering construction of the by-pass, strengthening of levees and building of a water storage facility as parts of a long-range flood control plan for the Skagit. The informational bulletin makes it plain that the bypass project itself is not intended to be up for discussion at the Nov. 22 hearing. A plan of “uniforming” the Skagit river levee system from Mount Vernon in combination with minor channel widening, and the addition of recreations and fisheries as added purposes to the Avon By-Pass will be the subjects that will be discussed, We do not know if this means the Corps has already been “sold” on the by-pass or not. At any rate, we did not know the Corps was in the business of “selling” anything. We always thought their function was to take over when a need was expressed, justification determined, and funds provided. Maybe it wasn’t intended that way, but the informational bulletin mentioned above strikes us as a first class promotional piece as far as the recreation and fisheries aspects of the by-pass are concerned. We are presented with sketches of ducklings in the rushes, fishermen netting fish out of a boat, canoeing, bird and duck hunters prowling in the banks, beach balls and beach scenes, picnickers and even overnight campers in tents. . . . With the levee improvements cited, and the addition of the by-pass, the engineers say we would be able to control flows of up to 180,000 c.f.s. from Burlington downstream, and would increase the level of flood protection in presently diked areas to 30-year frequency. Under this plan, the river would carry 120,000 c.f.s. and the by-pass 60,000. . . . The fact remains, however, that the river has exceeded 180,000 c.f.s. five times in its recorded history – 185,000 in Nov. 1896, 190,000 in November 1897, 220,000 in November 1906, 195,000 in December 1917, and 210,000 in December 1921. We’re certainly no experts on rivers but it’s reasonable to presume these excessive flows could occur again under the right circumstances. If they did, we would all get our feet wet, by-pass or no by-pass. On the other hand there have been no disastrous floods in the lower Skagit Valley since the completion of the Ross Dam in 1949. During flood periods, the Ross Plant has been shut down, sometimes entirely, to hold back the greatest possible amount of water. In 1949, from Thursday midnight until Sunday midnight, enough water was held behind the dam to cover 116,000 acres of land to a depth of one foot. At the crest of the flood approximately 50,000 cubic feet of water was impounded every second. Although the dam was built primarily for power production, it had appreciably reduced the flood threat in the lower Skagit. . . . We are not convinced either that the by-pass would tend to impair the free flow of people and traffic across the valley. This barrier could work a hardship on business, industry and agriculture. From a strictly selfish viewpoint we can see the City of Burlington and surrounding area locked in by the river on one side and the artificial moat on the other. It would appear that the Burlington Cut-Off would be a more appropriate name for the project than the Avon By-Pass. Before this thing blossoms into reality sufficient thought should be given to the possible consequences. |
AVON BY-PASS
The Beginning of the End
Corps “selling” the concept.
How Stewart’s figures impact flood control projects.
No disastrous floods since the building of Ross Dam. |
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hearing nov. 22 for Skagit uniform flood control plan A plan for uniform flood control along the Skagit River south of Burlington will be the subject of a hearing Nov. 22 at the Elks Lodge in Mt. Vernon. . . . Spokesmen for the Corps of Engineers said the Avon Bypass is the subject of one of three separate studies now under way which are not of direct concern at the Nov. 22 hearing. The other two are a study of Skagit River navigation from Concrete to the mouth and a study of upstream storage along the Sauk River and other tributaries. . . . Of major concern at the Nov 22 hearing will be plans to provide uniform levee protection along the Skagit from its mouth to Mt. Vernon; strengthening of the levee system, and widening of the channel at some points to remove restrictions. |
New Plan For The Skagit
Dredge navigation channel, dam on the Sauk and uniform levees. |
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2 Flood Plans Held “Must” …Primary subjects of Friday’s hearing are the Engineers plan to bolster dikes and widen channel of the river below Mt Vernon and their addition of recreational features to the revised Avon Bypass plan originally authorized by Congress in the 1930’s. “We would not recommend the lower river work without the by-pass,” Robert Gedney, chief of basin planning branch, Seattle engineer district, told the special meeting group. He explained that as now diked lands along the lower river have from two to seven year flood protection. . . . Also brought out at the meeting was that the State fisheries department within the last two months had asked the Engineers to consider use of part of the Avon bypass channel for migratory fish propagation. |
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I. Engineers Point To Beneficial Possibilities Of Avon BypassHighly favorable benefit-to-cost ratio for the Skagit River flood-control and Avon Bypass project is announced by Colonel Ernest L. Perry, Seattle Army District Engineer, . . . Under present conditions, the safe channel capacity of the Skagit River downstream from the proposed Bypass is only 90,000 to 120,000 cubic feet per second (c.f.s.). With the improvements on levees, a save capacity of 120,000 c.f.s. with 2 feet of freeboard would be obtained. All levees would be widened and strengthened to provide a minimum 12-foot top width. |
AVON BY-PASS
Safe channel capacity 90-120,000 cfs. Would be raised to uniform 120,000 cfs. Benefit to cost ratio 3.6 to 1 with recreation as added feature. |
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Mayor Backs Flood Control Plan -- Rescheduled U.S. Engineer Hearing Here Friday Given Letter The city of Mount Vernon is on record with the U.S. Corps of Engineers as endorsing flood control plans recommended by the Engineers. . . . The mayor said he had consulted with City Engr. Denny LeGro and written the approval letter prior to the original hearing date, Nov. 22, canceled by the President’s death. The letter declares the Engineers’ proposals for levee and channel improvements “reasonable and practical, . . . assuming that the costs . . . are economically feasible and that suitable and equitable financial arrangements can be achieved . . .” . . . “If we hadn’t had the dike break below us we’d have had it,” LeGro commented, as to the 1951 flood. RECALLS 1951 FLOOD— Mount Vernon residents clearly remember the date of Feb. 10, 1951. The record book shows that on this date the Skagit river reached a flood flow peak of 150,000 c.f.s. (cubic feet per second). But to Mount Vernon residents and the City of Mount Vernon’s officials, the peak flood flow of 150,000 cfs. was no immediate concern through that long night and the following early morning hours of the next day. What our Mount Vernon officials do remember is that the Skagit river filled their banks completely in Mount Vernon and that the flood crest rose until the water level had completely covered our revetment area and was lapping at the gutter line of Main street at the Myrtle street intersection. Another six or nine inches would have required sandbags to keep the Skagit river from spilling over into our downtown commercial area. STORE OWNERS PREPARE—“The city of Mount Vernon, with full knowledge of what a flood flow of 150,000 cfs means to our city, hereby congratulates the Corps of Engineers for their comprehensive and forward-thinking flood prevention plan. UPSTREAM STORAGE --“And in conclusion, with the achievement of all the plans presently under consideration for flood control on the Skagit river, that the comprehensive development of upstream storages on the various tributaries of the Skagit river, can give our fertile valley a virtual freedom from the danger of floods – and possibly in our lifetime. |
Dike break at Fir Island saved Mt. Vernon in 1951 flood.
Mt. Vernon congratulates Corps.
More dams would give freedom from flooding events. |
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Bypass Termed First Flood Control Step The Avon Bypass is the “first essential step in obtaining flood control in the Skagit River Basin,” Col. Ernest L. Perry, district head of the United States Army Corps of Engineers told persons attending a public hearing today on flood control. . . . DISTRICTS APPROVE Just prior to today’s hearing, the Skagit Valley Herald learned all seven Skagit Valley diking districts affected by the proposed levee improvement and channel widening program have generally approved. Confirmation came from George Dynes, president, Skagit County Flood Control Council. Dynes added that all 16 of the county’s diking districts, except one, generally favor the plan. The single exception objects to only some parts of it, he noted. . . . Col. Perry told newsmen this morning the levee improvement project is linked to the proposed bypass in corps planning because the bypass strengthens and justifies the cost-benefit ratio of the levee job. Without the bypass as an adjunct, the levee system would lack sufficient “life expectancy” to warrant federal expenditures, he said. |
Avon By-Pass
7 Dike Districts impacted approved plan. One of the 16 Districts did not approve. Testimony shows that this was Dike District 12. |
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Outline Flood Control Plans at MV Hearing More than 300 persons turned out Friday for a hearing in Mount Vernon on flood control proposals affecting the Skagit River. But most of them came to listen rather than to speak. . . . Army Engineers’ proposals for strengthening the existing levee system along the lower Skagit River met with practically no dissent from anybody who spoke Friday. Objections were voiced however to both the proposed Avon Bypass and to recreational use of the bypass, whose major purpose will be to divert high water from the Skagit River. . . . Valley Divided Friday’s testimony disclosed the Skagit Valley still is evidently divided in feeling over the Avon Bypass. Much of the opposition to the bypass came Friday from the Burlington-Bay View area. . . . At the hearing’s outset, Hastings asked his Skagit listeners “do we continue ineffectual and inefficient methods . . . or improve our program?” He said $3,660,000 had been spent so far in this century in the Skagit Valley on flood control measures. He also reported the Skagit Valley is the biggest user of state flood control funds. . . . Support for levee improvements and recreational developments in the bypass came from the Skagit County Board of Commissioners, represented at heating by First District Commissioner Scott Richards. Representatives of a number of central county diking and drainage districts also offered official support. . . . Recalls 1951 Flood In a statement prepared by Mount Vernon Mayor Herman Hanson, that city’s engineer, C. D. LeGro, strongly supported the Corps’ proposals. LeGro recalled the 1951 flood which almost swept into Mount Vernon’s downtown area. |
300+ People Attend Flood Meeting
Speakers endorsed strengthening existing levee program but many spoke against Avon By-Pass.
Burlington and Bay-View residents opposed Avon By-Pass.
Over 3.5 million dollars had been spent in 64 years on flood control projects in Skagit County. |
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Avon Bypass is crux The Avon Bypass is the focal point in the Corps of Engineers $30 million flood control plan for the Skagit River. The official attitude of the engineers is that improvements to the levees of the lower Skagit River would not be worth the estimated $7 million cost unless the $23 million bypass is built. . . . A substantial number of Skagit County residents prefer, in fact, that the flood control program be restricted to levee improvements. On the other hand, the Avon Bypass is highly charged with controversy. It is an 8-mile lake that would run from Burlington to Padilla Bay at Bay View and would require extensive bridging where it cuts through state and county roads and highways. . . . When engineering is sufficiently advanced that costs can be reasonably ascertained, the Skagit County Commissioners will be faced with attempting to raise an estimated $4 million that represents the portion of the costs of construction at this time thought to be Skagit County’s share. |
Avon By-Pass
Local residents wanted levee improvements instead. |
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Fir Island Had Leap Year Flood Saturday, Leap Year Day, occurring only every fourth year, but 32 years ago for the residents of Fir Island it rather passed by without much thought being given to the quadrennial significance of the date. . . . The Skagit River was on a flooding rampage and had not reached its peak in the early hours of Feb. 28th when, due to large rotted log under original dike, a breakthrough occurred on the west bank of the South Fork at the Iverson Farms and completely submerged hundreds of acres and caused much damage especially to properties of Iver Iverson and his son Phil Iverson. Two breaks the year previously on west side of the island from Dry Slough branch had caused much damage and now this major one was to make it a day long remembered – 3 floods in 2 years. . . . However, this large volume of flow from river had the usual effect of lower pressure on other area dikes, such as the Conway District directly across stream, and possibly saved the day for their hard pressed levies. . . . This sudden and unexpected breakthrough of 32 years ago was at east side of Polson Road which today is highly considered a future location of a new highway to North Fork Bridge and LaConner with the new planned South Fork Bridge to occupy the exact site of the bursting levee of 1932. |
1932 Leap Year Fir Island Flood Recalled
Fir Island…3 floods in 2 years. |
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Cloud Seeding Worries ‘Hysteria’ -- says State Aide’s Reply; Eldridge Says Letter Contradictory Effects and costs of a cloud seeding experiment the state conducted in the upper Skagit river basin this past winter still remained uncertain after State Rep. Don Eldridge this week had received a reply to an inquiry he made late in May. . . . “The choice of this (upper Skagit basin) area was assured only by the complete wilderness nature of the area to be affected,” Price explained. “We were aware of the hysteria brought on by cloud seeding operations in western Washington and, even though we were secure in the belief that a project operated in the middle of Seattle would not endanger the public, we wanted to avoid the anxiety that is usually concomitant with the incomprehensible . . . It is simply ridiculous to expect the layman, or for that matter the expert, to observe merely the effect of cloud seeding without benefit of an appropriate sixth sense. The fact that cloud seeding has been conducted throughout the world since its inception in 1946 without positive and irrefutable evidence of success attests to the difficulty of evaluation.” . . . “Nothing in this letter gives proof that the precipitation in the Skagit valley has not been in part due to this program,” Eldridge declared. |
Cloud seeding blamed for extra precipitation. |
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flood waters held back for skagit Ross dam spillways on upper Skagit river were dry Sunday, holding back water to level off late spring runoff for lower valley, when group of newspaper folk toured Seattle City Light’s project. Joe DeLeon, City Light public relations director, above, told Mrs. Stephen Mergler of The Argus, and others, that water level behind this dam was about 40 feet below overflow point, to provide storage in case of heavy warm rains that could bring flood threat. Excess water was being spilled from lower Diablo and Gorge dams as necessary to maintain the emergency storage in Ross lake, which extends north of Canadian border. |
ROSS DAM STORAGE
No flood event recorded for 1964 in USGS records. |
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protection from floods is seen in this scale model of project |
Pictures of Proposed Avon By-Pass Plan |
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Black Prince Sailed Skagit Through half a century has passed, nostalgic twinges grip the writer at times as he seems to hear the melodious whistle, faint and far away, of the old sternwheeler Black Prince as she boils up the Skagit with cool-headed Captain Forrest Elwell at the wheel. . . . Dimensions Dimensions of the Black Prince were: Hull, 93 feet: overall length, 112 feet; beam, 19 feet; depth of hold, 5 feet; tonnage measurement was 159 gross tons, according to the captain. . . . “After completion, the Prince came back to Everett under her own power and then went to the Skagit to tow logs and piling,” Elwell wrote. . . . Loads “On July 7, 1903, loaded 50 tons of machinery at Mount Vernon designated for the old Talc Mine about 12 miles above Marblemount. . . . This trip took three days to get up the river and unload,” the captain continued. To negotiate Sticks Riffle (named for the old Indian, Johnny Stick, who lived there) below Bacon Creek, the crew found it necessary to pay out 1200 feet of line and employ the boat’s winch to pull the heavily laden Prince over this shallow, swift piece of water. . . . This trip by the Black Prince may have been the farthest upstream penetration by a steamer since the gold rush of 1880. Reached Portage One sternwheeler, the Chehalis, is reported to have reached the Portage, a mile or more above the old tale mine, during the gold excitement. One old-timer, who has lived on the river since 1877, is inclined to believe this. He says that a river-wise boat captain conceivably could have made it over the riffles above the talc mine during real high water. He added, however, that most of the gold rush steamers got no farther than Durand Riffle, a mile or so below Marblemount. “In 1906, the Company operated a logging camp across the Skagit from Birdsview. The logs were towed to the mouth of the Skagit and later to Utsalady by the Prince,” Elwell wrote. “The writer well remembers towing from Birdsview, and especially through the Dalles (above Birdsview) which is like the letter “Z.” If you were lucky, okay, but if the raft broke up, you were in a mess, as logs would be all around and under the Prince, which would almost spin like a top. . . . Gets Name How the Black Prince got her name: Captain [Charles] Wright [a previous owner] had a dream that he had a boat that was all black and called the Black Prince, so that is where her name came from, Elwell recalled. |
History of Sternwheelers On The Skagit
1903 Black Prince carried 50 tons of machinery to Marblemount. Trip took 3 days.
The Chehalis allegedly made it further upriver.
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Flood Control Unit Discusses Project The proposed Avon Bypass should be under construction by 1968, Skagit County Flood Control Council members learned Wednesday night. George Dynes, of Mount Vernon, member of a specifically-appointed Avon Bypass Committee of the Council, made a report to the organization as a highlight of the Wednesday session in the Skagit County Courthouse Annex conference room. Other Bypass Committee members are Tom Shane, Jim Hulbert, Noble Lee, and Jess Knutzen. . . . Also included in Dynes’ report was previously-issued information that the Inland Empire Waterways Association recently endorsed the Bypass proposal and that $3,225,000 in federal funds was authorized at the start of 1964 for a study of the proposal. |
Avon By-Pass
By-Pass to be “under construction” by 1968.
3 million authorized to “study” the proposal. |
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Avon Bypass: Study Authorized, Construction Due in 1968, Flood Council Told The Avon bypass flood control project should be under construction by 1968, George Dynes told the Skagit County Flood Control council at its annual meeting at the courthouse in Mount Vernon Wednesday night. . . . Dynes said he understood the U. S. Engineers had tentatively selected a site for the first of two Skagit river tributary dams that at some future time would be built to provide protection against a “100-year” flood. This site, about two miles from Rockport, would be for a 150-foot high dam across the Sauk river that would back water all the way to Darrington. The other dam would be on the Cascade river. |
Avon By-Pass
Dams proposed on Sauk and Cascade Rivers. |
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District 20 Leaders Call Dike Meet A proposal to dike the entire Nookachamps Valley from Mount Vernon to Sedro-Woolley along the Skagit River will be the subject of a public meeting Wednesday evening. Dike District No. 20 commissioners, George M. Dynes, John Petter, and Dr. Robert Thompson have issued an invitation to all property owners in the Nookachamps Valley to attend the 8 p.m. meeting at the Clear Lake School gymnasium. The invitation read: . . . “With the completion of the Avon By-Pass, it will be possible to dike the Skagit River from near the new bridge at Sedro-Woolley, following the river to Hoag’s Hill just East of the Great Northern Bridge near Mount Vernon.” |
Proposal to Dike the Nookachamps |
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Avon Bypass Proposed Scheduled for Airing by Burlington’s City Council The City of Burlington had to put two portable pumps into almost continuous last week to keep overflow out of its sanitary sewer lines, Supervisor Frank Screws told Councilmen Tuesday night. Reporting on measures taken to curb damage resulting from last week’s heavy rains, Screws said the two pumps went into action Thursday. Screws added he still is accessing street damage caused by rains. The supervisor also told Councilmen he had arranged for a formal presentation at their Feb. 16 meeting on the proposed Avon Bypass, a flood control channel which has aroused controversy in the Burlington area. The channel would follow a route starting south of Burlington if it is established. |
Avon-By Pass |
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Group Gives Its Approval of Bypass Agreeing that the proposed Avon Bypass is essential to a proposed dike extension along the Skagit River from Mount Vernon to Sedro-Woolley, Nookachamps Valley property owners Wednesday night endorsed the Bypass plan. They also elected a committee of three men to study the dike extension proposal. More than 50 persons attended a meeting to discuss the diking plan at Clear Lake School Commissioners of Diking District 20 called the meeting to determine feeling in the Nookachamps Valley concerning extension of the district into that area to permit dike expansion. James G. Smith, District 20 attorney, explained the proposed diking system cannot be built without a municipal corporation like a diking district to sponsor it and deal with federal agencies which help engineer and finance such projects. Three Elected Elected to the interim study committee were James C. Christopherson, J. W. Wallace, and Bill Moore, all property owners in the Nookachamps Valley. It was Skagit County Superior Court Judge A. H. Ward, himself a Nookachamps farmer and property owner, who cited the value of the Avon Bypass plan to any Skagit River diking proposals. Judge Ward said it would be foolish to consider building any dikes unless an outlet is provided for surplus flood water through the Avon Bypass. “I feel building of this dike is a good deal if the Avon Bypass is assured,” Judge Ward said. . . . Earlier in Wednesday night’s meeting, it had been explained several times that the Nookachamps area has served for years as a “reservoir” for Skagit River flood waters. Whenever the Skagit rises to near-flood levels, its first high water usually spills over into the rich valley lying northeast of Mount Vernon. Such a condition long has been considered a natural protection of sorts against much more severe flooding in other areas down river from the Nookachamps region. Engineers Study George Dynes, District 20 commissioner, explained Wednesday night that he had taken representatives of the United States Army Corps of Engineers into the Nookachamps Valley 1½ years ago to discuss possibilities of relieving the area of its role as a “reservoir.” The dike extension scheme was thus developed, Dynes said. |
Avon By-Pass
Nookachamp residents endorse By-Pass concept.
Nookachamps serves as a “reservoir”.
With By-Pass Nookachamps could construct levees. |
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Nookachamps Group Backs Avon BypassCommittee to Study Joining Forces With Dike District
. . . The Dist. 20 commissioners have suggested that the Nookachamps basin be protected against the Skagit river by dikes from near the new bridge at Sedro Woolley to Hoag hill east of the Great Northern bridge north of Mount Vernon. . . . The Corps of Engineers will consider making a study of giving the Nookachamps lands flood protection if residents of the area want it and funds can be obtained, the meeting was told by Ray Skrinde, who is directing the Skagit river flood control planning. He said the Engineers hope before next fall to have their plans for the Avon bypass project and bank protection-channel work on the lower river completed. . . . Superior Judge A. H. Ward said he would not favor the Nookachamps plan until the Avon bypass is built because, otherwise, the rest of the Skagit valley would be endangered. He made the motion to support the bypass project. |
Avon By-Pass
Dikes in Nookachamps |
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II. Engineer Corps To Be PresentAvon Bypass To Undergo City Council ScrutinyDiscussion of the By-Pass, which has aroused some controversy in Burlington, is expected to attract more than the usual few spectators who attend a routine city council meeting. The 8 p.m. meeting is open to the public. City Supervisor Frank Screws said this will be the first formal presentation of the project to the Burlington City Council although various members and other city officials have attended other meetings and presentations in the county. |
AVON BY-PASS |
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III. Engineers Explain Bypass At City Council MeetingApproximately 30 interested citizens heard an Army Corp of Engineers’ report on the projected Avon Bypass and later participated in a question and answer period at the Burlington City council meeting Tuesday evening. . . . Further explaining that floods run in cycles; in the Skagit’s case 8,35, and 100 years, Holbrook said that the improved levee and channel would protect against the 8 year cycle floods, the levee, channel, and Avon Bypass together against the 35 year cycle variety, but that an improved and increased upriver storage area would have to be added to these two parts before the basin would have the needed protection against a flood of the 100 year cycle frequency. . . . Projected figures show that if the flood of 1921 were to occur in this area with its present state of development an estimated damage of $13,-273,000 would occur. . . . Gedney placed the cost of the project at $24 million, two to four million of which would have to come from Skagit County. Gedney also explained that local diking commissions have spent $3.5 million dollars on maintenance and improvement since 1947. The original cost of the project in 1936 was $4 million. |
AVON BY-PASS
Floods run in 8.35 and 100 year cycles. Levee improvements protect against 8 year floods, add the By-pass and protection goes to 35 yr protection. Increased upriver storage (Sauk Dam) would provide 100 yr protection.
If 1921 flood happened damages would be $13,273,000.
Cost of project now $24,000,000. 1936 cost was $4,000,000. |
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Petitioners Oppose Avon BypassPetitions opposing the Avon bypass and, in particular, any modifications for other than flood control purposes were filed with the Skagit county commissioners Wednesday by a group calling itself the Citizens Association for Skagit County Improvement. An accompanying letter said there were 823 signatures on the petitions. It was signed by Norman H. Dahlstedt as chairman and Ray Billups as secretary. The petition headings “oppose any plans to modify the structure of the Avon Bypass for any purpose other than flood control.” They go on to say the signers “are in fact opposed to the Bypass itself because as presented to us it will not provide protection of major floods.” . . . The letter expressed the belief the public was “nearly 100 percent” in favor of lower river (below Mount Vernon) improvement. The Engineers’ plans would increase the downstream capacity by 30,000 cubic feet per second, which the association contended would represent half the bypass’ capacity “for one-quarter the cost.” |
Opposition to Avon By-Pass |
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Slough Area Residents Seek Relief Owners of property along Gage’s Slough southwest of Burlington are hoping for relief. For more than five weeks, waters from the slough have been backing up onto fields. At the farm of J. Lee Lindamood on the McCorquedale Road west of the Interstate 5 freeway, water covers almost eight acres of land. Nearby, J. Larry Brendle estimates he has five or six acres under water. . . . Lindamood has been trying to do something about the water problem. He is circulating petitions whose aim is to have the city of Burlington provide some kind of relief from the situation. Lindamood said Burlington now is dumping its drainage overflows into the slough. Since the slough empties into the Skagit River only through an 18-inch culver, Lindamood said, it is overtaxed. More water than it can handle is flowing through it, the land owner said. . . . Lindamood told the Skagit Valley Herald he believes at least 120 acres altogether are affected by Gage’s Slough overflow. Once before in recent years, Lindamood recalled, the slough backed up and flooded his property and others. That was about 1948 when owners of property along the slough dumped earth into its course and blocked it. Lindamood and others later filed damage claims which were granted by the county’s Superior Court. |
Gages Slough Drainage
It is reported that 72% of the City of Burlington has been engineered to drain into Gages Slough. (Source: Cascade Mall EIS) |
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Burlington Will Aid On Flood Trouble Burlington officially gave assurance Tuesday night of its cooperation in trying to relieve property owners southwest of the community whose lands have been flooded by backed-up water of Gage’s Slough. . . . Mayor Adrian Strong appointed a committee of three councilmen to work with Supervisor Frank Screws on the Gage’s Slough problem. They are William Dynes, Marvin Cannon, and Charles Kramer. Screws told councilmen the city’s drainage does flow into the slough is legal, Screws said, since it is a public water course. |
Gages Slough Drainage
Burlington Supervisor recognized Gages Slough as a “public water course”. |
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Plans Revealed For Shortened Bypass An official of the United States Army Corps of Engineers has disclosed the proposed Avon Bypass may be shortened to eliminate three bridges and thereby save construction costs. Robert Gedney, an engineers with the Corps in Seattle, made the disclosure Monday night at a meeting of the Skagit County Flood Control Council and diking and drainage district commissioners. Under the new plan, the Bypass, planned as a flood control project, would being just west of Interstate Highway 5, where it passes over the Skagit River north of Mount Vernon. Such a proposal has been developed because of severe opposition in Burlington to beginning the bypass there, as originally planned, Gedney explained. Several Plans . . . A grant of $30,000 was made by the Corps of Engineers to finance the study. . . . Another Plan In another disclosure made Monday night, Gedney said the Corps is considering a plan which would provide for diking the Nookachamps north east of Mount Vernon and then using Nookachamps Creek as a reservoir after it is diked. The Corps’ plan would keep low level flood waters from entering the area, Gedney said, but would utilize the creek as a reservoir at high flood peaks. Earlier Monday night, Col. Charles C. Holbrook, Army Engineers’ commanding officer in the Seattle district, reviewed plans for flood control measures along the Skagit River. He said the Avon Bypass would increase protection from eight to 35 years, and additional upriver dam storage, planned in the future, would increase protection to 100 years. |
Avon By-Pass & Diking Nookachamps
By-pass route shortened.
$30,000 to “study” new route.
Nookachamps to be “diked” and used as a reservoir. |
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slides wreck baker power house Massive slides roared down on the Lower Baker Dam at Concrete early today, virtually destroying the power house and causing damage conservatively estimated at more than a million dollars. . . . Other slides roared down later and apparently took most of the power house with them. . . . Heavy weekend rains probably caused today’s massive slides, company officials said. . . . At Burlington, Cleon Cornish, dispatcher for Puget Power, said all reports indicated the slides were “tremendous.” |
Slides in Narrow Baker Canyon
Compare what happened here to what is described in the 11/19/1896 Skagit County Times article above. This is strong evidence that a flood caused by the daming of the “narrow outlet in the Baker Canyon” area by a slide very well could have happened. |
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whose river? whose future?
An editorial in The Seattle Times Thursday that seemed to land on both sides of the fence raised a serious question as to whether that newspaper be for us or against us here in the Skagit valley. . . . Nothing that “Seattle’s City Light objects to inclusion of an 11-mile stretch of the river in the designation because it would rule out construction of a hydroelectric dam (Copper Creek) contemplated in the municipal utility’s long range plans to provide power for its customers,” The Times offered as its “present view” this comment: “…unless City Light can document a case otherwise, the ‘wilderness river’ concept should take precedence on the Skagit river. Too many of our mountain-stream valleys already have been despoiled of their natural site.” While The Times was attempting to register as its main point a complaint that determination as to use of and restrictions on natural resources, such as the Skagit, were being left to “outsiders,” meaning the federal government, it seemed both to be taking a slap at its community’s own City Light and at the same time to be ignoring opinion as to the needs of the Skagit valley as to utilization of the Skagit and its tributaries, for power and industrial development, water supply and flood control. |
Wild & Scenic River Designation |
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IV. Slide DamageA mudslide from the 300 foot bank behind the Baker River powerplant smashed through the plant carrying part of the structure into the Baker River and causing an estimated $1 million worth of damage. Minor slides continued to rumble all day Tuesday as loose dirt fell from the hillside carrying with it trees and other debris. |
“MUDSLIDE”
Upper Baker Dam |
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$30,000 For Avon By-Pass Gets Support Support for appropriation requests for two Skagit County public works projects was given May 19 by Congressman Lloyd Meeds before the House Appropriation Committee. Terming the Avon Bypass “essential to the development of the Skagit River Flood Control Project”, Meeds pointed out that it could increase significantly flood protection for the area. The Skagit River Valley has a serious flood protection for the area. The Skagit River Valley has a serious flood on the average of every seven years at present. With the Avon Bypass, protection would be increased so that a serious flood would be expected no more frequently than once in every 35 years on the average. |
AVON BY-PASS
35 Year Protection |
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Pictures of slides in baker canyon |
Pictures of slide area in Baker Canyon |
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Flood Plan For Skagit Sent to D.C. A July 30 deadline for further comment on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ recommendations for Skagit river flood control was set in an announcement from their Seattle office Wednesday. . . . The 124-page report re-outlines the Engineers’ plans for the Skagit and reproduces the testimony given by public officials and interested citizens at the public hearing held in Mount Vernon Jan. 10, 1964. The Engineers are recommending levee and channel improvements along the river from Sedro-Woolley down and modification of the Avon Bypass flood control channel plan to include fisheries and recreation facilities. |
Levee and Channel Improvements
Avon By-Pass |
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V. Engineer Corps Recommends Federal Funds For By-PassRecommendation of flood control and allied improvements in the lower portion of the Skagit River valley by the Federal Government is being reviewed by the Army’s Chief of Engineers for transmittal to the Congress. . . . The value of lands and improvements in the Skagit delta area was estimated at more than $113,000,000 in 1962. This flood plain is highly susceptible to flood damage which averages more than $2 million dollars under present levels of development, Col. Holbrook said. . . . “Finally,” Col. Holbrook said. “we plan to evaluate feasibility of upstream multi-purpose storage in 1966, 1967. This project alone would be planned to control flow of the main river and tributaries so that with all three elements: levees and channel improvement, the Avon Bypass, and upstream storage, 100-year or higher flood protection could be realized for the Skagit River flood plain from Sedro-Woolley downstream.” |
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Engineers Set Conditions For Skagit Flood Control 1. Ten conditions to be met by “local interests” have been suggested by the U.S. Corps of Engineers in connection with flood control and allied improvements on the Skagit River basin. Provide with cost to the United States, all lands, easements and rights-of-way necessary for the construction of the projects. 2. Hold and save the United States free from damages due to the construction works. 3. Maintain and operate all the works after completion in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Army. 4. Provide without cost to the United States all relocations of buildings and utilities, roads, sewers, related and special facilities necessary for construction of the projects. 5. Provide assurances that encroachment on improved channels will not be permitted. 6. Notify the public annually of the limited flood protection provided by the recommended works subsequent to their construction. 7. Secure the water rights necessary for operation of the recommended works for recreational purposes. 8. With respect to recreational facilities, provide cash, equivalent work, or lands so that the non-Federal share shall be at least 50 per cent of the total first cost of the development. 9. Assure public access for all on equal terms for recreation development. 10. Submit plans for any additional recreational development of the Avon Bypass project to the Secretary of the Army for approval and determination of the Federal interest prior to construction.
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AVON BY-PASS
10 Conditions on local government. |
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Army Crosses Off Skagit As Navigable Stream The Skagit River is no longer considered a navigable river by the Corps of Engineers, North Pacific Division, Department of the Army. This is not an overnight decision considering the report released this week read: “Notice is hereby given that the report on Skagit River, Washington, for navigation, authorized by resolution of the Committee on Public Works of the House of Representatives adopted 13 May, 1947, has been completed by the District and Division Engineers. The report is unfavorable to the improvement. A public hearing was held at Mount Vernon, Washington on 12 April 1949.” At issue was the feasibility of improving Skagit River for navigation by dredging from deep water in Skagit Bay upstream about 54 miles to the vicinity of Concrete. This week’s report stated that officers engaged on the project find that the estimated transportation savings “would be insufficient to justify the estimated cost of improvements.” |
DREDGING
Headline is misleading. Dredging the river for navigation was found to be infeasible.
Public hearing was in 1949 and they make a decision in 1965. |
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$50,000 Approved For Skagit Congress has approved a $50,000 funding to the U.S. Corps of Army Engineers for a bank protection project on the Skagit River on the South Skagit Highway about four miles upstream from Sedro-Woolley. . . . Skagit County commissioners and engineers had applied for the Corps’ aid in the river erosion project. The river is undermining the highway at the point, a short distance east of where the county is currently repairing damage from Deadman’s Slough erosion. The Corps’ project requires county participation on a matching basic of an estimated $40,000 in additional funds. If the project does not run this high, the county money is not expended. The State Department of Conservation is expected to share about 30 percent of the county’s cost. . . . The work would call for substantial reinforcement of the river bank where it bends away from the highway. The bank is constantly being eroded at that point and eats into the road bed, said Commissioner Howard Miller. |
Erosion Control Rip-Rap Project
$50,000 federal expense, possible $40,000 to County taxpayers.
Deadman’s Slough is where Indians used to bury their dead by placing them in canoes and hoisting them up into tree branches. Same practice in the Nookachamps. (Source: Courier Times 10/20/49) |
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Long-range Flood Plan for Skagit Hold Ramifications Skagit County officials were given a tool for flood plain management Wednesday at Mount Vernon. It was the Skagit River Flood Information Report, prepared by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the request of the State Department of Conservation on behalf of the citizens of Skagit County. Presentation of the report was made to the Skagit Board of County Commissioners by H. Maurice Ahlquist, director of the Department of Conservation and by Gregory M. Hastings, supervisor of the department’s division of flood control. . . . While it did not fall as a bombshell, the report, as expected, set forth some long-range requirements for flood control of the Skagit River which would have a profound effect on Skagit County, especially in regard to future planning and development. . . . The answer, given by Ahlquist, was also seen as significant, “This report is not God’s word,” he said. “The Corps has done the best it can with the information available.” He did not state to what extent the plan might be revised. . . . Hastings asked this question, “Is Skagit County being picked on?” He then answered negatively, stating, “Skagit County has used more state flood control maintenance funds since 1943 than any other county in the state. It has consistently had a flood control program, which speaks for the county’s interest in a constructive effort. . . . “The answer is a flood plain management set of rules, and this report is the tool to provide those rules. It suggests the most wise and beneficent use of the flood plain area,” Hastings stated. The ultimate of the plan is for 100-year flood control of the Skagit River basin. “The information, as presented in this Skagit River Report, points out the need for changing our ideas and methods of reducing the recurring flood damage in the county. It will be largely up to you to assist in bringing about the acceptance of these ideas,” Ahlquist stated at the outset. . . . One theme of the meeting was that many residents underestimate the danger of floods and “build and plan as though no hazard exists.” George Dynes, local land developer long active in water management, said local matching costs of the plan would come to $6 million. “Without the money for that part, we’d be dead in the water,” he said. “Right now the state has no money with which to help you,” said Ahlquist. |
Floodplain Management Plan
“Skagit County has used more state flood control maintenance funds since 1943 than any other county in the state.
“The answer is a flood plain management set of rules, and this report is the tool to provide those rules. It suggests the most wise and beneficent use of the flood plain area,” Hastings stated.
One theme of the meeting was that many residents underestimate the danger of floods and “build and plan as though no hazard exists.” |
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Clamp on Valley!State Report Issued Here Wednesday Defines Federal Order Restrictions
A Skagit river information survey that will restrict, guide and control use of virtually all lowlands in the Skagit valley was unveiled in Mount Vernon Wednesday afternoon by Gregory Hastings, state flood control supervisor , and H. Maurice Ahlquist, director of department of conservation. With the report, Hastings handed out to a crowd of city, port, diking district, county and federal public official’s copies of a presidential order issued last August that is key to the new valley regulations. This order directs all federal executive department agencies to approve constructions, loans, road work and other federal activities in flood plain areas, subject to some exceptions. . . . “Controlled use” appears key to the federal order and the Skagit Basin reports. . . . “The part of the flood plain subject to inundation every few years could be zoned for agriculture, including buildings necessary for farm operation. Public and commercial activities which can recover quickly from inundation could be allowed, such as parks, playfields, parking lots, and drive-in theaters. A useful method for determining the limits of this zone would be to use the high water mark on one of the larger recorded floods. For example, limits of a Skagit river flood having a frequency of 50 years…” A 50-year flood is defined as one such as occurred in 1920 when the recorded Skagit stream flow at Sedro-Woolley was 210,000 cubic feet per second. The report’s detailed maps show areas that would be hit by such a flood and also fringe lands beyond that would be affected by a less-frequent 275,000 cubic foot flood. The most severe flood listed from 1896 to date was 220,000 feet in 1909, when the dike broke southeast of Avon and the river flowed southward across the flats along the Avon-Allen road. The report points out that some areas may be flooded by a 90,000-cubic foot flood, while others would be safe up to 140,000 cubic feet. “Floods of these magnitudes,” it says, are expected to recur at frequencies of three and 14 years, respectively.” It estimates annual flood damages average $2,216,000 at 1963 prices. . . . Nothing that “early settlers… had the good judgment to build their homes on the highest available part of their holdings,” and, “as a result, flood damage along many streams has been confined primarily to crops,” the report warns. “The danger is the promoters of new housing sites, shopping centers, and motels may lack a long-range view point and unintentionally saddle future owners with flood-susceptible, depreciated and hazardous property.” |
Floodplain Management
50 year flood defined.
1909 flood listed as most severe.
Dike protection 3 to 14 years. |
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City Endorses County Flood DistrictSkagit county commissioners last night received approval of Mount Vernon’s city council to proceed with formation of a countywide flood control zone district. . . . The Proposed district, authorized by the last legislature, would enable the county to sponsor flood control projects directly, rather than through smaller, independent districts, LeGro explained. . . . The new district would not necessarily mean elimination of present diking and drainage district, LeGro added, in response to a question. . . . The advisory council favors the proposed improved diking of the river and channel widening from Sedro-Woolley to the mouth, which would give eight-year flood protection, but has taken no stand on the controversial Avon by-pass, which would protect against a 35-year flood. . . . A new flood control development, possibility of having the Puget Sound Power & Light Co. reserve from 22 to 19 feet of its Upper Baker dam storage for flood control use, has been suggested and is now being studied, LeGro divulged. . . . This storage could step up flood protection by as much as 12 cycle years, or to 20 if combined with the lower river dike-channel program. |
Countywide Flood Control Zone District
Did not “necessarily” mean elimination of diking and drainage districts.
Upper Baker reserve from 19 to 22 feet of storage being studied. |
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City To Make $4,419 Survey of RiverMount Vernon city councilmen voted four to one last night to make a $4,419 engineering study of the Skagit River to clarify status of the city’s Edgewater park and garbage fill operation. . . . As agreed on at the Dec. 6 meeting, the suggested cross-section points on the river were outlined on a map prepared by the U.S. Corps of Engineers. . . . The study is intended to provide data on which a decision can be made as to how much of the park riverbank should be cut back to provide additional river flow at flood time to make up for high water channel room taken by the garbage fill. |
Study to clarify status of Mt. Vernon Edgewater Park (garbage dump). |
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VI. Fire Chiefs Urge Flood Preparations
Six Skagit county fire chiefs called on the county engineer’s office and Joe Cain, county civil defense director, Tuesday night for immediate planning to cope with a possible flood emergency this season. . . . Johnson said there was some cause for concern because the latest snow pack report lists the Skagit watershed as 127 per cent above normal. He pointed out that while record floods have tended to come in November or December, the last serious flood in this valley occurred in February, 1951. . . . The problem of communications, between the courthouse and the fire stations and to workers on the dikes appears in better shape than in 1951, discussion indicated. |
Snow pack 127% of normal.
Problem with communications between courthouse and fire departments in 1951. |
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High Water? Flood Council Decides Dike District Agency it Open Dikes if Necessary
One of the major agreements the group reached was as to who would have to right to order a dike “blown” to reduce water pressure and hold down flood damage. It was agreed this was the right of the dike district commissioners. . . . Other subjects discussed included how to coordinate flood control work, availability of sand bags and pay for help obtained during an emergency. |
Dike Districts have authority to “blow” dikes. |
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City Pinpoints Profile Of Skagit River Bottom
HOW DEEP THE RIVER? - Sketch above is profile of Skagit river bottom, between Gates street on east and Edgewater park on west, drawn from river depth surveys completed Wednesday by City Engr. G. D. LeGro’s crew. With river holding at nine-foot level on the gauge, there was 15 feet of water at 100 and 200 feet out from the parking revetment, 9½ feet at the 300-foot point and ten feet at 400 feet. River width at this point is 500 feet. Deepest water directly under the downtown bridge was 24 feet. LeGro calculated river at this point is 500 feet. Deepest water directly under the downtown bridge was 24 feet. LeGro calculated river at this point would carry 120,000 cubic feet per second at 27½ -foot flood height, which is considered between a seven- and nine-year frequency flood. |
Mt. Vernon Sounds River Depths
River about 10 to 15 feet deep.
Deepest point under Riverside Bridge 24 feet. |
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river widening needed in parts, report reveals . . . Some 5,396,000 cubic yards of dirt, rocks and gravel would be excavated totally if the project is undertaken. |
River Widening would have been in the Mt. Vernon City Dump Area. |
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VII. river flood plan offeredA master plan for future development of the Skagit river channel through downtown Mount Vernon for both flood protection and landfill has been forwarded by city officials to the U.S. Corps of Engineers, Seattle, and the state Department of Water Resources, Olympia. The state agency, which last year question the city’s continuing to use Blumberg island as a garbage fill, for gradual conversion to Edgewater park, replied in recent days that it would study the report. Combining Corps of Engineers data on river flood capacity with results of the city’s actual measurement of the river bed at 19 crossings this year, City Engr. Denny LeGro has recommended cutting back the bank of Blumberg island from 44 to 98 feet between the Division street bridge and the downstream tip of the island, across from Kincaid street. . . . His letter suggested a plan for a minimum river channel width of 50 feet at ten-foot river level through downtown Mount Vernon, with a flaring out on below to improve the flow of flood waters. LeGro’s letter declared the proposed plan would “provide the hydraulic needs of the Skagit river through Mount Vernon without materially affecting the flood plain needs of the Skagit river at flood stage.” |
Edgewater Park study completed.
Mt. Vernon city engineer recommends cutting back bank of Edgewater Park from 44 to 98 feet. |
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salmon anglers! our pink salmon (humpies) need help |
Advertisement from Washington Fisheries informing fishermen to release all pink salmon. |
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conservation group asks exclusion of skagit as wild river Letter to USFS from Skagit Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisors . . . We question whether the segments of the Skagit River and its tributaries as proposed for study in the Act, meet the requirements as specified in the Act. The main stream of the Skagit from Bacon Creek to Mt. Vernon is not a free-flowing river since its flow is affected by the existing Skagit River dams. The Skagit from above Concrete to Mt Vernon flows through alluvial soils which to a large degree have been cleared and are being used for agriculture or have been or are being developed for recreational homesites. . . . We believe that the provisions of the Wild Rivers Act would make it difficult, if not impossible, to control the bank erosion and otherwise construct dikes and other flood control works. |
SCD Opposed Wild and Scenic Designation
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[1]
The Skagit
Valley Herald underwent many name changes. It was called “The Skagit
News”, “The Skagit News-Herald”, “Mt. Vernon Herald”, and “Mount Vernon
Daily Herald”. (Source: Skagit Valley Herald 1/3/56). [2] The word describes a sort of no-man's land
between a levee and the river. [3]
The Skagit County Times was the forerunner of
The Courier-Times, Sedro-Woolley newspaper. It stated it was “The Only
Democratic Paper Published in Skagit County.” [4]
Portions of this article were
unreadable and are represented by . . . inserts. Unfortunately, this is
the only article located on this flood event. The Skagit Valley Herald,
The Skagit Argus and The Courier-Times have all lost their copies covering this
flood event. Due to the condition of this article its transcription cannot
be relied on to be absolutely accurate. [5] This is a mistake. It should be
December 1917. [6] This is a misstatement. That was the
date of the newspaper article. The flood happened on December 29,
1917. [7] Should be flood of 1917. [8] February 27, 28, & 29th
[9] The meaning of the Indian word “Skiyou” is
dead man. Many skeletons rested in old canoes put up on poles or in the
branches of trees on Skiyou Island and many more near the Nookachamps.
They were not very agreeable places to pass on a warm day.
(Source: Courier-Times 10/20/49) [10] This is a typo. It should be James E.
Stewart. [11] Perhaps there are two Stewarts. He
worked for Skagit County but in 1922-23 after the 1921 flood.
Typo?? [12] Unpredictable change.