WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — Officials with Whatcom County Public Works reported this week that the following emergency levee and riverbank short-term repairs have been completed or continue being made since the mid-November 2021 flooding disaster.
Twin View Levee
Damage: 2 significant levee breaches along the left bank
Repairs: The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) completed emergency repairs with County support following the floods in 2021. The County is completing additional levee rehabilitation and revegetation in 2022.
Timon Levee
Damage: 2 significant levee breaches along the left bank
Click for more information
Click for more informationThe USACE completed emergency repairs with County support following the floods in 2021. The USACE has additional levee rehabilitation work scheduled for 2023.
Lynden Levee
Damage: Significant backslope damage along the right bank
The USACE completed emergency backslope repairs with County support following the floods in 2021. The County is completing additional levee rehabilitation and revegetation in 2022.
Rainbow Slough Levee
Damage: A minor to moderate breach along the right bank
Click for more information
Click for more informationThe USACE completed emergency repairs with County support following the floods in November 2021. Diking District #1 is completing additional levee rehabilitation and revegetation in 2022-2023.
Saar Creek Levee
Damage: Minor to moderate levee breach along the right bank
An initial emergency repair by Drainage District #15 after first November 2021 flood failed. The District requested help from the County/FCZD and USACE after the second flood. An emergency repair was completed by the USACE with County support in November 2021. The District completed emergency dredging of stream and sediment trap and is completing additional levee rehabilitation/revegetation work summer 2022.
Fishtrap Creek Levee
Damage: 3 minor to moderate levee breaches along left bank
Click for more information
Click for more informationAn initial levee breach was repaired by the County/Flood Control Zone District (FCZD) after the first November 2021 flood. The second flood caused three breaches; the initial repair site did not have adequate tie-in and was re-damaged along with two other sites upstream and downstream of the initial repair site. An emergency repair was completed by the USACE with County support in December 2021. The County is completing additional levee rehabilitation and revegetation in 2022.
Marine Drive Levee Repair
The November 2021 flooding caused scouring and a major breach of the Marine Drive Levee. The major breach was repaired by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in December 2021. The Flood Control Zone District (FCZD) is working on temporary repairs for three damaged sites. Repairs were completed in Summer 2022 to prepare the levee for the next flood season. Due to supply chain issues, the materials required for a permanent fix are unavailable. A larger repair project is scheduled for 2023.
Everson Overflow Bank Repair
Existing riprap protecting the Nooksack River bank upstream of Everson near the TransMountain pipeline crossing is damaged and requires stabilization measures. Design and permitting work are being fast-tracked. Construction will occur in 2023. The proposed improvements will incorporate habitat features.
Glacier-Gallup Creeks Levee Repair
The left (west) abutment of the Glacier Creek bridge is currently protected by a levee built in 1962 after a damaging flood. The levee has two primary functions: 1) preventing a major channel from being created toward the narrower Gallup Creek bridge crossing and 2) protecting the left abutment of the Glacier Creek bridge from erosion.
The levee has been repaired occasionally over the last half century. ln November 2018, an approximately 100-foot-long portion of the levee was partially eroded during a flood. The eroded portion has expanded to approximately 170 feet as a result of further damage sustained during the February 2020 and November 2021 floods.
This bank is vulnerable to significant bank loss because of this damage. Work is underway to repair the damaged section of the levee with construction anticipated in 2023.