Summary

With a June deadline looming for access to critical federal construction funding, King County Executive Dow Constantine thanked U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) for her continued efforts on behalf of King County to help secure federal funding to repair the federal Howard Hanson Dam in southeast King County.

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With a June deadline looming for access to critical federal construction funding, King County Executive Dow Constantine thanked U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) for her continued efforts on behalf of King County to help secure federal funding to repair the federal Howard Hanson Dam in southeast King County.

“Senator Murray has been tenacious in advocating for the safety and interests of King County residents in the Green River Valley,” said Executive Constantine. “Her attention to this issue has helped keep the federal spotlight on the Howard Hanson Dam while we’ve done extensive work with our regional partners to help residents prepare for possible flooding from the dam.”

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the dam. Last week, Murray pushed for and received assurances from the Army Corps that their study of options for fixing the dam will be ready by June, in time for the project to be eligible for construction money in the 2012 federal budget.

The plan will identify alternatives that will allow the Corps to begin the design process for an abutment fix.

“I look forward to continuing our work with Senator Murray and our entire Congressional delegation to address our region’s concerns about the dam,” said Constantine.

Learn more about flooding in the Green River Valley at https://www.kingcounty.gov/safety/FloodPlan/GreenRiverValley.aspx