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Good News Concerning Flooding and Trail Creek
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Thursday, June 8, 2017
 

STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

Wood River Valley residents got some good news Wednesday concerning the flooding that has plagued the valley for month.

And they got a bonus as Blaine County Road and Bridge crews reopened Trail Creek Road, which had been heavily damaged by heavy winter snows.

The Big Wood River dipped just below 7 feet Wednesday night--just a foot above flood stage--for the first time in about a week. And flood waters in Hailey's Della View neighborhood dropped a little, as well, before Wednesday's warm temperatures shot the river back to 7.44 feet this morning. 

But weather forecasters predict it will dip below flood stage early next week, said Anne Jeffery, public information officer for the City of Hailey.

The bad news is that Starweather residents are again dealing with some flooding, and water remains high along Gimlet Lane. The river is eroding an area near the highway in Lake Creek north of Ketchum. And the Broadford Bridge in Bellevue could be threatened if erosion keeps occurring in that area.

Blaine County Commissioner Larry Schoen said the county is trying to mitigate erosion to prevent that from happening.

“Our challenge is finding the appropriate balance between natural flow of the river and protecting life and property,” he said.

Representatives from Blaine County, the Wood River Land Trust, the City of Hailey and other municipalities met with representatives from the Army Corps of Engineers on Wednesday to learn how the Corps might help valley officials with figuring out how to mitigate future flooding.

They also sought information about how to provide assistance for those whose homes were impacted by the flood—something they found out could take months.

The meeting came ahead of the Flood Information Meeting at 6:30 p.m. tonight—Thursday, June 8—at the Community Campus.

Meanwhile BCRD Summer Trails Director Chris Leman said the Hemingway Trail is closed due to Trail Creek being at flood stage and that the trail near Boundary Campground has water flowing over it. Roads and trails in Deer Creek are partially open but have been damaged by spring run-off.

Schoen addressed the flooding Wednesday at a two-day conference on “Creating a Fire-Resilient Community,” which is being hosted by the University of Idaho and Sun Valley Institute at the Limelight Hotel.

“How do we get two 100-year floods 11 years apart? Will we get another next year?” he asked. “I don’t know but we need to be prepared.”

Schoen said commissioners and groups like the Wood River Land Trust are gearing up to ask questions like: How do we address neighborhood where the river has changed so much houses are surrounded by water even when the river is below flood stage?

Schoen noted that it’s extremely important in events like this to share information.

“A huge part of this is public trust—not just putting out information but making sure it’s accepted and accurate. We also need to be open to new ideas, willing to try new ideas,” he said.

A lot of building in the flood plain took place before zoning was in place, Schoen noted. And, he added, valley residents changed the river every time they put in rip rap.

“We need to learn from our mistakes, we need to correct the mistakes.”

Schoen praised the valley for generally exceeding standards.  

Personal responsibility is important, too, he added.

“You all play a part,” he said. “The government can’t do it all. What’s amazing about this community is how individuals and NGOs come and say, ‘How can we help?’ We call on you to play your part. Do what you do responsibly, knowing what you do is going to impact your neighbor.”

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