The yard is getting smaller, the river likes my place.

[ondarvr]

After a $500,000 river bank enhancement project on the property just up stream from me that lasted about one year before it failed, I'm loosing land quickly.

This drone video shows part of the failing bank project that redirected the flow right into my land. That little rocky island mid stream was the river bank at the edge of my property. It used to take 5 hours to mow (no bagging) and I was thinking I needed to buy a new mower this year, looks like that time will be cut way down and my mower should last longer now.

The little crooked shack had been about 60' from the river, it's crooked because I wrapped a long nylon strap around it and pulled it back about 15' during the last high water, now it's on the edge again.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy8uvk25qJ8

 

[64osby]

I would be contacting the parties that performed the bank project and determine what plan (if any) they have to correct the issues.

Next would be DEQ, DNR, Army Corps Eng, or any other authority that has the ability to put their finger in the dike.

 

[jbcurt00]

Bummer about the redirect river. Looks like a nice spot you've got though

Got any recourse for loss of property if the upriver project redirected the river?

Did the upriver project failure increase or decrease the rate or amount of property loss?

Even on a large, deep property, loss of 60ft is significant. Esp since it appears it will continue as the river seeks a new river channel..

 

[GA_Boater]

Things aren't looking good there, ondarvr.

I'll guess everything was OK or minor erosion before the "enhancement".

 

[ondarvr]

There may be some options to go after the many government agencies involved that designed and put the bank enhancement in place, but suing everyone involved could get very costly and time consuming.

The rate of erosion was very slow prior to the changes made upstream, this was the first high water event after it was completed, what they did totally failed, but it also redirected the flow directly at my place.

The issue with trying to do anything is the length of time needed for the gov. agencies to do anything, even if they want to help it can take 5 years for them to get through the studies just to allow something to be done, and the permits can cost well over $100,000.00

There are about a dozen different departments that have been out and looked at it, nice people, but none are optimistic about a solution being timely or cost effective.

 

[Scott Danforth]

that sucks. going to put a damper on selling the place

unfortunately with any gov'mnt agency or department, time is not critical to them. what comes to mind is the statue in Europe

 

[robert graham]

Can chunks of concrete, blocks, old sidewalks, construction debris be used there to stabilize that bank?.... Looks like rich topsoil there that probably erodes very easily?....a nice sea wall would be great if some government agency would step up to the plate$$$$$....

 

[ondarvr]

When you have soft ground anything that creates a disturbance in the water increases the speed of the erosion. As the water is forced around the trees, rocks or concrete it pushes water towards the bank which scours away more material. Look at the trees they imbedded in the bank.

The won't allow anything but naturally existing items to be used in a project to reinforce the bank. A large round river rock is ok, break that rock in half and it no longer a naturally existing specimen.

And they won't allow cables or chains anymore, it's all natural fibers now to secure whatever is placed in the river. This was an issues with the design they used upstream. They used some large round rocks, drilled holes in them, glued eye bolts in place, then used the very large rocks to anchor trees in place. These trees were near the bottom, tied to the rocks with what looked like hemp rope, the rope frayed and broke almost immediately when the water started flowing faster. I have many of the trees stacked up in a pile, along with long lengths of 2" hemp rope. The rocks rolled down stream. I offered to sell the trees back to them for their next project at a discount.

 

[StarTed]

And the Skykomish is a salmon and steelhead river so that's another hurdle to get through. If there are bull trout involved, well good luck.

Good thing you didn't spend the money on a metal roof. :cold:

That area is known for floods, especially when an early snow pack gets hit by heavy rains and it's raining again.

I used to live up on the Seattle Hill area.

 

[ondarvr]

Yep, held of on the new roof as soon as all this started.

 

[thumpar]

That side of the state is pretty strict. If you get anything taken care of it may take so long it would be too late. Sucks all around.

 

[sphelps]

Ondarvr, nice place .. Shame the river is taking part of it ... Is that also your land down stream where the folks are standing ? It looks like that whole point will be gone pretty soon .... It.s amazing how changing the river bank a little can cause so much disruption down stream ...

 

[superbenk]

Wow, that's a depressing view of the damage. It's a shame you have so little recourse - it's not fair or right. This is horrible, but I wonder if you can get anywhere with imminent domain & have the gov't buy out your property or something so you're not stuck with a property that's inevitably just eroding away? Seems like a really bum deal.

 

[bruceb58]

I used the GPS coordinates to look at the Google Earth view. Did they end up forcing more water down that side slough on your side of the island?

Your house is very close to the house my grandparents used to own at Lake Rosegir.

 

[ondarvr]

What they did was change the bank right above me, it redirected the water and the flow hit my property head on. So it blew right through on the first high water after they finished.

We had several people from different agencies here yesterday looking at the damage again. The likely outcome will be that the house falls in the river and my flood insurance pays off on it. When that happens is the question, it could be in the next three months, or several years, it just depends on how much rain we get.

 

[aspeck]

By the time the house is gone, you will own enough land on the opposite side of the river to build ... There is always a bright side, right? Tough situation for sure. We dealt with a similar issue on a much smaller scale. Fortunately the local Conservation Officer gave me some great insight on what could be done in our situation without a permit or process. Our issue then remedied itself after following his advice. Unfortunately his advice does not help your situation.

 

[airdvr1227]

have you spoken with your representatives on a state and federal level. They might be able to get you some help. Also, the news is always looking for some filler.

 

[ondarvr]

If something could be done it would be years from now because of all the permits required, there's just too much $$$$ needed and red tape, by that time it would be too late. It was $500,000 for the meager project upstream from me, mine would be ten times that. Even if it was possible I wouldn't want the money wasted on a project like this.