Chehalis River Basin Flood Damage Reduction Project Revised Draft Environmental Impact Statement

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Comment From: Jarred Figlar-Barnes

2/05/26 @ 12:59 AM

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Comment From: Joleen Kardonsky

2/05/26 @ 12:51 AM

I am a Lower Elwha Klallam tribal member. My reservation is in WA State. In 2011-2014, we successfully removed the Glines Canyon & Elwha dams on the Elwha river. These dams had been there over 100 years. Those dams decimated the salmon population. My...↓ tribe remembers when 100 pound salmon populated the Elwha River. SALMON ARE A KEYSTONE SPECIES. My tribe was also decimated when those dams went up. The aging dams were costing more in upkeep then the energy they were providing. They had no fish ladders.This is all well documented. My tribe lobbied Congress for dam removal. Tribes signed treaties with the US Gov't. Tribal treaties are with the federal gov't, not with the state. WA State tribes signed treaty agreements that in exchange for their land, the tribes would always be able to fish "in their usual & accustomed grounds.". My tribe successfully lobbied Congress to have 2 dams removed because those dams decimated the salmon population. The Yurok Tribe followed suit and successfully lobbied Congress to have 4 dams removed on the Klamath River in CA in 2024. After dam removal, 11 years later, 50 MILLION salmon have returned to the Elwha River. The Klamath River is already experiencing healing and salmon returning.
I've said all that to say this: salmon need a connected river. Dams stop salmon from returning to their spawning grounds, they stop sediment & silt from nourishing the river, they warm river temperatures, they kill the river they are on.
The salmon decline & decimation is real in WA State. We all love our lush state with its beautiful waterways, trees, fish, orcas. But WA State also Greenwashes what they have done to their rivers. The Sauk-Suiattle Tribe in WA literally had to sue City of Seattle Light to put salmon ladders on the Skagit River. It took years and years of being sued by the Tribe before the City of Seattle would put fish ladders on 3 dams on the Skagit River. The Upper Skagit Tribe, the Swinomish Tribe & the Saik-Suiattle Tribe all pursued the City thru multiple lawsuits over many years before the tribes won that lawsuit. WA State Tribes won a multi-billion lawsuit against the State of WA in a culvert case that made it all the way to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court sided with the tribes of WA State --- because treaty rights are with the federal gov't & will take precedent over any state or city action that impedes our right to have a healthy salmon population. If a tribe is asking you not to put a dam on the Chehalis River, it would behoove you to take their opinion into account. The WA State governor recently formed special task forces that calls for joining with tribes to get their say & reaction on ANY action that would go against their treaty rights. WA had to be sued over and over and over to do the right thing - to remove aging dams & fix culverts. They finally are listening to tribes because we know our Treaty Rights. This is all verifiable.
So as a WA State tribal member, a member of the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe, the tribe who had the 1st dam in the US removed, I am asking you to not build a dam on the Chehalis River. I've seen first hand what dams do to all life, animals & plants & trees. Please look for other options because building a dam is not the answer.
You will be sued by a tribe, we have precedent now in winning Supreme Court Cases, Google 1974 Boldt Case decision.
Please do not build a dam.

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Comment From: William Graeber

2/05/26 @ 12:38 AM

See attached comment files (5) from William Graeber

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Comment From: BARBARA LAU

2/05/26 @ 12:33 AM

I am a hydrologist and I do not agree with the current plan as described in the EIS to build a dam on the Chehalis River. The Chehalis River is the largest watershed entirely within the state of Washington and one of the only remaining free flowing ...↓(undammed) rivers on the west coast. It is one of the top salmon producing rivers in the state, and the majority are wild fish as opposed to hatchery.

Alternate plans already exist through the Local Actions Non-Dam proposal. These would benefit the entire basin as opposed to the proposed facility, which would only protect some structures some of the time.

The proposed dam would cause irreparable harm to local Tribes, their culture and livelihoods, and Tribes in the area have spoken in opposition to the project.

Chehalis River salmon have declined dramatically from historic numbers due to overfishing, habitat degradation, development and inadequate fish passage. They are not yet listed under the Endangered Species Act, but there is currently a petition under review to list Washington Coast spring-run Chinook as threatened or endangered.

The dam would drown critical salmon and steelhead spawning habitat, degrade water quality and wildlife habitat, and result in increased water temperature.

The draft Environmental Impact Statement states that this project would have significant adverse impacts on salmon, wildlife, habitat, cultural resources and environmental justice.

The draft Environmental Impact Statement states that this project would have a less than significant adverse impact on Southern Resident killer whales, but does not take into account their reliance on coast wide Chinook runs.

Chehalis River salmon are part of the Washington Coast stock which is listed as a priority Chinook stock for Southern Resident orcas.

Data from NOAA shows that Southern Resident continue to target Chinook salmon as their preferred prey year-round, and that outer coast Chinook is an important food source, particularly in the winter. Tagging data also shows that Southern Resident orcas are likely foraging off Grays Harbor at the mouth of the Chehalis.

In this era of dam removal, DO NOT BUILD another. We have seen the ecological damages a dam creates such as on the ELWHA River and the expense it takes to remove these dams. Around the country, dams are being removed because of the damage they cause to rivers, fish and communities. The ELWHA is now is recovery, yet will take many years to recover to its pre-dam ecology and bounty for all creatures who depend on the ecosystem. Do NOT MAKE an outdated mistake again in building this dam.

Building a dam when other alternatives exist to floodplain management is archaic and expensive to both the tax payers AND our ecosystem. Please consider other alternatives to flood plan management on the Chehalis River.

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Comment From: Liam Doucet

2/05/26 @ 12:15 AM

Damming river networks contribute to increased flooding. The lower four snake river dams are a perfect example of this since Washington is unable to keep up dredging operations from the backing river bed. This is causing the tri city area in Idaho to...↓

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Comment From: Anonymous Anonymous

2/04/26 @ 11:32 PM

Chehalis dam project statement
I am writing to oppose the proposed large flood control dam project on the Chehalis River.
It is totally unacceptable that the state would consider approving a project that Washington's own Department of Ecology has in...↓

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Comment From: Tisa Anonymous

2/04/26 @ 11:24 PM

I am submitting this comment to strongly oppose construction of a dam on the Chehalis River.

I am not approaching this as an abstract policy issue. I have personally stood on shore and watched Southern Resident killer whales pass by me many times......↓ including the moment when J35 surfaced out from me with her dead calf, J61. That experience is seared into me. It made painfully clear that what we are dealing with is not a distant problem or a future risk. This is happening now.

Southern Resident killer whales are starving. Their primary food source... Chinook salmon... continues to decline. These are not separate issues. They are directly connected to decisions we make about rivers like the Chehalis.

The Chehalis River is one of Washington's last large, free-flowing salmon rivers. It still has functioning floodplains, wetlands, and habitat that produce wild Chinook. Once a river like this is dammed, that loss is permanent. There is no mitigation that truly replaces a free-flowing river system.

What is especially troubling is that the state's own Revised Draft Environmental Impact Statement acknowledges that the proposed flow-through dam and reservoir would adversely impact salmon and steelhead populations, reduce genetic diversity, increase water temperatures, and magnify climate-driven declines. Knowing what we know about the precarious status of Southern Resident killer whales, these impacts should be unacceptable.

An environmental review should ensure that recovery of endangered species is not undermined by new infrastructure. Southern Residents should not be further damned... literally or figuratively... by decisions that knowingly reduce their food supply.

Flood protection for communities is essential, but it does not require sacrificing one of our last functioning salmon rivers. Proven alternatives like floodplain restoration, wetland recovery, setback levees, and voluntary buyouts reduce flood risk while protecting salmon and increasing resilience to climate change.

We owe the Southern Resident killer whales... and future generations... better than repeating the mistakes that brought us to this crisis. I urge decision-makers to reject the Chehalis dam proposal and pursue flood solutions that protect people without destroying salmon habitat and further pushing an endangered species toward extinction.

They deserve better.

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Comment From: Donald Luther

2/04/26 @ 11:10 PM

To Whom It May Concern:

I am in opposition to the proposed dam on the Chehalis River. Please do not close the fish supply off from the Orcas in the Northwestern part of the United States. The Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) frequent this area...↓

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Comment From: Donna Albert

2/04/26 @ 11:03 PM

Comment by Donna Albert
Revised Draft EIS (RDEIS) for the Nov 2025 Proposed Chehalis River Basin Flood Damage Reduction Project

Here is a link to an article from the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction,"Managed retreat in the face of s...↓

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Comment From: Joshua Hole

2/04/26 @ 10:36 PM

I am in favor of a flood retention facility being constructed on the Chehalis River near Pe Ell. It will be a flow through facility with minimal impact on salmon stock. I will be infrequently used (it would not have been used during the recent atmos...↓

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Comment From: Linda Sue Hole

2/04/26 @ 10:25 PM

I am in favor of the Pe Ell retention facility project.

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Comment From: Cathy Colley

2/04/26 @ 10:22 PM

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Comment From: Jason Bell

2/04/26 @ 10:22 PM

I am opposed to this project. It will be harmful to salmon and may not even be effective in protecting our communities from flooding. We need solutions that protect salmon habitat AND humans. This isn't it.

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Comment From: David Linn

2/04/26 @ 10:16 PM

I am strongly opposed to the proposal to build a dam on the Chehalis River. It would create an environmental disaster as described in the Draft Environmental Impact Study (DEIS). The claimed benefits of building this dam pale in comparison to the dev...↓

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Comment From: Sue Joerger

2/04/26 @ 10:15 PM

While I was a resident of Aberdeen, Washington I was very aware of the proposed dam on the Chehalis River, but since I have moved away, it has been very difficult to find out any information about the proposed dam and the Draft EIS. There have been n...↓o articles in the major newspapers in the state and no public hearings held in Tacoma, Seattle, Spokane or Bellingham.

I believe that because of the significant impacts of the proposed dam on publicly owned resources including salmon, water quality and other natural resources the distribution of information about the DEIS has been inadequate. The residents of Washington State are the beneficiaries and owners of these resources and should have a say in assessing whether or not the DEIS assessment of environmental impacts are correctly assessed. Statewide hearings and presentations should be held and an effort made to get more media coverage of the significant impacts of the proposed dam. These are OUR resources whether or not we live in the watershed.

I believe that the cause of flooding in the Chehalis River Basin is logging by Weyerhaeuser in the headwaters, not climate change. First, there is research which casts doubt on whether or not the Forest Practices Act rules are sufficient to prevent landslides and flooding from large rain events, yet the DEIS is based on these inadequate rules. Second, there is new research out of British Columbia that quantifies the impact of clearcuts in a large watershed - separate from climate change - that concludes:

"The models showed logging only 21 per cent of the watershed led to a 38 per cent increase in mean flood levels; at Joe Ross Creek, the same amount of logging spiked flood levels by 84 per cent.

But the biggest surprise, said to Younes Alila, a professor at the University of British Columbia's department of forest resources management, was how frequent small, medium and big floods were expected to return when clear-cut logging occurs.

In both rivers, seven-year and 20-year flood events became twice and four times more frequent. Fifty-year flood events were found to occur six times more often. And floods so rare they happened once in a 100 years increased in frequency 10 fold, meaning a flood of that size would return once every decade instead of once a century." "The larger the events, the more frequent it becomes as a result of this level of logging." ("B.C. clear-cut logging makes 100 year flood 10 times more likely, study finds." Vancouver is Awesome, Aug 2, 2023, Stefan Labbe).

The DEIS is inadequate because it fails to include this research on large watershed impacts as one of its references and it is based on the flawed assumption that the Forest Practices Act rules are working effectively during high rainfall.

Finally, we have to do more, way more, to get people and property out of harm's way. It is unconscionable that it has been almost 20 years since the 2007 flood and there are still so many people at risk.

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Comment From: Wendy Steffensen

2/04/26 @ 10:09 PM

I have seen a few presentations on the dam and have reviewed the Executive Summary of the DEIS.

This dam should not be built. We should be exploring the no dam alternative which would do the following: prevent filling of flood plains (that has alre...↓

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Comment From: Erin Potts

2/04/26 @ 10:03 PM

The Southern Resident orcas have suffered enough for human gain. We cannot install another dam that limits their access to chinook salmon. I respectfully request that you investigate other avenues that will not harm endangered orcas.

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Comment From: Richard Hole

2/04/26 @ 9:57 PM

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Comment From: Cheryl Smith

2/04/26 @ 9:46 PM

I am deeply concerned about conclusions of the EIS...other measures should be put into place and tested before constructing a dam that will definitely cause harm to wildlife and will reduce food available to the southern resident killer whales, who a...↓

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Comment From: Mary Gallagher

2/04/26 @ 9:44 PM

I oppose building a dam on the Chehalis River, one of the last free-flowing salmon rivers in Washington state. This means it still has floodplains, wetlands, side channels, and cold clean water, the things that produce wild Chinook salmon. Our Southe...↓

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Comment From: Keith Swenson

2/04/26 @ 9:40 PM

Please record my statement that I am opposed to the proposed Chehalis River Dam.

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Comment From: Alex Na

2/04/26 @ 9:21 PM

I do not believe this draft should be allowed, as it poses a threat to the southern residents' ability to access food, which is crucial in maintaining populations above their current number of 94 [1,2]. While the proposal has a "fish tunnel" implemen...↓

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Comment From: COL (Ret) Ronald Averill

2/04/26 @ 9:09 PM

My comments are contained in the attached Letter.

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Comment From: Hsin Schoen

2/04/26 @ 9:05 PM

I am against the Chehalis river dam. It is detrimental to the wildlife in the fish that are a vital asset to the southern resident killer whales. I am against the Chehalis river dam please don't build it

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Comment From: Trout Unlimited (Alex Gustafson)

2/04/26 @ 9:04 PM

Trout Unlimited (TU) is grateful for this opportunity to comment on the revised draft State Environmental Policy Act Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed Chehalis River Basin Flood Damage Reduction project. With over 300,000 members...↓

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Comment From: Alex Agdeppa

2/04/26 @ 8:39 PM

The orcas are a substantial reason that Washington has noted tourism, and the impact of their loss would lead to substantial devastating impacts, to both the state as a whole, the environment and the draw to science that would motivate future generat...↓

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Comment From: Curt Stanley

2/04/26 @ 8:39 PM

The Chehalis River Chinook Salmon spawning grounds have been badly impacted for years. The idea constructing a dam in place in the upper reaches, will be the end of the end for the Chinook Salmon. The Chinook spawning/habitat in the upper 10-12 miles...↓

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Comment From: Kate Bradley

2/04/26 @ 8:37 PM

The upper Chehalis River is one of only three main spawning areas for Chinook and Coho salmon and Steelhead in the Basin. The DEIS shows the impacts would be devastating:

Spring Chinook could be driven to extinction by mid‑century.

Coho salmon woul...↓

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Comment From: Jake Van Noppen

2/04/26 @ 8:30 PM

I feel that building damns in this current age with all the science that shows how detrimental these structures are to fish passage is a waste of time and simply a bad band aid to a bigger problem. I oppose the the plan to construct a large dam on t...↓

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Comment From: Barbara Cromer

2/04/26 @ 8:18 PM

I would like to express my opposition to this damn and would like to see alternative methods used to prevent flooding. Please follow the science to protect the Chinook salmon and therefore the Southern Resident Killer Whales.

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Comment From: Eloise Bartz

2/04/26 @ 8:04 PM

Changing this area will affect other downstream biological areas that bring tourist income to Washington. Please consider these area that is so loved by my daughter and many others.

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Comment From: Mark DeLaurier

2/04/26 @ 7:55 PM

Dear Department of Ecology,

I would like to urge you not to approve the proposed FRE dam on the upper Chehalis River.

As someone who grew up in Oakville and currently lives there, I am very concerned about the harm the dam would do to the river and...↓

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Comment From: Liliana Hamacher

2/04/26 @ 7:42 PM

I oppose the proposed dam, it will lead to the extinction of the economically, culturally, and environmentally critical Chinook salmon. We should work with the land for flood prevention instead of against it.

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Comment From: Hazel Condez

2/04/26 @ 7:39 PM

I oppose the building of a dam in Chehalis River to protect Chinook habitat and the lives that depend on their survival.

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Comment From: Center for Environmental Law &... (Chris Wilke)

2/04/26 @ 7:36 PM

February 4, 2026

Bobbak Talebi
Washington Dept. of Ecology, Southwest Region Office
P.O. Box 47775
Olympia, WA 98504-7775
https://admin.ecology.commentinput.com?id=6U54ErkfW

Re: SEPA Revised Draft EIS for the Chehalis Flood Damage Reduction Proj...↓

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Comment From: Lila Anonymous

2/04/26 @ 7:15 PM

Hello I am a life long supporter of the southern resident killer whales (SRKW) of the Washington coast. I was able to have my dream vacation recently of whale watching near Friday Harbor. I sadly did not see any killer whales during my trip. Per the ...↓

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Comment From: Center for Environmental Law &... (Chris Wilke)

2/04/26 @ 7:11 PM

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Comment From: Chehalis River Basin Flood Co... (Kathy Burnaman)

2/04/26 @ 7:09 PM

Comments of Chehalis River Basin Flood Control Zone District on Revised Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Chehalis River Basin Flood Damage Reduction Project.

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Comment From: Orca Salmon Alliance (Cindy Hansen)

2/04/26 @ 7:09 PM

Please see attached comments from the Orca Salmon Alliance

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Comment From: Carmen Vijarro

2/04/26 @ 7:08 PM

The whales are starving. Please don't build the damn. We need to find ways to buildup salmon to feed the whales

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Comment From: Cheryl Lahr

2/04/26 @ 6:59 PM

There has got to be so much more care and concern for the natural flow of the environment. The impacts on the natural order of this limited short sided quick fix plan is not in the best interest of anyone.

It is antiquated waste of funds and counter...↓

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Comment From: Grays Harbor/Pacific County Fa... (Annmarie Willis)

2/04/26 @ 6:56 PM

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Comment From: Jaymi Garvett

2/04/26 @ 6:42 PM

The proposed damn on the Chehalis river would have lots of negative environmental impacts, including increased water temperatures, decrease salmon runs, and profound negative impact on the southern resident killer whales. This isn't good for humans m...↓

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Comment From: David Fenn

2/04/26 @ 6:40 PM

I am not going to take the time to comment on each point of the EIS, but some comments that apply to many of the individual points of the EIS. Many of the supposed consequences of building the flow through dam would occur without a dam. A larger fl...↓

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Comment From: Carolee Colter

2/04/26 @ 6:36 PM

I have serious concerns about the unintended consequences of the proposed Chehalis River Basin Flood Damage Reduction Project. The upper Chehalis River is one of only three main spawning areas for Chinook and Coho salmon and Steelhead in the Basin. T...↓

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Comment From: Laura Rotegard

2/04/26 @ 6:35 PM

NO to a dam on the Chehalis River. Free flowing river is critical to salmon habitat critical to endangered southern resident endangered orcas. We have so many other ways to create energy that does not damage the very thing we celebrate and protect in...↓

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Comment From: Jen Gorall

2/04/26 @ 6:32 PM

I strongly oppose the proposed dam project on the Chehalis river. This would permanently damage salmon and steelhead populations which are crucial to the survival of the Southern Resident orcas. An alternate solution must be utilized that would hav...↓

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Comment From: Conservation Nortrhwest (Brian Stewart)

2/04/26 @ 6:24 PM

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Comment From: June Isler

2/04/26 @ 6:16 PM

This comment is to oppose the proposed dam on the Chehalis River that would clearly cause significant impact to the Chinook habitat and cause irreparable harm to the marine environment. It is despicable that this would even be considered with the kno...↓

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Comment From: Tausha McCarthy

2/04/26 @ 6:15 PM

To the Department of Ecology,

I am writing to voice my concern over the progress toward the institution of the Chehalis River Basin Flood Damage Reduction Project and the introduction of yet another dam on a valuable salmon river in the Pacific Nort...↓

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Comment From: Niki Quester

2/04/26 @ 6:07 PM

Oppose. It would harm the river and salmon.

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Comment From: stacey crofoot

2/04/26 @ 5:44 PM

I am writing to oppose the proposed dam project on the Chehalis River. The project would adversely affect one of Washingtons last free flowing Rivers. Raising water temperatures and having a significant negative impact on wetlands. This would perm...↓

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Comment From: Chehalis River Basin Flood Aut... (Scott Boettcher)

2/04/26 @ 5:32 PM

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Comment From: Isabel Childs

2/04/26 @ 5:25 PM

I absolutely object to the building of the mega dam on the Chehalis River. The ecological impacts will be far more negative and damaging and irreversible than any benefit derived from the creation of this ill conceived dam.

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Comment From: Deschutes Estuary Restoration ... (David Monthie)

2/04/26 @ 5:11 PM

As a current Board member and past President of the Deschutes Estuary Restoration Team (DERT), I am submitting the following comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on the Proposed Chehalis River Basin Flood Reduction Project (Pro...↓

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Comment From: Barbara Carey

2/04/26 @ 5:02 PM

My name is Barbara Carey. I live in Olympia and own property in Lewis County. I am strongly opposed to the proposal to move forward on the Construction of a flood retention facility and associated temporary reservoir near Pe Ell on the Chehalis River...↓

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Comment From: Wild Fish Conservancy (Emma Helverson)

2/04/26 @ 5:01 PM

Please find Wild Fish Conservancy's comments attached.

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Comment From: Twin Harbors Waterkeeper (Eleanor Hines)

2/04/26 @ 5:00 PM

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Comment From: Laureen Claggett

2/04/26 @ 4:55 PM

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Comment From: Xerces Society for Invertebrat... (Emilie Blevins)

2/04/26 @ 4:39 PM

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Comment From: Malakay Betor

2/04/26 @ 4:36 PM

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Comment From: Kelly Wisniewski

2/04/26 @ 4:31 PM

I am opposed to this completely. This will affect the natural wildlife that is critical for the survival of many species like the salmon and especially the southern resident killer whale population. We need to protect their natural habitat and restor...↓

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Comment From: Shann Jones

2/04/26 @ 4:30 PM

The design of the Chehalis River Basin Flood Damage Reduction Project appears to be similar to the proven Chena River Flood Control Project (USACE) near North Pole, Alaska. The Chena River Flood Control Project has protected the City of Fairbanks an...↓

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Comment From: Kendra Nelson

2/04/26 @ 4:27 PM

I am a marine biologist and conservationist commenting in concern and opposition regarding the Chehalis River dam project. This is not the time for new dam projects, as research and experience have proven the harms dams have to ecosystems and species...↓ such as salmon and the critically endangered Southern Resident killer whales.

The Chehalis River is a vital habitat for wild salmon, including Chinook salmon, which are crucial to the endangered Southern Resident killer whales. Construction of the dam would inundate approximately 847 acres and extend 6.2 miles, leading to the loss of critical spawning and rearing habitats. This alteration could significantly disrupt the life cycles of salmon species, potentially reducing their populations.

Looking at dam removals that have occured on the Elwha and Klamath, there are clear negative impacts of dams to critical species. Critical to the ecosystem, wildlife, as well as humans. Salmon is an important resource to communities and industries. Salmon already deal with a severe decline in habitat quality and access to habitat. A new dam would only add another hurdle and hardship to local salmon.

The Chehalis River Basin is integral to the cultural and subsistence practices of local tribes, including the Quinault Indian Nation. The dam's construction would inundate tribal lands, disrupting traditional activities such as fishing, hunting, and gathering. The loss of salmon populations would further threaten the cultural heritage and food security of these communities. Dams also negatively impact communities, beyond just the impact to fish. While the Chehalis dam aims to reduce flooding, its construction could displace residents and businesses, leading to economic hardship and loss of community cohesion. Additionally, the dam's effectiveness in flood mitigation has been questioned, with concerns that it may not provide significant benefits to downstream communities. Flooding caused by the dam could submerge or damage sites of historical and cultural significance to Indigenous peoples, leading to the loss of irreplaceable cultural heritage.

There are alternative options to flood management. These include floodplain restoration, improved drainage systems, levee improvements, building elevation, voluntary buyouts, and land use planning. And these should be looked further into and an alternate plan that utilizes a combination of these methods would be more beneficial to the entire ecosystem.

I hope that these impacts and alternate solutions are considered. Below will be studies to review as well that demonstrate the impacts of dams. It is easier to not build a dam than it is to mitigate the impacts once a dam is in place.
Kendra Nelson

https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/4976/upstream-salmon-and-society-in-the-pacific-northwest
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aaa9204
https://online.ucpress.edu/elementa/article/doi/10.12952/journal.elementa.000108/112905/River-restoration-by-dam-removal-Enhancing
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/chapter/referencework/abs/pii/B9780128191668001018?via%3Dihub

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Comment From: Michael Beaty

2/04/26 @ 3:46 PM

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Chehalis River Basin Flood Damage Project. I write as an Oregon resident and long time Pacific Northwest salmon recovery advocate and active conservationist. I also have 32 years of work experience pr...↓

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Comment From: Mary Rawlins

2/04/26 @ 3:43 PM

Dear Department of Ecology,

As a member of Conservation NW I am using their comment letter below because I think it is clearer than I could be on my own. I think the Local Non-Dam alternative is a better choice to protect the river system. Time and...↓

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Comment From: C Rich

2/04/26 @ 3:32 PM

Southern orcas depend on the salmon to survive. The Chehallis dam would reduce or wipe out the salmon habitat as well as other habitats. I am against this dam project.

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Comment From: Doug Heiken

2/04/26 @ 3:17 PM

Dear Department of Ecology,

I am writing to express my concerns about the proposed FRE dam on the upper Chehalis River. This stretch of the river is one of the Basin's key spawning areas. Based on the available evidence in the DEIS, the project woul...↓

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Comment From: Rogers James

2/04/26 @ 3:11 PM

Protecting wildlife must always be a top priority when planning large-scale alterations to the flow of our rivers and waterways, especially when they are utilized by endangered and crucial species to our ecosystems. Surely it is worth the effort to t...↓

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Comment From: Anonymous Anonymous

2/04/26 @ 3:09 PM

Dear Department of Ecology,
 I am writing to express my concerns about the proposed FRE dam on the upper Chehalis River. Based on the DEIS, the project would cause significant and unavoidable harm to salmon and steelhead, including major losses of Sp...↓ring Chinook, Coho, Fall Chinook, and Steelhead populations that are already extremely vulnerable and struggling to rebound. Among many other things, one of my personal priorities is that harm to salmon equates to harm and the eventual demise of the beloved and already critically endangered SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES.

This stretch of the river is one of the Basin's key spawning areas, and once damaged, these habitats (supporting a huge portion of the food source of the whales) cannot be replaced in an acceptable timeframe. And based on the DEIS, despite efforts to allow fish passage, there will still be unavoidable losses and changes to their environment that will lead to significantly reduced numbers.

 I am also concerned about the scale and cost of the proposed structure, as well as the unresolved safety and geotechnical risks identified in the DEIS. At an estimated $1.3–$2.3 billion, the dam would offer limited benefits while putting the river's ecological health and the communities that rely on it at long-term risk. Additionally, dams have or are coming down all over the country (to include in WA) to improve river health and water quality in the face of rising costs and diminishing returns on keeping the dams operational. Why would we follow this trajectory that has such a significant risk of following that same path to wastefulness of time, energy, money, resources, and nature?

 More effective, cheaper, less damaging flood‑reduction approaches already exist, including the Local Actions Non‑Dam Alternative (eg, repairing riparian zones which needs to occur anyways, reconnecting side channels and flood plains, etc). Perhaps even adjusting the airport levee in addition to the other changes would be of benefit. Raising the I-5 seems like a cheaper and less destructive alternative for the commuting situation?

It appears to me that the Chehalis is the last major free‑flowing river in southwest Washington and that the risks of this proposal outweigh potential benefits. I urge Ecology to use those resources to pursue these solutions (emphasis on the plural) instead of this one proposed solution - a dam. Thank you for considering my comments.

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Comment From: Jeannine Bucher

2/04/26 @ 3:08 PM

My understanding of this proposal to insert a dam on the Cehalis is that the states environmental review concludes that it would harm the river and Salmon. Chinook Salmon are a large part of the endangered Southern Resident killer Orcas diet. Surely ...↓

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Comment From: Carla Carroll

2/04/26 @ 3:00 PM

Dear Department of Ecology,

I have concerns about the proposed FRE dam on the upper Chehalis River. I have read that the DEIS found that the project would cause significant and unavoidable harm to salmon and steelhead, This stretch of the river is o...↓

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Comment From: Kurt Reidinger

2/04/26 @ 2:45 PM

My comments on the draft EIS are contained in an uploaded file (ChehalisBasinFDRPDraftEISComments-04Feb2026.pdf)

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Comment From: Stella Haberman

2/04/26 @ 2:38 PM

The proposed Chehalis River Dam threatens the recovery of critically endangered Southern Resident killer whales and salmon populations, further jeopardizing their survival. These iconic species rely on healthy river ecosystems and abundant salmon run...↓

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Comment From: Tom Clingman

2/04/26 @ 2:30 PM

My comments relate to the role of the proposed levee improvement project in the document and in the subsequent decision-making that the document is intended to support.

The proposed levee improvements should not be treated as necessarily linked to t...↓he proposed dam. The two projects analyzed in the document are wildly divergent in likely impacts. The "probable significant adverse impacts" descriptions are dominated by discussion of the dam; in contrast, improvements to the levee have a very minor role in the discussion of likely impacts.

Because of this, it is vital that the document support consideration of the levee project as a stand-alone measure to reduce flood damage. One is a rather modest, practical and affordable project to reduce flood damage in a built-up area. The other is a highly problematic idea of radically impacting habitat in an important habitat area with virtually no existing development.

The document identifies that the levee improvements would have a minor impact in slightly increasing flood elevations in a localized area, by reducing the effective floodplain area. Impact to structures can readily be mitigated through elevation and other floodproofing. The document appears to highlight the dam as a means to mitigate the localized impact of the levee improvements. It is vital that the document clearly identify these much more cost effective and likely means to mitigate the localized impacts of the levee work. To fail to do this would be an immense disservice to the subsequent discussions and decisions that the EIS will support.

A specific comment on water quality: I did not see identification of the water quality benefits of reducing flooding in the urbanized area protected by the proposed levee improvements. Flooding urban areas carries multiple contaminants into downstream flood waters from current and legacy urban land uses. These include contaminants with documented impact on salmon (such as those coming from tires) and persistent contaminants from current and legacy land use. The levee improvements would reduce the contamination that is an inevitable result of flooding urbanized areas. This should be included in the document. (I apologize if this is already included in this very extensive set of documents.)

Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

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Comment From: Mary Cheston

2/04/26 @ 2:23 PM

After decades of fighting for dam removals for Orca's, salmon, etc. sustainability, can we NOT introduce yet another dam?!!!
Please do the right thing for these creatures.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

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Comment From: Kristen Meston

2/04/26 @ 2:18 PM

I oppose the building of this dam on the Chehalis River. As we attempt to restore salmon populations to save our ever-dwindling population of orcas, this dam does the opposite. There are other options for protecting communities from flooding and thos...↓

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Comment From: Clark Chapin

2/04/26 @ 1:06 PM

To the Department of Ecology;

The Chehalis River Basin Flood Damage Reduction Project threatens to abrogate one of the very last free-flowing salmon-spawning rivers in Washington. The idea that the state would just throw this environmental gem away ...↓

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Comment From: Brendan Walker

2/04/26 @ 1:00 PM

I am writing to provide comments on the Department of Ecology's Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). I do not support a plan to construct a large dam on the upper Chehalis River. The footprint created by the temporary reservoir will significa...↓ntly impair spawning habitat spawning, and will reduce survival of salmon and steelhead migrating out of and into the upper Chehalis basin. The site of the proposed dam is located directly in an area with one of the highest spawning densities for wild steelhead, Coho and Chinook salmon. This area has been identified as some of the best rearing habitat for juvenile salmon and steelhead in the upper Chehalis basin. 93% and 87% of Spring Chinook and Fall Chinook redds, respectively, are located within the proposed temporary reservoir; 32% of coho redds are located within the reservoir footprint. 15% of the steelhead produced in the basin come from the upper Chehalis River, at or above the proposed dam site, yet it represents only 4% of the total habitat
Steelhead in this upper river section are genetically distinct from steelhead in lower river areas. This section is critical for steelhead production and protection of life history diversity; and will become even more important in the face of climate change, as adult and juvenile fish seek cold water refuge at higher elevations in the basin. As stated in the DEIS, the proposed dam would cause irreparable impacts on all Viable Salmonid Population (VSP) parameters for steelhead and salmon-abundance, productivity, spatial structure, and diversity.
This revised proposed dam- is 45% wider than the original proposed dam, increasing from a width of 1550 to 2250 feet at the crest-and temporary reservoir would back up and submerge 824 acres and almost six miles of the river corridor above the proposed dam site. It would store water during major flood events and release the water over a period of about a month, with a stated goal to not stop floods, but merely reduce their impact in the many downstream communities, including Chehalis and Centralia along the flood-prone Interstate-5 corridor. Modeling indicates that water temperatures in the Chehalis River within the reservoir footprint and immediately downstream are expected to increase by up to 2° C. These elevated water temperatures increase stress on juvenile and adult salmonids on an already temperature stressed system.
I recognize the need for a solution to flooding issues but support a collaborative process that reduces local flood impacts throughout the basin, restores habitat, and supports long-term resiliency of both fisheries and people.

Sincerely,

Brendan P. Walker

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Comment From: KERA ZEGAR

2/04/26 @ 12:16 PM

Flooding in the Chehalis Basin is a serious challenge and one that is worsening with climate change. But the proposed mega‑dam is the wrong solution. The DEIS makes clear that this project would come with enormous costs, serious risks, and irreversib...↓

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Comment From: Marjie Taylor

2/04/26 @ 12:16 PM

Please do not put a damn in the Chehalis River. The Stare of WA is already stating this will harm salmon runs and not help with the flooding. We must make sure the salmon are protected for our Southern Residents Orcas . There are better alternati...↓

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Comment From: Kathy Schmitt

2/04/26 @ 12:06 PM

No more dams! We are in an era of dam removal precisely because their harms have been realized. Don't go backward! Please consider that precious salmon habitat will be repeatedly drowned in stagnant flood water, while downriver salmon eggs will be sc...↓

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Comment From: Virginia Larson

2/04/26 @ 11:44 AM

We have finally realized our past errors in damming our rivers and restricting the salmon runs. I have celebrated the removal of dams in Washington State and despair that once again it is being considered to build a new dam against all research agai...↓

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Comment From: Velvet Andrews Smith

2/04/26 @ 11:33 AM

Salmon are a critical keystone and foundation species. They act as vital nutrient transporters and food sources that connect ocean and freshwater ecosystems. The salmon (and other species that rely upon them for survival, including the Southern Resid...↓

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Comment From: Heather Allen

2/04/26 @ 11:31 AM

Please don't dam the Chehalis River. It would damage the salmon migration,and create more environmental problems. Thank you, Heather Allen

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Comment From: Laura Hartman

2/04/26 @ 11:31 AM

The priority has to be salmon health. Salmon require flood plains which do not warrant fixing by mega-dams, that we will regret instantly in this era of dam removal! Other methods to encourage groundwater replenishment with expanded beaver induced we...↓

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Comment From: Deb Woodland Gardens (Deborah Woodland)

2/04/26 @ 11:15 AM

Hello. I am writing to oppose the proposed Chehalis River Basin Flood damage reduction project. The Puget Sound's healthy environment Is what makes life meaningful in Washington. The sound impacts everyone's lives on many levels. Some of the adverse ...↓

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Comment From: Alexia Bailey

2/04/26 @ 11:13 AM

I am writing to formally oppose the proposed dam on the Chehalis River. I am deeply concerned about its long-term ecological, cultural, and community impacts—particularly the threat it poses to wild salmon and the endangered Southern Resident killer ...↓whales that depend on them for survival.

The Southern Resident orca population remains perilously small, hovering in the low 70s. Recent years have underscored how fragile this population is, with the loss of calves and breeding adults highlighting the ongoing struggle for survival. The primary limiting factor is well documented: insufficient access to Chinook salmon. Any action that further constrains salmon abundance directly undermines recovery efforts for these federally protected whales.

The Chehalis River is an important stronghold for wild salmon, including Chinook. Flooding more than 800 acres of river valley and permanently altering over six miles of river would eliminate spawning and rearing habitat that salmon need at critical stages of their life cycle. These losses are not easily mitigated or replaced, and they would reverberate throughout the food web—from aquatic species to top apex predators like the Southern Residents.

Because Southern Resident killer whales are protected under the Endangered Species Act, actions that degrade their primary food source raise serious legal and ethical concerns. A project that knowingly increases pressure on Chinook salmon populations risks placing the region further out of compliance with federal recovery obligations.

Beyond environmental harm, the proposed dam carries significant human costs. It would displace residents and businesses, disrupt communities, and potentially impose economic hardship—while offering uncertain flood protection benefits. Previous analyses have already identified substantial adverse effects, including harm to salmon, steelhead, lamprey, amphibians, water quality, wetlands, and increased greenhouse gas emissions. These impacts should not be minimized or revisited lightly.

The Chehalis River Basin is also inseparable from the cultural, spiritual, and subsistence practices of Tribal Nations, including the Quinault Indian Nation. Inundating tribal lands and diminishing salmon runs would directly threaten treaty-reserved rights, food security, and cultural continuity. Damage or loss of culturally significant sites would be irreversible.

Additionally, altering the river's natural character would reduce recreational opportunities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing—activities that support local quality of life and regional economies.

And there are alternatives. Floodplain restoration, smarter land-use planning, levee improvements, drainage upgrades, voluntary buyouts, and home elevation projects offer paths to flood risk reduction without sacrificing a living river or further endangering imperiled species. These approaches deserve serious investment and prioritization over large-scale structural interventions that cause lasting harm.

For the sake of salmon recovery, Southern Resident orcas, Tribal sovereignty, and future generations who depend on healthy rivers, I urge decision-makers to reject the proposed Chehalis River dam and pursue more sustainable, community-centered flood management solutions.

Thank you for considering my comment.

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Comment From: Andrea Stewart

2/04/26 @ 11:11 AM

I am strongly opposed to the proposed project on the Chehalis River. Please heed the guidance from the Department of Ecology and pursue other flood solutions that are environmentally sound.

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Comment From: Katherine Holt

2/04/26 @ 11:06 AM

Dear Department of Ecology,

I am writing to express I am strongly against the proposed FRE dam on the upper Chehalis River. Based on the DEIS, the project would cause significant and unavoidable harm to salmon and steelhead, including major losses ...↓

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Comment From: Charlene Kahn

2/04/26 @ 11:01 AM

See uploaded letter. Thank you.

Attachments:

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Comment From: Christopher Gagnon

2/04/26 @ 10:56 AM

doI not support a plan to construct a large dam on the upper Chehalis River
The footprint created by the temporary reservoir will significantly impair spawning habitat spawning and will reduce survival of salmon and steelhead migrating out of and int...↓o the upper Chehalis basin
The site of the proposed dam is located directly in an area with one of the highest spawning densities for wild steelheed, coho, and Chinook. It has also been identified as some of the best rearing habitat for juvenile salmon and steelhead in the basin. 93% and 87% of Spring Chinook and Fall Chinook redds, respectively, are located withing the proposed temporary reservoir; 32% of coho redds are located within the reservoir footprint
15% of the steelhead produced in the basin come from the upper Chehalis River, at or above the proposed dam site, yet it represents only 4% of the total habitat
Steelhead in this upper river section are genetically distinct from steelhead in lower river areas. This section already is critical for steelhead production and protection of life history diversity; and will become even more important in the face of climate change, as adult and juvenile fish seek cold water refugia at higher elevations in the basin
As stated in the DEIS, the proposed dam would cause irreparable impacts on all Viable Salmonid Population (VSP) parameters for steelhead and salmon-abundance, productivity, spatial structure, and diversity
This revised proposed dam- is 45% wider than the original proposed dam, increasing from a width of 1550 to 2250 feet at the crest-and temporary reservoir would back up and submerge 824 acres and almost six miles of the river corridor above the proposed dam site. It would store water during major flood events and release the water over a period of about a month, with a stated goal to not stop floods, but merely reduce their impact in the many downstream communities, including Chehalis and Centralia along the flood-prone Interstate-5 corridor
Modeling indicates that water temperatures in the Chehalis River within the reservoir footprint and immediately downstream are expected to increase by up to 2° C. These elevated water temperatures increase stress on juvenile and adult salmonids on an already temperature stressed system
I recognize the need for a solution to flooding issues but support a collaborative process that reduces local flood impacts throughout the basin, restores habitat, and supports long-term resiliency of both fisheries and people

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Comment From: Susan Vennerholm

2/04/26 @ 10:53 AM

Please do not build the Chehalis River dam.

The Chehalis River is vital habitat for wild Chinook salmon, which are the primary limiting factor for the health and survival of the Endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW): https://www.fisheri...↓

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Comment From: Salish Sea Broadband, Great Ol... (Debra Ellers)

2/04/26 @ 10:48 AM

The Great Old Broads for Wilderness is a U.S.-wide 501c3 conservation organization, with a mission to protect wildlands and wildlife for future generations. I am writing on behalf of the over 100 concerned residents around the Olympic Peninsula who ...↓

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Comment From: Lora Storke

2/04/26 @ 10:46 AM

The Chehalis is an important waterway for the salmon as one of the last free flowing large waterways. It provides floodplains, wetlands, side channels and cold clean water, all essential for wild chinook salmon, which are in turn, essential for our e...↓

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Comment From: Bonnie Betts

2/04/26 @ 10:37 AM

I oppose the building of the Chehalis dam. This will further impact our endangered resident orca whales by restricting access to Chinook salmon, and is not beneficial to protect the people.

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Comment From: RICHARD Boyer

2/04/26 @ 10:37 AM

In the study, it indicated that if levee projects are implemented without the flood control dam, flooding downriver could increase by 2 feet. For those of us in Grays Harbor County, that would be catastophic. This would have a devastating impact whi...↓

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Comment From: Thorly James

2/04/26 @ 10:30 AM

The Chehalis is a Chinook stronghold and one of Washington's last free-flowing salmon rivers. We are all connected. Please think long term of our, and Southern Resident Orcas' grandchildren's grandchildren . Do not destroy critical Chinook habitat fo...↓

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Comment From: Wild Salmon Center (Jessica Helsley)

2/04/26 @ 10:17 AM

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Comment From: Anonymous Anonymous

2/04/26 @ 10:15 AM

Please support the health and sustainability of the salmon and orcas. We need them for our own survival. We cannot continue choosing profit over the planet.

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