Media Release (PDF >)
Redmond Mayor John Marchione and Cascade’s Intergovernmental and Communications Director Elaine Kraft visited Washington DC and met with staffs of Congressman Dicks, Inslee, Reichert and Smith and Senators Murray and Cantwell, as well as key agency staff.
The meetings provided an opportunity to update the delegation on Cascade’s progress since Bellevue Mayor Degginger and Marchione visited in January. Since that time agreements have been signed with the Lake Tapps Homeowners and conceptual agreements are in place with the cities of Auburn, Bonney Lake, Buckley and Sumner regarding water.
In the meetings Marchione and Kraft emphasized Cascade’s priority federal requests:
• Authorization and funding for a general investigative study for the multipurpose use of Mud Mountain Dam to store water for use later in the season for flood protection, in stream flows, recreation and water supply
• To advance design and construction of Mud Mountain Fish Passage Barrier Dam and
• A commitment to Gauging and Ongoing Monitoring Support on the White River.
In addition, visits were made to the US Geological Survey and the US Army Corps of Engineers to explain to them what Cascade would be asking of Congress. Both agencies indicated their support and urged Cascade to also meet with its local representatives. Follow-up meetings will be scheduled with local offices of the Congressional delegation as well as the agencies’ local staff.
Further meetings are scheduled for later in the year when Mayor Degginger visits the delegation in DC.