Audits and River Function

I haven't posted in a couple of weeks. Here are a few highlights:

Audits

The 3-year audit by the State Auditors office happened this summer. The audit report has been posted at http://www.sao.wa.gov/auditreports/auditreportfiles/ar1002251.pdf. In addition to that audit, we were also subject to a "single federal audit". This audit is triggered when we spend more than $500,000 in federal funds in a calendar year. The report for that audit is posted at http://www.sao.wa.gov/auditreports/auditreportfiles/ar1002252.pdf. We are pleased to have this process complete for the year!

River Function

We are looking into a concept called "flood fencing" to address the impacts of high flow events. This concept has been pioneered by Snohomish County. A few of us made a quick visit to sites on the Skykomish River near Sultan and Goldbar and learned more about the projects from Bob Aldrich (Snohomish County Public Works- Surface Water Division). Last week Bob visited our area, giving a presentation to interested folks and then visiting a site on the Yakima River. Flood fencing can help to protect farmland from debris during a flood. It can also be used more aggressively to help direct flows to protect land, infrastructure and riparian habitat.

Rob Acheson talks (left) with Bob Aldrich (center) and Ryan Roberts (right) about a side channel of the Yakima that borders his property.