Summary

The King County Flood Control District (FCD) on Tuesday approved $370,000 in grant funding to support a South Fork Jenkins Creek Driveway Culvert Replacement project.

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The King County Flood Control District (FCD) on Tuesday approved $370,000 in grant funding to support a South Fork Jenkins Creek Driveway Culvert Replacement project. These funds were a part of a $14 million Flood Reduction Grants package in 2022 that the FCD awarded across 49 projects. 

“I am excited to see major funding go to Maple Valley’s Jenkins Creek Culvert Replacement project that will not only reduce risk of flooding, but increase salmon passage in Jenkins Creek,” said Flood Control District Vice Chair Reagan Dunn. “This grant will help restore the natural flow of the creek and is a major win for our community and the environment.” 

The City of Maple Valley’s South Fork Jenkins Creek Driveway Culvert Replacement project will replace three existing driveway culverts with fish passable culverts or bridges that are sized to convey 100-year flows and prevent upstream flooding. The current culverts are undersized, corrugated metal pipes that are experiencing significant corrosion leading to sink holes and upstream flooding. The grant will help fund design, permitting, and construction of the project.

“Over the past 5 years, the city has delivered significant habitat improvements in Jenkins Creek, including two new fish passage culverts and the planned daylighting of over 100 feet of stream channel,” said Maple Valley Mayor Sean Kelly. “We intend to continue this important work and are thankful for the partnership with King County Flood Control District.” 

Now in its eighth year, the Flood Reduction Grant program funds smaller non-six-year Capital Improvement Plan projects supporting local communities including cities, homeowner associations, school districts, businesses, and non-profits. The program provides grant funding for projects with flood reduction benefits, including but not limited to, surface water overflows, near shore flooding, lake flooding due to outflow blockage, or the clearance of clogged agricultural drainage systems. In March of 2020, Flood Reduction Grants expanded to include three new grants categories providing funding for projects addressing the countywide flooding issues of urban streams, coastal erosion/coastal flooding, and culvert replacement/fish passage restoration.

The King County Flood Control District is a special purpose district that provides funding and policy oversight for flood risk reduction capital projects and programs in King County. For more information on Flood Reduction Grant opportunities, contact Supervisor Reagan Dunn at reagan.dunn@kingcounty.gov.