Press Releases

Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) sent the following letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after receiving reports that work on the Skagit River General Investigation Study (Skagit GI) had been ordered to stop.

“People in my district are counting on this study to be completed so we can begin constructing the critical flood control projects that will help them protect their homes, farms and businesses from floods.  To abruptly halt forward progress on the Skagit G.I. without exhausting every option available is irresponsible to the mission of protecting lives and property,” said Rep. Larsen.

Dear General:

I have serious concern about reports that work on the Skagit River General Investigation Study (Skagit G.I.) has been stopped.  To abruptly halt forward progress on the Skagit G.I. without exhausting every option available is irresponsible to the mission of protecting lives and property.

The Skagit G.I. has taken over thirteen years and has endured numerous scheduled completion date revisions to get to the point where it is today.  The Skagit community cannot afford another delay.  For more than a decade the people of the Skagit Valley have looked to the Corps to provide the basis on which they can begin completing flood control projects that will increase safety for those living on the banks of the Skagit River. 

The Corps itself has recognized how important this GI study is, the Skagit G.I. has simply taken too long.  Through the Reset Initiative the Corps gave the Skagit G.I. a needed higher priority level to urge along its completion in a fiscally responsible manner. Skagit County, the local sponsor of the investigation, has invested their own money and pledged to work with the Corps toward timely completion.

It would be a disservice to the residents of the Skagit Valley to let the Skagit G.I. deviate from its schedule one more time.  Less than $4 million remains to complete the investigation.  Stopping the Skagit G.I. will waste the $6.263 million of federal funds already invested, not including the local community sponsor’s match.

With every new flood comes a threat to the community’s of Skagit County.  The sense of urgency behind the Skagit G.I. has never diminished and the County’s intention to complete the study was reiterated in a letter signed in January of this year.  It is time to complete the Skagit G.I. 

On behalf of the residents of Skagit County, I demand that every program is evaluated to find savings in order to fund and complete the Skagit G.I. 

Sincerely,

Rick Larsen