Orting and Wilkeson receive grants for flooding
MIKE ARCHBOLD; The News Tribune
Two small Pierce County communities have received state grants for flood control projects.
The Department of Ecology announced Monday that Orting will receive $50,000 to prevent backflows into the city from the Puyallup River. Wilkeson will get $150,000 to protect sewer and water lines along Wilkeson Creek.
The two grants were among 12 approved by the Department of Ecology’s Flood Control Assistance Account Program. The Legislature had allocated $1.35 million for flood protection projects statewide.
Thirty-eight communities submitted applications for 41 projects worth $18 million.
Orting will use its money to install a new 42-inch outflow into the Puyallup River with a backflow gate to stop water from flowing back into the city during a flood. Orting hopes to complete the project before the end of the year.
In Wilkeson, flooding last January exposed water and sewer pipes along Wilkeson Creek and damaged homes.
The money will be used to reinforce the creek bank and armor it with rock. The city had asked for about $300,000 but will do as much as it can with the money received, a city spokeswoman said.
The projects were awarded on a basis of inability to pay for them and projects that were ready to go.
