Contacts: Nola Leyde, Corps of Engineers (206) 764-6896

               Doug Williams, King County (206) 296-8304

SEATTLE -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and King County will conduct repair work over the next few weeks on two Snoqualmie River levees in the vicinity of North Bend, Wash., damaged in the November 2006 flood event. Contractors will begin mobilizing equipment to the area by the end of the week.

The Mason Thorson Extension levee project is located on the left bank of the Snoqualmie River near SE 108th Street. The Mason Thorson Ells levee project is also located on the left bank of the Snoqualmie River near SE 114th Street. Both of these levee projects protect residential property. Construction activities will consist of re-sloping and re-armoring damaged sections of the levee. Structurally acceptable species of native riparian vegetation will be planted within the repair area.

Public Law 84-99 enables the Corps to assist state and local authorities in flood fight activities and cost share in the repair of flood protection structures. Local funding for this project was provided by the King County Flood Control Zone District.

The Mason Thorson Extension and Mason Thorson Ells levees are two of more than 50 levees damaged in the region during the 2006 flood event throughout the region. Levee repairs began last year in five western Washington counties including King, Pierce, Whatcom, Snohomish and Skagit. Repairs in these areas will continue through this year and into 2009.

The public also needs to be aware, for their safety, that there will be increased truck traffic within North Bend, particularly in the area of Pickett Avenue NE through Aug. 15.