By Steven Schauer, Deputy Executive Director

The 2025–2026 flood season will be remembered as one of the most significant in recent history for King County. In response, the King County Flood Control District (KCFCD), local jurisdictions, and partner agencies have been working diligently to repair damaged flood risk reduction facilities and improve community resilience ahead of the next flood season, which will begin on October 1.

As part of these efforts, members of the Advisory Committee were invited to participate in a series of project tours this summer to see firsthand the impacts of the flooding and the work underway to address them. Tour locations included the Mason Thorson Ells Levee 2025 Damage Repair Project on the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River on July 20 and the Roegner Park HESCO Barrier 2025 Emergency Construction Project on the White River on July 30. These site visits provided valuable opportunities for committee members to better understand local flood risks, project needs, and the importance of continued investment in flood risk reduction across King County.

Two additional projects were scheduled to be toured on August 6 (Tabor-Crowall-Brodell Revetments 2020 Repair Project on the Cedar River and the Fort Dent Levee 2020 Repair Project on the Green River); however, those tours were cancelled due to poor, potentially dangerous, air quality resulting from numerous wildfires in Washington, Oregon, and Canada. The site visits have yet to be rescheduled by the release of today’s blog.

In today’s blog, we’re explaining the vital roles of the Advisory Committee and the Joint Basin Technical Committee. These committees are essential in helping to shape effective flood protection strategies for our region.

The Advisory Committee: Expert Policy Advice in Action

Established by the King County Council in April 2007 through Ordinance 15728, the Advisory Committee is a cornerstone of our flood risk reduction efforts. This committee is tasked with providing expert policy advice to the KCFCD’s Board of Supervisors, ensuring that our capital projects and programs are implemented efficiently and effectively.

Composition and Membership

The Advisory Committee consists of 15 members, including elected officials from various jurisdictions within King County. Here’s a breakdown of its structure:

• Permanent Seats: Held by the mayors or council member alternates from the cities of Auburn, Bellevue, Carnation, Kent, North Bend, Renton, Seattle, Snoqualmie, Tukwila, and the King County Executive.
• Two-Year Seats: Four seats are held by mayors or city council members nominated by the Suburban Cities Association, ensuring geographic diversity and representation of different city sizes. One seat is held by a representative from the Unincorporated Area Councils, alternating between urban and rural areas.

This diverse representation ensures that the committee can provide balanced and comprehensive recommendations on flood risk reduction needs and priorities across King County.

Key Responsibilities

The Advisory Committee’s primary role is to review and recommend the annual work program and budget for the KCFCD. This includes evaluating capital improvement projects and funding levels. These recommendations must be submitted to the King County Council by August 31 each year.

The Advisory Committee typically meets three to five times per year, with additional meetings as needed. These virtual meetings are open to the public, ensuring transparency and community involvement. Log-in information is available on the meeting agendas, which are available, along with supporting materials and meeting summaries, on the Advisory Committee page.

The Joint Basin Technical Committee: Integrating Technical Expertise

Complementing the Advisory Committee is the Joint Basin Technical Committee. This committee is made up of city staff from jurisdictions within the county. The Joint Basin Technical Committee ensures that basin-scale issues and technical information are factored into the decision-making process. By bringing together technical experts from various jurisdictions, this committee helps to identify and address specific flood risk reduction challenges unique to each community.

Collaborative Decision-Making

The Advisory Committee and Joint Basin Technical Committee are crucial components of the KCFCD’s efforts to help protect lives, property, and communities from flooding. Using their combined expertise, these committees help inform flood risk reduction strategies that are effective, efficient, and equitable across King County.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the dedicated members of both committees for the time, expertise, and leadership they contribute throughout the year. The engagement of elected officials, local government staff, engineers, planners, floodplain management professionals, and citizens from communities across the county is an essential aspect to implementing flood risk reduction projects and programs.

Flood risk reduction is inherently complex, requiring technical expertise, local knowledge, regional coordination, and thoughtful public investment. By bringing together diverse perspectives and experiences, these committees help develop solutions that reflect the needs of communities throughout King County and produce stronger, more resilient outcomes for everyone.

Together, we can continue building a safer and more resilient future for all.