By Steven Schauer, Deputy Executive Director
This 2025 Year-End Review is being published in January 2026 following an extraordinary and historic flood event that impacted King County and much of the surrounding region in December. That flooding, lasting from December 8 through Christmas Day, required sustained emergency response, field monitoring, and infrastructure protection efforts, and understandably delayed the release of this annual reflection.
The King County Flood Control District’s (KCFCD) Vision is: Building a future to withstand flood risks where thriving King County communities and healthy ecosystems coexist in harmony with area rivers.
Our Mission is: Implementing flood risk reduction policies and projects to protect life and property while advancing various benefits including equity and social justice, sustainable livelihoods, habitat protection, salmon recovery, recreation, and resilient communities.
Both our Vision and Mission were put to the test in real time during this unprecedented flood event. As we look back on the accomplishments of 2025, we do so with a clear understanding that flood risk reduction is not theoretical. It is immediate, dynamic, and essential to the safety and resilience of our region. The work accomplished in 2025, and in years past, helped communities withstand the momentous December flood event, and it continues to guide the KCFCD efforts as recovery moves forward.
Leadership Reflections Following Historic Flooding
King County Flood Control District Chair Reagan Dunn reflected on the scale of the December flooding and the collective response across the county:
“King County experienced an extraordinary flood event from December 8 through Christmas Day. Despite the severity and duration of the storm, we are deeply grateful that there was no loss of life in King County. The King County Flood Control District recognizes and thanks the first responders, field crews, engineers, and public works teams from King County, local jurisdictions, and federal partners who worked tirelessly, often in dangerous conditions, to monitor infrastructure and implement emergency measures during the flood.”
Chair Dunn emphasized the KCFCD’s role during and after the event:
“While the Flood Control District is not responsible for emergency response, we actively provided emergency funding to support urgent levee and revetment repairs during the event. As we collectively move into the recovery phase, the King County Flood Control District will remain deeply engaged in the weeks, months, and years ahead. This includes supporting immediate and short-term repairs to levees and revetments, evaluating the performance of flood mitigation facilities, and prioritizing long-term capital investments to further strengthen flood risk reduction throughout King County.”
Preparedness and the Months Ahead
Flooding remains the most common natural hazard in King County, and it can happen at any time during the year. The threat of flooding and any potential impacts and risks can never be fully eliminated, but it can be reduced by being proactive. For example, property owners and renters are encouraged to know about their flood risk and get flood insurance.
Vice Chair Sarah Perry underscored the importance of the KCFCD’s work as the 2025-26 flood season, which runs from October through April, continues:
“The infrastructure and habitat investments the Flood Control District has made in our rivers, streams, and other waterways in King County since its creation were vital during the historic flood event this past December, and they will continue to be vital in minimizing the impacts of flooding throughout this flood season and decades into the future.”
She also highlighted the KCFCD’s outreach efforts:
“The King County Flood Control District will continue its community outreach, encouraging residents to visit our Flood Resources page at kingcountyfloodcontrol.org/be-flood-ready to learn more about their flood risk and create emergency kits and evacuation routes. Everyone has a role to play in flood preparedness. Knowing your local flood risk, signing up for flood alerts, and preparing for evacuation when necessary are simple but critical steps that can help you protect yourself, your family, your home, and your community.”
Welcoming New Board Leadership in 2025
Several leadership transitions occurred during 2025. In January, long-time District 5 Supervisor Dave Upthegrove became Washington State Public Lands Commissioner and was succeeded by De’Sean Quinn, who served the remainder of the term. In November, voters elected Steffanie Fain to represent District 5. District 2 Supervisor Girmay Zahilay was elected King County Executive and was replaced on the Board by Rhonda Lewis.
Supervisor Lewis’s appointment marked two historic milestones for the KCFCD: she is the first Black woman to serve on the Board, and her appointment established the first majority-female Board in the KCFCD’s history.
The KCFCD extends its appreciation to all outgoing and incoming Supervisors for their leadership during a demanding and consequential year.
A Strong Financial Year and Forward Planning
In May, the KCFCD received two clean audits from the Washington State Auditor’s Office, affirming strong fiscal stewardship and accountability.
In November, the Board adopted the 2026 budget totaling $114.1 million, balancing near-term flood risk reduction needs with long-term planning while maintaining the same levy rate as 2025. Additional details about the 2026 budget will be shared in a forthcoming blog as the budget is likely to be amended in the weeks ahead to account for adjustments related to the historic flooding.
Projects Completed and Emergency Response
The KCFCD implements most of its flood risk reduction projects and programs through an interlocal agreement (ILA) with King County. In addition, the KCFCD also partners by ILA with local jurisdictions for flood protection projects and programs. Cities like Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, Renton, Black Diamond, North Bend, Snoqualmie, and many others can efficiently implement localized projects within their city limits. While King County does much of the work as a service provider to the KCFCD, this collaboration with all 40 jurisdictions throughout King County provides an effective method of implementing flood risk reduction projects across the county.
In 2025, the KCFCD completed three planned capital projects, totaling more than $3.7 million:
- Momb Revetment 2020 Repair (Issaquah Creek)
- North Fork Snoqualmie River Confluence Revetment Removal (North Fork Snoqualmie River)
- Belmondo Levee 2020 Repair (Cedar River)
We also used our blog this year to highlight over $80 million of projects that were completed prior to 2025. This list includes:
- Sammamish River Bank Repair (Sammamish River)
- Lower Russell Levee Setback (Green River)
- Record Office Revetment Repair (Snoqualmie River)
- SR 169 Flood Risk Reduction (Cedar River)
- Factoria Boulevard Stormwater Conveyance Improvements (near Richards Creek)
- Rainbow Bend Levee Removal and Floodplain Reconnection (Cedar River)
- Galli’s-Dykstra Feasibility and Repair (Green River)
- Irwin Right Bank Revetment 2020 Repair (Issaquah Creek)
Multiple emergency repairs were completed in 2025 prior to the December flooding. This included levee repairs on the Sammamish and Green rivers and the removal of unauthorized fishing platforms that posed risks to levee integrity.
As in prior years, the KCFCD supported the installation of HESCO flood protection barriers at Pacific Park and along the Duwamish River at the beginning of the flood season to help protect the City of Pacific and the South Park community.
During the historic December flood, the KCFCD provided emergency funding to support rapid response and repair efforts. River patrols, engineers, and field crews from King County, local jurisdictions, and federal partners identified and implemented emergency measures along the Cedar, Green, and White rivers, including on the Desimone Levee and the HESCO barriers at Pacific Park. Their work was critical in protecting life, property, and infrastructure during this unprecedented event, and should be commended. The KCFCD will continue to play a role in implementing short- and long-term repairs to flood risk reduction infrastructure damaged during the recent monumental flooding.
Scientific Investments and Nationally Recognized Expertise
In 2025, key studies were completed to guide future investments, including levee breach mapping for the Raging and Tolt rivers, the first-ever Channel Migration Zone map for the lower Snoqualmie River, and updated floodplain maps for Little Soos, Jenkins, and Covington creeks.
In May, KCFCD and King County staff jointly hosted a peer agency from Portland to demonstrate integrated flood risk reduction and habitat restoration projects. KCFCD staff also shared expertise nationally through a flood warning systems webinar in October hosted by the National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies.
Flood Event Reports
River conditions are tracked in King County using a Flood Phase rating system ranging from Flood Phase 0 to Flood Phase 4. The KCFCD prepares Flood Event Reports following flood events that meet or exceed Flood Phase 2.
Earlier in 2025, Flood Phase 2 events occurred in February, March, April, and November.
The KCFCD will soon publish a Flood Event Report documenting the historic December 2025 flooding. The report will provide a timeline of the flood event, which reached Flood Phase 4 in nearly every river basin in King County.
Be Flood Ready Outreach and Community Investment
Following devastating floods elsewhere in the country earlier in the year, including the tragic July 4 flooding in Texas, the Board unanimously directed staff to expand flood preparedness outreach. In October, at the beginning of the 2025-2026 flood season, the KCFCD:
- Expanded the Be Flood Ready brochure from 4 to 8 pages
- Translated the brochure into 23 languages
- Produced the KCFCD’s first Be Flood Ready video
- Increased outreach to Duwamish River communities vulnerable to King Tides
Community Investments Through KCFCD Grants
The KCFCD distributed over $35.6 million through multiple grant programs in 2025:
- Subregional Opportunity Fund – $8.6 million
- Steve Bleifuhs Memorial Flood Reduction Grants – $14.8 million
- Cooperative Watershed Management (CWM) Grants – $12.2 million
These investments supported dozens of flood risk reduction, habitat restoration, salmon recovery, and water quality projects countywide.
This year also marked 25 years of watershed-based salmon recovery for the Water Resource Inventory Areas (WRIAs). For over 12 years, the KCFCD has allocated a portion of its capital budget through the CWM Grant Program to fund salmon habitat protection and restoration and watershed health priorities, providing significant annual funding to the WRIAs in King County. The KCFCD’s long-term investments in the WRIAs now total:
- $17.2 million for WRIA 7
- $40 million for WRIA 8
- $36 million for WRIA 9
- Nearly $5 million for WRIA 10
Gratitude for Unsung Heroes
King County Flood Control District Executive Director Michelle Clark reflected on both the accomplishments of 2025 and the extraordinary efforts displayed during the December flooding:
“I am incredibly proud to be surrounded by and working with such selfless public servant colleagues. I want to thank the Flood Control District’s staff and service providers, including King County, for both the accomplishments achieved in 2025 and for the dedication and professionalism they demonstrated during the recent historic flooding event. They are truly unsung heroes, working tirelessly to help protect life, property, and critical infrastructure during unprecedented conditions.”
Looking Ahead
While this year-end review marks the close of 2025, the work of flood risk reduction continues every day. Flood season remains underway through April, and residents are encouraged to stay informed by visiting the KCFCD’s Be Flood Ready page and following the KCFCD for ongoing updates on Facebook, X, and Bluesky, and our newly launched Instagram account.
The KCFCD looks ahead to 2026 with a continued commitment to protecting communities, restoring ecosystems, and building a future that can withstand the increasing challenges posed by flooding.