Residents are invited to learn more about King County’s procedures for managing naturally occurring wood in rivers as part of its river and floodplain management program at an Oct. 9 meeting on Mercer Island.

This includes the Cedar River, where woody debris has drawn the attention of river activists.

The meeting is set for 6 – 7:30 p.m. in Room 104 of the Mercer Island Community Center, 8236 S.E. 24th St., Mercer Island.

King County is updating its guidelines for managing natural wood in rivers. Originally written in 2008, the guidelines define how the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks and the King County Sheriff’s Office coordinate and respond to reports of fallen trees that lodge in rivers and can pose a safety risk to people or public infrastructure.

Topics covered during the Oct. 9 meeting include:

• Procedures for managing naturally occurring wood in King County rivers, including safety considerations;

• How the county builds projects to reduce flood risk and improve habitat for fish and wildlife; and

• How the county plans for and responds to river-related safety issues as part of that work.

A copy of the proposed procedures and other related materials can be found at:

http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/watersheds/general-information/large-wood/natural.aspx

Interested citizens are encouraged to attend the meeting and ask questions or make comments. Written comments and ideas are being accepted through Oct. 22nd by contacting Nancy Faegenburg at nancy.faegenburg@kingcounty.gov or via U.S. mail: Nancy Faegenburg, King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, 201 S. Jackson ST., #600, Seattle, WA 98104.

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