Flood effect light on Bonney Lake

By DANNIE OLIVEAUX

Reporter Newspapers

If the worst-case scenario plays out and the Green River floods this winter, the city of Bonney Lake will not be directly affected, a city official said.

City Administrator Don Morrison doesn’t foresee any effects from flooding of the Green River.

Morrison said he hasn’t seen any traffic models if Highway 167 floods and doesn’t know if it would impact traffic on State Route 410 coming through the city.

“I’m of the belief someone will somehow find a route to get home,” he said. “People from Auburn could use the back roads and reach 410 to get to the interstate.”

He said Auburn residents could use Lakeland Hills Way to reach Lake Tapps Parkway, Sumner-Tapps Highway or South Tapps Drive.

“They may come this way to shop,” Morrison said. “But it wouldn’t be a lot of direct impact.”

Morrison said the city could supply surrounding cities with water if needed. The city has an intertie with Auburn that was used in the summer.

“We have a high volume of water during the winter months,” Morrison said.

The city is a part of the Pierce County Emergency Management Plan.

“We would help assist the county with any emergency, but the city doesn’t have a separate plan of its own to assist,” Morrison said.

He added the Bonney Lake Senior Center is designated as an emergency relief for those without other means of shelter.

Deputy Mayor Dan Swatman, who works as a system engineer for BP in Renton, said flooding of the river would affect his workplace and possible commute.

Swatman said he sees the only impact on Bonney Lake residents would be employment for those in the Auburn, Kent or Renton areas.

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