Newcastle to receive Flood Reduction Grant money

$90,000 will go toward the City of Newcastle’s Lake Boren Flooding Mitigation Project.

The King County Flood Control District (FCD) on Monday approved funding for flood mitigation work around Lake Boren in Newcastle.

Metropolitan King County Council Vice Chair Reagan Dunn, who chairs the county’s special purpose district, announced the funding after the unanimous vote by the Board of Supervisors approving 21 2016 King County Flood Reduction Grant projects.

“Reducing flooding around Lake Boren is good for residents seasonally impacted by flooding and for the surrounding natural habitat,” Dunn said in a press release. “I am glad the City of Newcastle is receiving these funds that will go towards this important project.”

$90,000 will go toward the City of Newcastle’s Lake Boren Flooding Mitigation Project. The City recently acquired property around Lake Boren that provides an opportunity for the necessary removal of an unpermitted bridge and restoration of habitat around Boren Creek, the sole outlet to Lake Boren. The project will dramatically lessen the occurrence of flooding in Lake Boren.

“Once again, the City of Newcastle thanks the King County Flood Control District and Councilman Reagan Dunn for recognizing the flooding problems with Lake Boren,” said Newcastle Mayor Rich Crispo. “We now have the ability to work at the outlet, and this additional grant will let us go forward and fix the problem completely. Without the two years of grants houses on the north end of the lake would continue to be flooded during winter storm events.”

A total of $3.3 million in grants were awarded in 2016 for projects throughout King County. The funds were awarded on a competitive basis by the Flood Control District. Eligible applicants included homeowner associations, private non-profit organizations or associations, schools, special districts, tribes and King County jurisdictions.