Originally published September 23, 2009 at 5:17 PM | Page modified September 23, 2009 at 11:22 PM

Army corps buying sandbags for Green River Valley

The Army Corps of Engineers is buying 400,000 sandbags and other flood-fighting materials in case there's flooding this winter in the Green River Valley south of Seattle.

The Associated Press

SEATTLE —

The Army Corps of Engineers is buying 400,000 sandbags and other flood-fighting materials in case there's flooding this winter in the Green River Valley south of Seattle.

Damage to an abutment next to the corps' Howard Hanson Dam on the upper Green River means less water can be retained at the dam this winter, raising the risks of flooding in the heavily developed valley. Corps Col. Anthony Wright says crews are working 24 hours a day, six days a week to strengthen the abutment. But he says he won't know until after the work is completed in November how much more water the dam's reservoir might hold.

Meanwhile, Wright says he will award a contract Friday and start delivering about $3 million worth of emergency materials next week to the state, King County and cities in the valley. The corps also will provide technical assistance on how to strengthen the valley's levees.

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