The Cultural Resources Review29 prepared for the Chehalis Basin Flood Hazard Mitigation study identified cultural and historical resources potentially affected by each project. The Cultural Resources Review conducted site-specific studies that identified cultural resources within the proposed project areas. Excluded from study was a survey of cultural resources in the inundation areas for the storage options. Table 17 below summarizes the result of the Cultural Resources Review. Note that Flood-proofing and Enhancement Programs were not evaluated for cultural resources. Table 17 Potential for Encountering Cultural Resources in each Project
PROJECT Flood-proofing Enhancement Programs Multipurpose Inundation Flood Storage Only Inundation I-5 Project
CULTURAL RESOURCES PRESENT Not Evaluated Not Evaluated
HISTORY OF ETHNOGRAPHIC USE Not Evaluated Not Evaluated
LANDFORMS FAVORABLE TO CONTAIN CULTURAL RESOURCES Not Evaluated Not Evaluated
POTENTIAL FOR ENCOUNTERING CULTURAL RESOURCES Not Evaluated Not Evaluated
Unknown*
Yes
Yes
High
Unknown*
Yes
Yes
High
Yes
Yes
Yes
High
Notes: *Project site area was not surveyed for cultural resources.
While no documented resources were found in the flood storage project areas, the Cultural Resources Review recommended that additional studies be conducted to rule out significant resources that are currently undocumented. In addition, consultation with the local Tribes is needed to help identify additional cultural or historic resources.
6 Property Values Studies have shown that properties located within a floodplain have lower values by nearly 8%.30 Project alternatives that reduce the amount of flooding will mean that homes no longer at risk of flooding might experience an increase in value.
6.1 FLOODPROOFING ONLY Flood-proofing buildings may have positive impacts to property values within the floodplain as the risk of damages during a flood event are reduced.
6.2 HABITAT ENHANCEMENT ONLY Based on the studies, neither of the habitat enhancement programs (Low or High) result in flood reduction impacts. Therefore, enhancement programs would not likely affect property values.
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Cascella, Melissa and J. Tait Edler. Cultural Resources Review for the Chehalis Basin Flood Hazard Mitigation Alternatives Analysis. Technical Memorandum. June 30, 2014. 30 Bin, O. and S. Polasky. Effects of flood hazards on property values: evidence before and after Hurricane Floyd.� Land Economics 80:4 (2004): 490-500.
Chehalis Basin Strategy: Reducing Flood Damage and Enhancing Aquatic Species — Project Alternative Qualitative Impacts
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