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A MOTION declaring the King County Flood Control District's commitment to integrated floodplain management and multibenefit projects and to the principles of environmental stewardship, equity and social justice and environmental justice; and establishing how the District prioritizes capital projects utilizing a “worst-first” paradigm arranging flood risk reduction projects based on an assessment of risk, severity, and consequence.

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                     WHEREAS, The King County Flood Control Zone District (“the District”) is committed to providing flood risk reduction capital projects and programs to the residents of King County, and

                     WHEREAS, the District works to accomplish this critically important purpose by efficiently, effectively, and transparently reducing flood risks and enhancing community and environmental resilience through a comprehensive approach to floodplain management, and

                     WHEREAS, projects and programs designed to reduce flood risks are developed and implemented in collaboration with Tribes, federal, state, and local governments, environmental and community organizations, interested parties, and the public, reflecting shared values and priorities, and

                     WHEREAS, the District’s mission is driven by implementing flood risk reduction policies and projects to protect life and property while advancing various benefits including equity and social justice, sustainable livelihoods, habitat protection, salmon recovery, recreation, resilient communities, and others, and

                     WHEREAS, to ensure the District’s limited resources are directed toward addressing the most critical vulnerabilities in the flood risk reduction system, the District utilizes a "worst-first" paradigm prioritizing flood risk reduction projects based on an assessment of risk, severity, and consequence.

                     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE KING COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT:

                     SECTION 1.  Building on the criteria established in the 2006 King County Flood Hazard Management Plan and previously approved legislation (FCD20-07 Multi-Benefit Motion and FCD2021-16 Capital Project Delivery Resolution), the District's approach is structured around three key components (risk, severity, and consequence) that serve as the foundation for managing flood risks and strengthening community resilience.  These components are designed to not only enhance flood safety but also align with broader social, environmental, and economic objectives.  By integrating these priorities, the District ensures a holistic, adaptive strategy that promotes sustainability and enables communities to thrive amid future uncertainties.

                     SECTION 2.  Risk (or urgency) is a criterion used to describe how soon the flood risk needs to be addressed to avoid its occurrence or reoccurrence.

                     SECTION 3.  Severity and consequence, combined, are prioritized using two criteria.

                     A.  The first criterion is intended to evaluate the nature and severity of the impacts, irrespective of the scale at which the impact will occur.

                     B.  The second criterion is intended to describe the scale of the problem - is the problem manifest over a large area or in a manner that will affect a large number of people, or is it largely localized?  In instances where the physical impact is over a small area, but a larger number of people will be affected, prioritization is based on the impact rather than just the physical area.

                     SECTION 4.  Consequence has an additional criterion intended to differentiate between types of land uses.  If more than one type of land use is at risk, prioritization will be given to the higher ranked applicable land use, as ranked by King County:

                     A.  Critical Facilities;

                     B.  Residential;

                     C.  Commercial (some commercial structures are critical facilities);

                     D.  Agriculture (Farmland Preservation Program [FPP] land should be given a higher priority than non-FPP lands);

                     E.  Developed Recreational (those with regional importance should receive higher prioritization);

                     F.  Undeveloped land in floodplain or Moderate Channel Migration Zone (CMZ);

                     G.  Undeveloped land in floodplain or Severe CMZ;

                     SECTION 5.  During the evaluation of capital projects, additional prioritization may be determined based on:

                     A.  Project readiness;

                     B.  Project’s ability to leverage District funds with external resources or funding;

                     C.  Project’s support of multiple floodplain objectives;

                     D.  Project’s cost effectiveness;

                     E.  Project’s meeting or exceeding floodplain management regulations;

                     F.  Project’s score in FEMA’s Community Rating System;

                     G.  Project’s relation to an active CIP program for flooding and/or stormwater drainage; and

                     H.  Project’s relation to an active O&M program for flooding and/or stormwater drainage.

                     SECTION 6.  Prioritizing assessments may be done quantitatively, qualitatively, or a combination thereof, and input may be received from the Advisory Committee, Joint Basin Technical Committee, and service providers.  Final approval of flood risk reduction priorities and projects resides solely with the District’s Board of Supervisors.

                     SECTION 7.  The District is committed to the interconnectedness of flood risk reduction, environmental stewardship, equity and social justice, and environmental justice and supports advancing interrelated community interests with multi-benefits including:

                     A.  Equity and Social Justice;

                     B.  Environmental Justice;

                     C.  Habitat Protection and Salmon Recovery;

                     D.  Resilient Communities and Ecosystems;

                     E.  Productive and Viable Agriculture;

                     F.  Sustainable Development;

                     G.  Jobs and Sustainable Livelihoods;

                     H.  Open Space conservation;

                     I.  Sustainable and Clean Water; and

                     J.  Recreation and Other Opportunities to Connect People with Nature.

                     SECTION 8.  Balancing flood risk reduction with the multi-benefits identified above, where applicable, reflects the principles of resilience.  This approach ensures that floodplain strategies not only reduce immediate risks but also support long-term sustainability and adaptive capacity to meet future challenges.

                     SECTION 9.  The District follows all Tribal Treaty Rights and applicable federal, state, and local laws when implementing its Integrated Floodplain Management approach.

                     SECTION 10.  The Integrated Floodplain Management principles employed by the District also seeks equitable distribution of the District's resources geographically to serve residents countywide and across both rural and urban areas as well as incorporated and unincorporated.

                     SECTION 11.  The District acknowledges that partnerships are essential not only during the planning and design phases of capital projects and programs but also in funding collaborations.  Recognizing that the District's finite revenue resources are primarily focused on implementing flood risk reduction projects and programs, this collaborative approach allows the District to achieve the maximum benefits for each project.  By engaging partners in both strategic and financial capacities, the District ensures that multi-benefit projects are realized to their fullest potential.  This shared investment approach underscores the importance of leveraging resources and expertise to create impactful, sustainable outcomes for King County communities.

                     SECTION 12.  The District created a glossary to enhance clarity, consistency, and efficiency in communication, providing a centralized resource for defining key terms related to Integrated Floodplain Management, thereby making it easier for the District and its service providers, partners, constituents, and other interested parties to share and understand complex information.

                     SECTION 13.  Glossary:

                     A.  Capital Improvement Program (CIP):  A multi-year plan intended to reduce flood risk for communities throughout King County.  The King County Flood Control District’s (District) Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is typically 6-years in length, outlines and prioritizes capital improvement projects (and occasionally programmatic actions) based on funding availability and risk, severity, and consequence, includes estimated time to complete projects identified for funding, and is approved annually by the District’s Board of Supervisors.  The approved "CIP" forms a significant basis for the District’s annual work plan, which is implemented by the District through Interlocal Agreements and contracts between the District and its service providers.

                     B.  Capital Improvement Project:  A flood risk reduction project planned as a large-scale investment creating or significantly enhancing durable assets (e.g., flood facilities) to systematically address and lessen the impacts of flooding within a community.  Projects are typically characterized by their substantial financial outlays and the implementation of infrastructure or measures which are expected to last for many years.  This may include, but not limited to, construction of new, or improvements to existing, physical infrastructure such as levees, revetments, floodwalls, and pump stations.  Non-structural solutions may also be considered as a capital improvement project, such as the acquisition and removal of flood-prone properties (buyouts), elevation of existing homes, or the development of green infrastructure like vegetated detention basins, constructed wetlands, and bioswales, which can also provide environmental co-benefits.

                     C.  Capital Investment Strategy (CIS):  A proposed sequence of coordinated capital improvement projects intended to upgrade and modernize King County’s aging flood risk reduction facilities to meet current and future demands.  The strategies, organized by river basin, suggest potential near-term, medium-term, and long-term capital improvement projects that were identified during an assessment of key problem areas and potential solutions.  The King County Flood Control District (District) directs the development of Capital Investment Strategies, which are completed by King County as service provider to the District, with input provided by Tribes, federal, state, and local governmental partners, interested parties, and the public.  Programmatic activities may occasionally be included as suggested actions in the strategies with the approval of the District.  The final strategies are approved as policy guidance by the District’s Board of Supervisors, and projects and actions identified within each approved “CIS” may then be considered for inclusion in the District’s annual Capital Improvement Program.

                     D.  Consequence:  The potential outcomes of a flood event, including threats to public safety, damage to infrastructure and property, economic disruptions, environmental degradation, and disproportionate impacts on vulnerable populations.

                     E.  Environmental Justice:  All people, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income (historically disadvantaged populations), enjoy the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards.

                     F.  Environmental Stewardship:  The responsible management and protection of natural resources and ecosystems to ensure their sustainability for present and future generations.  It involves proactive efforts to conserve, restore, and enhance the environment through practices that minimize human impact, promote biodiversity, and support ecological balance.  Environmental stewardship can be carried out by individuals, communities, organizations, and governments through policies, conservation initiatives, sustainable land and water management, and advocacy for environmental justice.

                     G.  Equity:  Ensuring fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion, income, or education by providing resources to community members that are proportionate to what they need to thrive.

                     H.  Flood Risk Reduction:  An action taken to decrease exposure of people and property to flood or channel migration hazards.

                     I.  Habitat Protection and Salmon Recovery:  Restore and protect riparian and in-stream habitats to benefit fish and aquatic organisms and to support long-range recovery goals for Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed Chinook and Steelhead.

                     J.  Jobs and Sustainable Livelihoods:  Diversity and number of jobs that are retained and increased in areas suitable for development that support residents and employees.

                     K.  Open Space Conservation:  Retain priority open space in the floodplains and advance regional conservation plans.  The U.S. Forest Service defines open space as land that is valued for natural processes and wildlife, agricultural and forest production, aesthetic beauty, active and passive recreation, and other public benefits.  Locally based, long-term open space conservation plans help communities protect their environment, improve quality of life, and preserve critical elements of the local heritage, culture, and economy.

                     L.  Productive and Viable Agriculture:  Create, support, and implement policies and actions that support continued production of crops and livestock on the remaining farmland.

                     M.  Recreation and Other Opportunities to Connect People with Nature:  Leverage existing plans and fill known gap areas in recreation in an equitable manner.

                     N.  Resilience:  The ability of communities, ecosystems, and infrastructure to recover quickly and effectively from flooding events while adapting to changing conditions over time.

                     O.  Resilient Communities and Ecosystems:  Create, support, and implement policies and actions that reduce climate change vulnerabilities equitably and increase the resilience of communities, natural systems, and the built environment.

                     P.  Risk:  The estimated impact that a hazard would have on people, services, facilities, and structures in a community.  Risk measures the likelihood of a hazard occurring and resulting in an adverse condition that causes injury or damage.  Risk is often expressed in relative terms such as a high, moderate, or low likelihood of sustaining damage above a particular threshold due to occurrence of a specific type of hazard.  Risk also can be expressed in terms of potential monetary losses associated with the intensity of the hazard.  Synonymous with urgency.

                     Q.  Severity:  The potential magnitude of flood impacts, including the depth and velocity of floodwaters, the extent of inundation, the duration of flooding, and the resilience of the affected community, acknowledging historically underserved communities may have limited resilience.  Severity is typically identified by river basin in terms of phases based on historical flood events.

                     R.  Social Justice:  Ensuring fair treatment and meaningful involvement of historically repressed people who have disproportionately faced institutional discrimination or systemic racism.

                     S.  Sustainability:  The capacity to meet present flood protection needs without compromising the ability of future generations to address their own needs, emphasizing long-term ecological health, community well-being, and climate adaptability.

                     T.  Sustainable and Clean Water:  Create, support, or implement policies and actions to improve water quality (temperature and chemistry).

                     U.  Sustainable Development:  A development pattern that recognizes ecosystem values, is resilient to climate change and natural hazards, sustains a viable economy, creates livable communities, and advances equity.  Economic development conducted without depletion of natural resources.  It is an organizing principle for meeting human development goals while sustaining the ability of natural systems to provide the natural resources and ecosystem services on which the economy and society depend.  It can also be defined as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.