Storm season in western Washington is upon us, and with it, the risk of atmospheric rivers bringing severe flooding. Nowhere is this more evident than in the naturally flood-prone Chehalis River Basin, where the debate about a proposed flood control dam on the upper river has reached a critical milestone with the release of the state’s draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS).

Following the DEIS, in 2026, the Chehalis Basin Board will be making its long-awaited Long-Term Strategy recommendation to the governor and legislature for habitat restoration and flood damage reduction. See the “more background” section below.

The DEIS report from the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) details potential implications of construction and operation of this new mega-dam for salmon, fish habitat, recreation, water quality, water temperature, and many other ways the project could impact the river and its communities and ecosystems.

In 2025, the Chehalis River basin needs up-to-date, proven flood solutions that protect people, the land, and salmon. The proposed mega-dam design is based on an unproven, untested concept, and it’s hugely expensive, costing Washington up to $2 billion or more. Now is the time to put this proposal to rest and focus on proven solutions that will keep communities up and down the river safe and our fish runs healthy.

The 75-day public comment period for the DEIS began on November 20th and will conclude on February 4th. 

You can make your voice heard by submitting written comments (due February 4, 2026) and testifying at one or more of five public hearings:

• Three in-person hearings on December 9, 2025, and January 6, 2026, at the Centralia Community College in Centralia and at the Rotary Log Pavilion in Aberdeen and January 13, 2026, all beginning at 5:30 p.m.

• Two virtual public hearings on December 11, 2025, and January 8, 2025 beginning at 6 p.m.

Among the issues you could speak to as a member of American Whitewater are:

Recreation impacts. According to the DEIS:

“The Proposed Action would cause significant adverse impacts on recreation. 6.6 miles of the Chehalis River would no longer be accessible for kayaking and whitewater rafting, and 13.2 miles of riverbank would no longer be available for riverbank fishing.  (p.140)”

“The Proposed Action would also have significant adverse impacts on fish, which would impact recreational fishing by reducing the number of fish available to be caught. Displacement of wildlife would reduce the availability of game and recreational viewing opportunities. Closure of recreational sites and loss of access would have significant adverse impacts on recreational activities such as fishing, hunting, hiking, and birdwatching (p. 140).”

Reduced fish passage survival. To sustain themselves, salmon need the ability to move freely throughout the river all year, including safe access for adult fish headed upstream to spawning grounds and baby salmon headed to the ocean.

“Construction and operation would have significant adverse impacts on spring-run Chinook salmon, fall-run Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and steelhead from degraded habitat, noise, and fewer fish surviving passage around the FRE facility (P.84).”

“Reduction in fish passage during construction of the FRE facility would have a significant adverse impact on species like salmon, steelhead, and lamprey that require access to the upper Chehalis River and headwaters to complete their life cycle (P.88-89).”

For more information visit www.officeofchehalisbasin.com.

You can also watch a short video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=RimQ5gUSqhQ.