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Over the last century, salmon runs in the Chehalis Basin have declined dramatically, and floods have become bigger, more frequent, and more dangerous. Scientists warn these trends will worsen as weather patterns become more unpredictable.
For a long time, people have fought over these issues. Now, we’re finally making progress toward a safer, more resilient basin.
The Chehalis Basin Board, a diverse group of representatives from Tribes, local governments, citizens, and state agencies, has brought forth more than 200 projects in aquatic restoration and flood protection on time and on budget, helping every community across the basin. Read more about the range of projects and programs.
Building on this momentum, in 2026, the Chehalis Basin Board is on track to make recommendations on a long-term Chehalis Basin Strategy to protect people and aquatic life for decades to come.
Latest updates (April 2026)
- The Chehalis Basin Board is still on track to deliver recommendations on the long-term strategy in late 2026. This winter, due to unforeseen delays in the technical analysis of the options under consideration, the recommendation timeline moved from early 2026 to late 2026.
- At their April 2026 meeting, the Board heard presentations about the technical modeling completed over the last several months. The presentations included information on how the long-term options could change flooding patterns in the basin and what effects the next several decades of flood events could have on built infrastructure, transportation corridors, and communities if no action was taken. Note that these presentations do not give the full picture of benefits and tradeoffs of the long-term options, but do provide some initial information that will help the Board in their deliberations. You can listen to the full recording of the meeting here.
What is the long-term strategy?
The Chehalis Basin Strategy is an action plan for reducing flood damage and restoring aquatic life. In 2026, the Board will extend that plan by making recommendations on long-term actions designed to protect the basin for decades to come.
Why is a long-term strategy necessary?
Larger-scale, longer-term investments are still needed. As long as weather patterns continue to shift and habitat continues be lost or damaged, scientists predict salmon and steelhead will decline to new lows without aggressive protection and restoration. Additionally, 100-year floods could happen as often as once a decade by the end of the century.
A strong long-term strategy is essential for preserving some of the state’s most important industries, vital transportation corridors and abundant salmon runs. What happens in the Chehalis Basin impacts all of Washington and beyond.
What solutions are being considered for the long-term strategy?
The Chehalis Basin Board is considering:
- How much should be invested in aquatic restoration for the next 30+ years?
- Are large-scale structural flood option(s) needed for the upper basin, such as a proposed flood-control dam near Pe Ell, a system of local levees and floodwalls in and around Chehalis and Centralia, or some combination of both?
- What is the best pathway for the Skookumchuck Dam going forward?
The Board will also consider how it can continue to support and expand other local projects, policies, and programs that protect people and aquatic habitats across the basin.
How are these solutions being thought of together?
In June 2025, the Board met for an all-day workshop to determine what combinations of projects and investments – or options – they’d like to see studied further. Board members reached consensus on six different long-term strategy options to evaluate. These six options represent a broad range of potential pathways for the future of the basin – from high investments in structural flood damage reduction and aquatic restoration measures, to a focus on non-structural flood protection, and several “middle of the road” options in between. They may change based on what’s learned from a technical evaluation and community input.
To learn more about what was included in the options, see the table below and the Long-Term Strategy Options Fact Sheet. You can also watch the recording of the Board’s June 6 workshop.
Where can I learn more about the individual proposed projects or programs within the options?
To learn more about individual projects or programs within the options, see our fact sheets and webpages on:
- The Long-Term Strategy Options (Fact Sheet)
- The Proposed Flow-through Dam for Flood Control (Fact Sheet/Webpage)
- The Local Action Non-Dam Alternative (LAND) (Fact Sheet/Webpage)
- Pathways for the Skookumchuck Dam (Fact Sheet/Webpage)
- The Aquatic Species Restoration Program (Fact Sheet/Webpage)
- The Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority and local flood projects (Fact Sheet/Webpage)
- The Community Flood Assistance and Resilience Program (Fact Sheet/Webpage)
- Erosion Management Program (Webpage)
How will the Board make its recommendation?
The Board is committed to a science-based, community-informed process.
Now through summer 2026, technical experts are analyzing the costs, benefits, and tradeoffs of these different options, evaluating factors such as how many homes might be protected, how fish populations could be impacted, and what the long-term economic and environmental effects might be. The analysis is broken down into several evaluation categories and will collect qualitative and quantitative data. The evaluation categories are as follows:
- Environment-focused: Salmon and steelhead, aquatic habitats and other aquatic species, and land-based species and habitats
- Economic-focused: Buil infrastructure damages, transportation infrastructure, economic activity, agriculture and timber lands, and commercial fishing
- Social- and cultural-focused: Health and safety, community cohesion, culturally important sites and resources, and recreation
- Additional considerations : Feasibility, implementation costs, effect on vulnerable populations
Input from Chehalis Basin residents, organizations, partners, local governments, and Tribes will also play an important role in the Board’s upcoming decision-making.
How can I stay engaged and share feedback?
Throughout 2025 and 2026, you will be able to learn more about the long-term options the Board is considering via online and in-person events. Stay connected by signing up for our monthly emailed newsletters. You can also share comments via a comment form. Input collected throughout the process will be compiled and considered by the Board along with the results of technical studies during its deliberations in 2026.
I missed the open houses. Can I see the materials?
Yes, the display boards can be viewed and downloaded via this link.
How can I get the most updated information?
Keep checking this web page for the latest updates. Stay connected by signing up for our monthly emailed newsletters and following us on social media – we are on Facebook and Instagram.
Questions? Contact us as info@officeofchehalisbasin.com.