Chehalis Basin Flood Damage Reduction and Aquatic Species Restoration

The Challenge

The Chehalis Basin’s communities and natural ecosystems are urgently at risk, after decades of repeated catastrophic flooding and the precipitous decline of culturally, ecologically, and economically important aquatic species such as steelhead, Chinook, and coho salmon. Over the last decade, efforts to overcome these challenges have been guided by the understanding that these issues — and the science and solutions that can address them — are interrelated and must be approached in an integrated manner.

Our Role

Ross Strategic provides collaborative long-range planning process design and facilitation, programmatic design and implementation, community outreach and engagement, and strategic support services to the Washington Department of Ecology’s Office of the Chehalis Basin as it works alongside the Chehalis Basin Board to develop and implement an integrated, long-term strategy for flood damage reduction and aquatic species restoration in the Chehalis River Basin. Ross Strategic facilitates the Chehalis Basin Board, core project management teams, advisory groups, and special purpose Board sub-groups. The Ross team also maintains the Office’s public website, supports program development, public involvement, communications, and outreach efforts, and develops legislatively mandated reports.