5. Next Steps
The Chehalis Basin Board is committed to a science-based, community-informed process.
The next steps for developing the long-term Chehalis Basin Strategy include:
Evaluating the long-term options
An interdisciplinary technical team of economists, hydrologists, and fish biologists is now analyzing the costs, benefits, and tradeoffs of these different options. Their analysis will evaluate 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.
Environment-focused evaluation categories assess how the long-term options will influence ecological health, habitats, and species within the basin. These categories consider both the beneficial effects of investments in restoration projects under the long-term options, as well as the negative and beneficial effects of flood management infrastructure. Salmon and steelhead, aquatic habitats and other aquatic species, and land-based species and habitats will be studied.
Economic-focused evaluation categories evaluate the effects on commercial business activity and opportunity, as well as costs of flood-related damages to built infrastructure in the basin. These categories generally capture the benefits of reduced flood risks and improved floodplain management, as well as improved habitats for commercially valuable species. Built infrastructure damages, transportation infrastructure, economic activity, agriculture and timber lands and commercial fishing are included in this analysis.
Social- and cultural-focused evaluation categories identify effects on the ways of life of the residential population and people connected to the resources within the basin. This includes health and safety, community cohesion, culturally important sites and resources, and recreation.
Additional consideration categories are not outcomes related to implementing the long-term options but rather important information to consider alongside the identified outcomes. These include the feasibility of implementing the long-term options, the implementation costs, and effects on vulnerable populations.
Evaluation results are expected in early 2026.
Collecting community input
OCB is currently collecting open-ended feedback via our comment form about what community members want the Board to know or consider as it weighs the long-term options.
There will be another chance to provide more specific feedback once the evaluation results are available and we know more about the packages. In 2026, OCB will provide several ways for community members and basin organizations to learn more about what the analysis revealed and provide more specific feedback, including via a survey and Board listening sessions.
Finalizing the recommended long-term Chehalis Basin Strategy
In 2026, during its final deliberations, Board members will consider evaluation results and community input as they identify their recommended long-term action plan to reduce flood damage and support aquatic life in the Chehalis Basin. The recommended strategy may be a hybrid of some of the existing six options, or may contain new elements identified during the technical analysis, community engagement, and Board deliberations. Regardless of which projects and investments are recommended, the Board will outline considerations related to phasing, conditions, and contingencies to take into account during the next several decades of implementation.
Updated September 2025