Pacific leaders plan to meet with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and King County officials in the next few weeks to review how the city prepared and performed during this year’s first floodwater threat.

The city experienced minor flooding in areas along the swollen White River.

“Although this was nowhere near the flood levels of 2009, we have identified some areas we need to fix before the next storm,” said Mayor Richard Hildreth. “The City of Pacific will do everything in its power to make sure that no homes are impacted by flooding, directly from the river or by groundwater being pushed up.”

The city weathered the latest rainstorms well, Hildreth said, adding the wetlands behind White River Estates never approached capacity.

“This is important because future flood events this year are likely to exceed the 6,500 (cubic feet per second) we saw this time,” Hildreth said. “We also did not have flooding of Butte Avenue along the Pierce County wetlands. Sandbag walls placed inside the wetlands area in 2010, as well as along the gate this year, did their job.”

Officials nonetheless will compare notes, identify areas where Pacific can improve and find solutions to issues, such as short-term mitigation of groundwater that flooded portions of Pacific Park.

“Ultimately, I believe it will take some form of maintenance in the river itself to make permanent fixes,” Hildreth said. “Whatever fixes we promote, though, must not endanger the vast bio-diverse environment our region enjoys. The solutions are out there, we just need to be willing to work together to find them.”

The mayor’s office is inviting individual comments and suggestions on how to improve the City’s flood response. Hildreth can be reached at 253-929-1108 or rhildreth@ci.pacific.wa.us.