By Aaron Kunkler

The Chronicle

Funding for the a new state office dedicated to implementing solutions to flooding and fish habitat conservation in the Chehalis River Basin continues to move through the state Legislature after the Senate approved the use of $42.5 million of state money in its proposed budget.

The figure is below the $50 million the Governor’s Work Group budget had requested, but Sen. John Braun, of Centralia, said he is optimistic that they can receive the full funding amount after amendments in the House of Representatives.

“In the meantime, $42.5 million is significant funding and will keep us on track for now,” he said.

Braun said the lower funding for the Office of the Chehalis Basin came primarily from the Senate working under a smaller capital budget. Funding for K-12 education and school construction also played into the reduction in funding.

Rep. Richard DeBolt said Friday the House budget would be released early next week, and until it is released he can not comment on it. However, DeBolt did say their budgeted amount would likely be different from the Senate’s.

“We’re happy with what the Senate did, and I think you’ll be pleased with what we did, and then we head into budget negotiations,” DeBolt said.

The Senate also authorized the Office of the Chehalis Basin to receive up to $10 million in federal funding. State agencies must be approved by the Legislature to receive federal funding, but approval at the state level is not a guarantee they will receive the money from the federal gThe House will submit a budget plan, and both houses of the Legislature will then hash out a final budget to be sent to Gov. Jay Inslee for approval.

Assuming a budget is passed by July 1, the new Office of the Chehalis Basin would begin operating on that date.

The Office of the Chehalis Basin Board was created in the 2016 legislative session. It will make recommendations to the state Department of Ecology, the governor and the Legislature regarding changes in laws, budgets and other actions to accomplish its mission.

The scope of what it will be trying to do includes reducing flooding impacts in Lewis, Thurston and Grays Harbor counties, which see relatively frequent and significant flooding from the Chehalis and other rivers.

It will consist of a seven-member board, with three of the positions being appointed by the Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority, an organization that currently exists and which would be under the Office of the Chehalis Basin.

Two seats will be filled by candidates Gov. Jay Inslee appoints, and the Quinault and Chehalis tribes will each appoint a member to the board.