The King County Flood Control District announced today the completion of the first phase of a two-year investigation to update landslide hazard information for King County’s river valleys and floodplains.

“This investigation is the first step in assuring that we have the most current information to protect people, property and critical public infrastructure,” said King County Flood Control District Chair Reagan Dunn.

Earlier this year, King County began using Light Detection and Ranging technology – known as LIDAR – to identify potential landslide hazards along major rivers and significant tributaries – in both cities and unincorporated areas.

“With new technology we can see more clearly where there are risks of potential landslides, and gather the kind of information that will protect homes and lives,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “This is essential work that makes us safer and more resilient as a community, and I thank Flood District Supervisors for underwriting this effort.”

The data will be further refined with additional information and consolidated into a geographic information system database. No regulatory changes are planned at this time.

The work to date has focused on identifying area of past instability because such areas are sometimes subject to further movement. While many such areas are located in undeveloped portions of King County, they are also present in areas with more intense land use. King County has provided briefings to the 11 communities where areas of apparent past instability have been mapped: Skykomish, Renton, Bothell, Kenmore, Woodinville, Issaquah, Snoqualmie, Tukwila, SeaTac, Auburn and Kent.

For more information about the Phase 1 investigation or to sign up for an email notification when Phase 2 is completed, go to kingcounty.gov/rivers. For more information, call the King County River and Floodplain Management office at 206-477-7812.