Flood waters rose in the valleys and in Skamokawa Creek, January 7, 2009. Parts of State Route 4 were passable only by larger vehicles. Roads in East Valley, Middle Valley and West Valley were impassible during the high water. Creeks overflowed banks and dikes, spreading throughout the valley floors. Water entered area homes, buildings and barns. Several home owners voluntarily evacuated.
Photos - top: Skamokawa Grange Hall, second from top: Inundated Wildlife Refuge, Skamokawa, third from top: Wahkiakum County Fairgrounds, fourth from top: Flooded State Route 4 between Cathlamet and Skamokawa, January 8th. fifth from top: WSDOT truck monitoring traffic along State Route 4 in Skamokawa. Only larger vehicles were allowed through on the flooded highway. Bottom: Landslide on State Route 4 near Skamokawa.
Flooding and 'freshets' are a regular part of life on the lower river. Click here for a related post on the 1948 flood event.
