LYNNWOOD, Wash. — The overflowing lake in Snohomish County that's been flooding backyards and threatening homes will be going down soon.
Emergency work to fix a failed overflow drain is scheduled to start Tuesday at Lynnwood’s Lake Serene.
But some homeowners aren't very happy about the fix. They're threatening to sue Snohomish County for making them pay some of the cost to fix the flooding issue.
An overflow pipe on private property failed recently, so the water level has crept higher and higher.
Somewhere underneath the water is a boat launch. Elsewhere is a dock that floated loose from someone's property.
Work will start Tuesday on a temporary drain that will lower the lake level and ease the flood risk for property owners--some of whom have resorted to building berms to keep the water from flooding their homes.
Snohomish County has passed an emergency measure for a new overflow drainage system that would be owned and operated by the county.
Most of the $850,000 cost would be paid for by the county, but the 95 waterfront owners would have to pay around $2,000 each, which they aren't too happy about.
Homeowners are preparing for possible legal action against the county.
The new drain will underneath the boat launch, which is currently underwater.
Cox Media Group