07:50 PM PDT on Thursday, May 18, 2006

By ERIC WILKINSON / KING 5 News

KENT, Wash. - King County environmental officials said Thursday that crumbling levees along several rivers in the area raise the specter of flooding like that seen during Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

A major levee breach along the lower Green River alone could have a devastating impact for miles, putting thousands of homes, Renton's Boeing plant and the Southcenter mall two miles away under three to six feet of water, according to officials from the King County Department of Natural Resources.

At more than half-a-century old, critical sections of major King County levees are crumbling.

Large sections of the Brisco levee near Tukwila can be seen slumping into the Green River, worrying some officials that it might not withstand one more severe winter.

"In just a matter of a few hours this could become a huge slump and a big, big problem," said Steve Bleifuhs, acting section manager for the King County Department of Natural Resources.

The failing area along the Brisco is just one of about 50 trouble spots along King County's rivers, including the Snoqualmie in North Bend and the Cedar River through Renton.

All need attention immediately, according to experts.

"It's just prime for failure at any moment," said Bleifuhs said.

If the levee's fail, it wouldn't be the first time.

In 1965 the levee system along the lower Green River failed sending up to 8 feet of water into Kent and Tukwila.

Bleifuhs says it could happen again.

"It's very probable and it's the same kind of a levee system that failed back then as it is right now," he 5said.

In the meantime, cracks in a bike trail along the Green River offer more proof of the deteriorating levees. 

And with global warming officially a frightening reality, officials say things may only get worse.

"More water in the rivers over a longer period of time and more frequent flooding and potentially higher levels of flooding," said Sandy Kilroy, regional services section manager for the King County Department of Natural Resources.

Fixing the levees would cost an estimated $335 million over 10 years.

Officials plan to present a proposal to the County Council by end of May.