Tips, tricks, and a quick peek into the everyday life of the conservation district.
April showers might bring May flowers, but they can also carry lots of pollution in rainwater runoff, which can harm local salmon. We’re thankful for rainy weather because it nourishes plant life and provides us with water to store for the drier summer months. Luckily, we can take action to keep our water clean and our fish healthy.
Read MoreKeeping stormwater clean in urban spaces isn’t easy. When rain hits the ground and travels across surfaces like streets and parking lots, it picks up pollutants along the way before heading down a storm drain and into our waterways. But there are nature-based solutions, commonly referred to as Green Stormwater Infrastructure, that collect, slow, and filter stormwater.
Read MoreLast month, Penny Crispin and Haly Rylko of our Community Conservation Team hosted a walking tour of four rain gardens in the Fobes Hill neighborhood. Sixteen homeowners came out on a sunny evening to visit the rain gardens we recently installed on three residential properties.
Read MoreAlthough most of us refuse to use umbrellas, the fact remains that our annual rainfall averages about 35 inches in the western part of the county and increases sharply as you approach the Cascade Mountains. Managing the stormwater runoff resulting from all of this rain remains a crucial part of Snohomish Conservation District’s work to reduce pollution in our streams, rivers, and Puget Sound.
Read MoreIt’s no surprise that we get a lot of rain—the Pacific Northwest is a temperate rainforest, after all. How we manage that rain once it hits the ground is important, especially in our region, where we’re experiencing rapid growth. In many places, the pervious soil of forests, farms, and undeveloped land is being replaced with impervious surfaces like roofs, roads, and parking lots, which can lead to increased flooding and water pollution.
Read MoreIn recent years, local interest in community gardens—and the need for them— has increased significantly. Our Urban Agriculture team has been happy to support this growing trend.
Read MoreThis month, we’re continuing to celebrate 80 years by looking back on our Urban Stormwater program and the many faces who have helped steward it to where it is today.
Read MoreOut of this collaboration, demonstration rain gardens now filter stormwater throughout Mason, Whatcom, Pierce, King, and Skagit counties. But while our staff helped with the installation and offered advice on cluster projects, we also learned a few things in the process from other districts.
“RSAT was about building relationships,” David Jackson, Community Conservation program manager, said.
Read MoreWatch the video replay from the 2020 Rain Garden Q&A webinar and view the slides.
Read MoreThe last two months have been incredibly busy for our Urban Stormwater team, and we’ve had a hard time keeping up! From installing rain gardens to teaching rain barrel workshops, our staff is hard at work to offer creative ideas and incentives to help residents, businesses, schools, homeowners associations, cities, and tribes. Here’s a short recap of what they’ve been doing.
Read MoreStudents benefit from Puget Sounds Starts at My School funding through classroom lessons, practical conversations with engineers and hands-on lessons including planting native plants at their school
Read MoreIf you live in Bothell, and are considering a rain garden, please get in touch with David!
Read MoreFrom Stanwood to Darrington, and Monroe to Bothell, we covered some ground with rain gardens this October to help filter pollutants out of stormwater runoff. Thanks to the many partners and volunteers who made it possible!
Read MoreWe recently taught a Gardening with a Purpose class in Spanish! The aim was to connect with Latino community members in Monroe through partnerships with WSU, the Monroe Chamber and In Harmony Landscaping. Muchas gracias!
Read MoreIn 2017, Our Savior's had SCD out for a site visit to determine if they were a good candidate for a rain garden. They were, but the construction season of 2017 was cut short, ironically, by heavy rains, so it had to wait until 2018. Check out the landscape now!
Read MoreOn the solstice, June 21, homeowners, SCD staff, WSU Master Gardeners, City of Lynnwood staff, and volunteers from Edmonds Community College, planted 7 rain gardens in the Perrinville Watershed of Lynnwood.
Photo is of Laura one of the WSU Master Gardeners.
Read MoreNearly 340 people toured fine examples of how homes and businesses can combine human living and activities with wildlife habitat on Saturday, June 23rd at the annual Camano Island Backyard Wildlife Habitat Garden Tour.
Read MoreThe rains are here. It must be spring. Here are some ideas for what to do with that extra rain from our Community Conservation Team.
Read MoreHere's a video of the recently installed rain gardens at Quilceda Creek Apartments in Marysville during a rain event.
Read MoreA group of rural landowners gathered in Arlington at the Co-op Supply Store to learn about rain gardens from our district engineer and one of our farm planners.
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Snohomish Conservation District | 528 91st Ave NE, Lake Stevens, WA 98258 | 425-335-5634
