Tips, tricks, and a quick peek into the everyday life of the conservation district.
It’s almost winter, which means we’re knee-deep in the middle of the rainy season. In an average year, Snohomish County gets 35 inches of rain, and most of it falls during these next few months.
All of that rain has to go somewhere and much of it becomes stormwater, traveling across the landscape and eventually into Puget Sound.
Read MoreApril 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 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 MoreThis event kicked off the planting of several trees in the Delta Neighborhood of Everett and highlighted the ways that urban trees can reduce stormwater volume and filter water, while also providing wildlife habitat, shade, and improved air quality, human health, and livability.
Read MoreView both webinars recorded in September on the “Journey of a raindrop” and “Wet feet gardening,” and view photos from the October Rain Garden Tour.
Read MoreThanks to David Jackson for presenting this year’s webinar on Detention Ponds Awareness and Maintenance.
Read MoreThe Puget Sound region is one of the fastest growing urban population centers in the United States, and the added concrete, metal and other impervious surfaces, coupled with tree loss, has increased stormwater runoff.
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 MoreStudies have proven what many of us have suspected for a long time: planting trees in urban areas measurably improves quality of life and overall health of the residents living in those spaces. However, these trees have another secret benefit. Urban trees can also play a vital role in addressing stormwater problems.
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 MoreLearn about the requirements for Brier residents tied to their residential stormwater detention ponds.
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 More“We have paint all over our hardwood floors from her- but it was worth it to see her get excited about this project.” — Deborah R, Eleanor Ridgeway’s parent
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 MoreIt’s great several great years at Discovery Elementary School in Mukilteo. This year they received rain cisterns via a Puget Sound Starts at My School grant.
Read MoreIf you live in Bothell, and are considering a rain garden, please get in touch with David!
Read MoreThe power of community and the willingness to both learn and teach on full display at this Bothell elementary school.
Read MoreHorses have the ability to be and do many things, and one of the things we have found they can do is to help save our orcas.
Photo credit: Creative Commons, Kat Kellner
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Snohomish Conservation District | 528 91st Ave NE, Lake Stevens, WA 98258 | 425-335-5634
