Flood Guide Survey, Construction Season, New SLS Video and More!





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Conservation and Natural Resources, Surface Water Management - Utility News header




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Celebrating Community Partnerships

As part of SWM’s outreach to improve awareness about flood risk in vulnerable communities, SWM held a Spanish language workshop on April 12 with recent graduates from WSU Extension’s Promotores del Agua program. [ [link removed] ] The purpose of the workshop was to learn directly from community members about their experience with flooding, resources they need to prepare and stay safe, and how the County can help support ongoing education and awareness about flood risk. Information learned included the need to streamline technical information, provide more translated materials, and the need to deepen community partnerships through additional workshops and training.

We look forward to meeting with other residents to continue to learn from and provide resources to people to help Snohomish County communities stay safe and resilient. If you are part of a community group that would like to provide input, please contact Alexa Ramos at [email protected]. 

WSU's Promotores Del Agua program

"Ambassadors (Promotores) of the Environment are volunteers with WSU Snohomish County Extension trained to educate Latinx/Hispanic families and communities how to care for our natural environment."

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Did You Know the County has an Annual Flood Guide?

Help us make improvements to our annual Flood Guide. Your answers to this quick, 3-minute survey will help us better understand who uses the guide, and what information is needed to help our communities stay prepared, safe, and resilient.

Survey link: [link removed] [ [link removed] ]

*Survey closes June 6.*

Learn more about the flood guide: [link removed] [ [link removed] ]

Snohomish County Flood Guide image

"Snohomish County's Flood Guide shares resources to help residents prepare for flood season."

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New SLS Video Features Partnerships and Collaboration in the Snohomish Basin

Sustainable Lands Strategy (SLS) launched the latest in a series of digital storytelling efforts at the Partners Meeting May 7. 

Led by Snohomish Conservation District staff and produced by Caravan Labs, "Farm, Fish, & Floods: Collaborative Solutions in Washington State" [ [link removed] ] explores the collaborations that make large-scale farm, fish, and flood projects possible in the Snohomish County floodplains. Featuring Linda Lyshall (Snohomish Conservation District), Daryl Williams (Tulalip Tribes), Erik Stockdale (Snohomish County), and Ben Krause (Swans Trail Farms), this video highlights Swan Trail Slough and Chinook Marsh [ [link removed] ]. Both are examples of multi-benefit projects that support agricultural resilience, fish habitat, and floodplain health and function.

The Sustainable Lands Strategy (SLS) brings stakeholders together to improve coordination and generate progress for farm, fish and flood interests. Learn more at www.farmfishflood.org [ [link removed] ].

SLS Video - Farm, Fish, & Floods: Collaborative Solutions in Washington State

"SWM's Planning Manager, Erik Stockdale, stands in front of the City of Everett water transmission line that crosses Chinook Marsh."

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It’s Construction Season!

Each year SWM constructs several capital improvement projects such as culvert replacements and drainage improvements under county roads and in the right of way. Read the full line up of construction projects scheduled for this summer on the Current Construction Project webpage. [ [link removed] ]

Why does construction always take place in the summer? Not only is the weather most favorable for this type of work, but the “fish window” for construction, determined by regulating agencies like WDFW and the US Army Corps of Engineers, refers to the limited timeframe when in-water work can be performed with the least disruption to aquatic life. This window is generally between July and October and varies depending on the specific location and project. 

squire creek

"Photo of a past fish passage culvert project at Squire Creek."

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Snohomish County MRC Highlights Past Successes and Looks Ahead

Every year, the Snohomish County Marine Resources Committee (MRC) completes projects to help protect and restore our marine environment. Over 1,400 volunteer hours were contributed by MRC Members in a variety of projects, from monitoring kelp and forage fish to hosting outreach events and beach cleanups. Our Annual Report [ [link removed] ] highlights our projects including the completion of our new 5-year Strategic Plan [ [link removed] ] which prioritizes our work for the near future.

Snohomish County Marine Resources Committee - boat dock pic

"Visit the MRC webpage to learn more: [link removed] [ [link removed] ]"

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Shellfish Program Uses Federal Grant to Improve Water Quality

Did you know that the impacts from animal and human waste have closed over 1000 acres of commercial shellfish beds in Port Susan in recent years? *SWM’s Shellfish Protection Program* was created to reduce fecal bacteria contamination in the commercial shellfish growing areas in Port Susan Bay and South Skagit Bay. In 2024, SWM received a *$670K grant *from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to further this work. The Lower Stillaguamish *Pollution Identification and Correction (PIC)* *Grant *is intended identify and correct sources of fecal bacterial pollution in the basin. SWM and its partners, Snohomish Conservation District (SCD), Snohomish County Health Department, Stillaguamish Tribe and state agencies are working together to improve the health of downstream shellfish beds by reducing the impacts of fecal bacteria on local waterways.

Through programs like Health Department’s Savvy Septic and SCD’s Sound Horsekeeping workshops, SWM and its partners are raising awareness and promoting best practices for pet waste, onsite septic systems, farming and livestock to help improve water quality across the basin. Learn more about the PIC program and SWM’s Shellfish Protection Program here [ [link removed] ].

Sources of Fecal Coliform Bacteria

"Managing sources of bacterial pollution are key to protecting water quality."

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You Can Help Track Harmful Plants and Learn Something New in the Process

If you’ve ever wondered “what is this plant?” iNaturalist has an answer! Fellow community scientists, professional botanists, and AI alike will help you identify any plants you post. What’s more, your observations can help track harmful species in Snohomish County called noxious weeds. Noxious weeds [ [link removed] ] are plants that aren’t native to this area and can be highly destructive. Any local iNaturalist posts you make with noxious weeds will automatically be added to our Noxious Weeds Project [ [link removed] ], and in turn, help us more effectively manage invasive species. If an app is not for you, no worries – use our new _online reporting form [ [link removed] ]_ instead! As the weather warms, and the plants wake up, be sure to get out there and make your first observation to have some fun and learn more about the world around us! Learn more here [ [link removed] ].

INaturalist Plant ID program

"Take a photo of your plant and upload it to iNaturalist or our Report-a-Weed form."

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Upcoming Public Events and Workshops

Learn more about upcoming SWM co-sponsored events and workshops on our events webpage [ [link removed] ].

Community Training - Plant ID and Weed Reporting
* *Friday, May 30, 11:00a.m. to 3:00p.m. | **Edmonds, WA*
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In collaboration with PNW Invasive Species Council & King County Noxious Weeds, Snohomish County is co-hosting our first Invasive Species Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR) Training of the year! Join us and learn about invasive species in your area and how you can support restoration efforts by reporting these species with free apps. A presentation/training will be following by a group hike to put your new skills to the test. Register for this training here. [ [link removed] ]


* *Septic System Care Workshop – Available On-Demand!*
* The popular Septic Care Workshop is now hosted by the Snohomish County Health Department, your go-to resource for questions about:
* septic system permitting,
* operation and maintenance requirements, and
* finding certified septic system contractors.

* Taking the workshop also makes you eligible to earn up to $500 in rebates and can help your property become LakeWise [ [link removed] ]
* Visit the Savvy Septic Program website [ [link removed] ] to learn more.

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3000 Rockefeller Ave. · Everett, WA 98201 · (425) 388-3411



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