Sustainability and the Environment

Early fire conditions mark start of ‘a very long’ season in Washington

Hot and dry conditions in Western Washington have already prompted a fire risk warning, brush fires in Vancouver, burn bans in some counties and strict admonishments from officials to watch for sparks and extinguish campfires properly. And the hottest months of the year are still ahead. The early fire risk west of the Cascades is…

Wetlands remain protected in Washington state despite recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling

Wetlands, seasonal streams and other waters in Washington remain protected under state law, and developers still need to apply for review and approval prior to beginning work that could affect these waters. The Washington Department of Ecology is reiterating those state protections in light of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that narrowed federal protections for…

State AG sues makers of ‘forever chemicals’ that have seeped into drinking water

Companies involved in making and selling firefighting foam used for decades in Washington hid potential health risks from chemicals in the product, contributing to drinking water pollution around the state, according to allegations in a lawsuit Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed on Tuesday. The case centers on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, often referred…

Groundbreaking ceremony marks beginning of Ballinger Park transformation

A long-awaited groundbreaking Tuesday marked the beginning of efforts to create a natural sanctuary at Mountlake Terrace’s 16-acre Ballinger Park. Among those attending were 32nd District State Reps. Cindy Ryu and Lauren Davis and State Sen. Jesse Salomon, and representatives from the offices of U.S. Reps. Rick Larsen and Suzan DelBene, both of whom couldn’t…

Alderwood Water & Wastewater District treatment plant wins ‘Outstanding Performance’ Award

The Alderwood Water & Wastewater District’s (AWWD) Picnic Point Wastewater Treatment Plant was recently recognized by the Washington State Department of Ecology as the recipient of the agency’s 2022 Outstanding Performance Awards for wastewater treatment plants across the state. This will be the fifth consecutive time that AWWD’s wastewater processing facility has received this award…

State Department of Ecology begins rulemaking on climate funds reporting

How Washington invests cap-and-invest auction revenues to prepare for climate change will be captured in public reporting that the Department of Ecology is responsible for publishing under the Climate Commitment Act. Ecology said in a news release last week that it is starting new rulemaking focused on reporting requirements for state agencies that receive and…

City of Lynnwood releases results of Urban Forest Health Assessment

The City of Lynnwood has released the results of a report that assesses the health of Lynnwood’s urban forest in parks and open spaces. The Lynnwood Parks Urban Forest Health Assessment identifies the forest conditions using a “tree-iage” matrix to score the overall health and level of threat – by habitat management unit – within the forested…

Headed out on your boat? Remember to pump out your sewage

Planning some time on your boat as summer kicks off? A reminder not to empty your boat’s holding tank into Puget Sound or inland waters. Puget Sound is a No Discharge Zone, meaning that vessels in the Sound can’t release sewage, either raw or treated. This doesn’t just apply to commercial vessels, it applies to…

Why it’s important to keep plastic out of your compost container

Composting is a great way to turn yard debris and food scraps into a valuable soil amendment that enriches soil. The Washington State Department of Ecology reminds consumers to keep the compost “clean” by not including contaminants like plastic packaging and wrappers. Recycle your plastics or place them in a garbage container. Just like other recycling systems,…

Deep cleaning at Picnic Point Park

Dozens of volunteers spent their morning Saturday wrestling with vines and branches during a cleanup at Picnic Point Park in unincorporated Edmonds, aimed at improving the marine habitat and restoring a vital salmon run at Picnic Point Beach. Organized jointly by the Olympic Fly Fishers of Edmonds and the Snohomish County Healthy Forest Project, the work focused on…

Lynnwood’s Scriber Lake Park receives $2 million federal grant

The Lynnwood Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department has received a $2 million grant from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund to help build a quarter-mile boardwalk and two wildlife viewpoints on the shore of Scriber Lake. Lynnwood will use the funds to improve connections to a floating dock, increase accessibility and restore shoreline…

Student artwork featured in virtual National Nordic Museum exhibit

The National Nordic Museum in Seattle is featuring environmentally themed artwork from students in the Edmonds School District as well as those from other schools. The exhibit, which started on Earth Day April 22, is the outgrowth of the annual Ar(c)t(ic) Design Contest that second graders at Lynnwood’s Spruce Elementary School have organized since 2020. The project…

Public invited to Picnic Point Beach cleanup May 20

Join the Olympic Fly Fishers of Edmonds Saturday, May 20 as they partner with the Snohomish County Healthy Forest Project to improve the marine habitat and restore a vital salmon run at Picnic Point Beach. The event runs from 9 a.m. to noon. Representatives from the Snohomish County Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will be on site, along with Picnic…

Climate Protection: Washington State’s cap-and-invest program

Introducing Climate Protection, a new monthly column from Nick Maxwell Washington State has begun something pretty huge for climate change — a “cap-and-invest” program. From 2023 on, most businesses that release more than 25,000 tons of global-warming air pollution each year have to buy an allowance for each ton they produce. The tons are measured…

Survey reveals consumers still flushing wipes

Despite expensive damage that can be done by flushing wipes, a recent survey identified an ongoing need for awareness about items that should not be flushed. Many consumers still believe baby wipes, personal care wipes, and disinfecting wipes are “flushable.” That’s according to information released last week by the Washington Association of Water & Sewer…

State Legislature allocates $6.5 million for research and development center for sustainable aviation fuels at Paine Field

As part of its 2023-2025 transportation budget, the Washington State Legislature allocated $6.5 million for a research and development ccnter for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) at Snohomish County’s Paine Field Airport. Executive Dave Somers recently announced the plan for the center, which is a partnership with Washington State University (WSU) and combined with other WSU…

Edmonds College, partner organizations recommended for NOAA grant funding

Edmonds College, in partnership with Latino Educational Training Institute (LETI) and Snohomish Conservation District, have been recommended for $817,000 in funding through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to restore salmon habitat Together, the college, LETI and the Snohomish Conservation District will create a bilingual workforce development program to educate and train Latino community…

City of Lynnwood sponsoring Earth Day drive-thru event April 29

  The City of Lynnwood is hosting an Earth Day drive-thru event Saturday, April 29, from 9-11 a.m. Available services — available to Lynnwood residents only — include: A shred truck for secure recycling of sensitive or confidential paper products Free compost available for pick up. Bring your own container to fill up. You fill…

Congressman Larsen pays Earth Day visit to Meadowdale Beach Park

To celebrate Earth Day, U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen joined Snohomish County Parks Director Tom Teigen, other county officials and citizen volunteers at Meadowdale Beach County Park Saturday to help expand the newly-created estuarine habitat area. Larsen joined volunteers in their efforts to making a dent in the jungle of blackberry, English ivy and other invasives…

‘Simple As That’ campaign aims to help create a litter-free Washington

April is Earth Month, and the Washington Department of Ecology is marking the occasion with an emphasis on keeping Washington litter free. Roadside litter affects road safety, the environment and the wellbeing of local communities. More than 75% of Washington residents do not litter, but despite this, an estimated 26 million pounds of material still…

Madrona students get schooled about recycling

Kindergarten through third graders attending the Edmonds School District’s Madrona K-8 School got an interactive lesson in recycling and the environment during a theatrical assembly Monday. The performance was one of two assemblies at the school Monday afternoon (the other was for grades 4-6), reaching nearly 500 students and teachers. The goal was to educate attendees…