Environment

A view of the Shinglebolt Slough restoration project area on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024 in Sultan, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Skykomish River project aims to create salmon habitat, reduce flooding

The county project at Shinglebolt Slough hopes to collaborate with local property owners to restore former channels.

 

A hydrogen-powered motor is displayed during an event at ZeroAvia’s new Everett facility on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, near Paine Field in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Local lawmakers urge changes to proposed federal hydrogen energy rules

Snohomish County’s congressional delegation believes the current policy is counterproductive to clean energy goals.

 

A person walks toward their bus as it pull into the Lynnwood Transit Center on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

See where state money is funding environmental work in Snohomish County

A new dashboard shows where dollars are going to overburdened communities across the state.

 

A house is completely surrounded by floodwater along Pioneer Highway on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

New gate is latest piece in Stanwood’s flood protection puzzle

The floodgate will drastically decrease reaction time when the Stillaguamish River jumps its banks.

A house is completely surrounded by floodwater along Pioneer Highway on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Glacier Peak, elevation 10,541 feet, in the Glacier Peak Wilderness of Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest in Snohomish County, Washington. (Caleb Hutton / The Herald) 2019

2 years later, Glacier Peak seismometers delayed again

The U.S. Forest Service planned to install them in 2023. Now, officials are eyeing 2026.

Glacier Peak, elevation 10,541 feet, in the Glacier Peak Wilderness of Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest in Snohomish County, Washington. (Caleb Hutton / The Herald) 2019
Vernon Streeter looks over the fence at the Skykomish Substation operated by Puget Sound Energy on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 in Skykomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

‘Doesn’t make any sense’: Skykomish residents decry increased outages

Community members are frustrated about power outages and a lack of communication from Puget Sound Energy.

Vernon Streeter looks over the fence at the Skykomish Substation operated by Puget Sound Energy on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 in Skykomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
The Everett Herald’s newest environmental issues reporter Eliza Aronson. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

The Herald welcomes new environment reporter

Eliza Aronson joined the Everett newsroom this week.

The Everett Herald’s newest environmental issues reporter Eliza Aronson. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Kate Miller, an air monitoring specialist with the Department of Ecology, shows the inside of a PM10 air monitor installed outside of Fairmount Elementary School on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Amid high asthma rates, Snohomish County seeks climate solutions

A new county tool shows residents with asthma disproportionately live in neighborhoods with poor air quality.

Kate Miller, an air monitoring specialist with the Department of Ecology, shows the inside of a PM10 air monitor installed outside of Fairmount Elementary School on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A culvert sits underneath Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway tracks in Edmonds, Washington on Thursday, July 18, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

‘Give them a chance’: The fight to bring salmon back to Edmonds stream

For years, locals have begged the city to remove fish barriers in Perrinville Creek. A federal grant could help.

A culvert sits underneath Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway tracks in Edmonds, Washington on Thursday, July 18, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Waterfowl arrive at the Edmonds Marsh as the sun sets on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023, in Edmonds, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Climate-themed concert in Edmonds aims to inspire ‘hope and action’

The Nelda Swiggett Quintet will perform “For the Birds” from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Edmonds United Methodist Church.

Waterfowl arrive at the Edmonds Marsh as the sun sets on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023, in Edmonds, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Items are sorted for recycling inside the Waste Management Cascade Recycling Center in Woodinville, Washington, on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

How ‘clean’ is clean enough for recyclables? Waste experts weigh in

Snohomish County waste haulers say containers don’t need to be “dishwasher clean.” Typically, a simple rinse will do.

Items are sorted for recycling inside the Waste Management Cascade Recycling Center in Woodinville, Washington, on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
One example of a completed rain garden, established at a home in Monroe. The Adopt a Stream Foundation is hosting a free rain garden workshop Sept. 19. (Courtesy of Snohomish County)

Adopt a Stream to host free rain garden workshop in Everett

Rain gardens can filter stormwater runoff and improve local stream flows. Thousands of salmon could benefit.

One example of a completed rain garden, established at a home in Monroe. The Adopt a Stream Foundation is hosting a free rain garden workshop Sept. 19. (Courtesy of Snohomish County)
A birder watches waterfowl with a pair of binoculars at the Edmonds Marsh on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023, in Edmonds, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Ecology invites public comment on cleanup next to Edmonds Marsh

Once cleanup is done, Edmonds could purchase the Unocal property. Advocates say land could bring salmon back to the marsh.

A birder watches waterfowl with a pair of binoculars at the Edmonds Marsh on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023, in Edmonds, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Steam rises from a pile of “hog fuel,” leftover processed wood bits, as a conveyor belt adds to the pile neighbors gather to complain about United Recycling and Containers on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Snohomish, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

County forces DTG Recycle’s Maltby facility to scale back

Neighbors complained for months about noise and dust from the site. Now DTG can only accept wood and mineral waste.

Steam rises from a pile of “hog fuel,” leftover processed wood bits, as a conveyor belt adds to the pile neighbors gather to complain about United Recycling and Containers on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Snohomish, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Construction site for Sunnyside Village Cohousing on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

In Marysville development, community and sustainability ‘go hand in hand’

Sunnyside Village Cohousing will have 32 all-electric homes. Some residents can expect to move in next year.

Construction site for Sunnyside Village Cohousing on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Jill Diner, center, holds her son Sam Diner, 2, while he reacts to the shaking of the Big Shaker, the world’s largest mobile earthquake simulator, with his siblings on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

All shook up: Marysville gets a taste of 7.0 magnitude quake

On Thursday, locals lined up at Delta Plaza to experience an earthquake with the “Big Shaker” simulator.

Jill Diner, center, holds her son Sam Diner, 2, while he reacts to the shaking of the Big Shaker, the world’s largest mobile earthquake simulator, with his siblings on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Monroe climate and mental health advocate Jim Bloss died on Aug. 15. He was 83. (Provided photo)

Monroe climate and mental health advocate Jim Bloss dies at 83

Bloss was a regular contributor to The Daily Herald’s editorial pages. He recognized “a need for change,” a friend said.

Monroe climate and mental health advocate Jim Bloss died on Aug. 15. He was 83. (Provided photo)
A cyclist rides along the updated Scriber Creek Trail on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Sound Transit plants trees, funds green projects ahead of Lynnwood opening

Sound Transit has made environmental initiatives a top priority as it expands the light rail north to Snohomish County.

A cyclist rides along the updated Scriber Creek Trail on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Larch trees and huckleberry bushes border the Blue Lake hiking trail in Washington’s North Cascades National Park in 2009. (Stuart Isett/The New York Times)

Under climate change, North Cascades could see much hotter temperatures

The National Park Service this month released reports exploring climate change’s impacts on each national park.

Larch trees and huckleberry bushes border the Blue Lake hiking trail in Washington’s North Cascades National Park in 2009. (Stuart Isett/The New York Times)
Outside of the Madrona School on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Ecology: Edmonds school needs to find source of PFAS

Locals are concerned the chemicals will seep into the Deer Creek aquifer, 40 to 50 feet below the school’s stormwater wells.

Outside of the Madrona School on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)