Environment

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

Learn how to track wildlife at the Northwest Stream Center

The Adopt A Stream Foundation is partnering with Alderleaf Wilderness College to teach an introductory class on how to track wildlife.

 

A seagull is reflected in pooling water as a steady rain comes down over the Port of Everett. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

A spooky, rainy weekend is ahead

The National Weather Service is predicting 1-2 inches of rain in Everett, with areas in the Cascades getting over 4 inches of rain.

 

Snohomish County will host 20th annual farm and forestry conference on Nov. 5

The conference will bring government officials, nonprofit organizations and agricultural professionals across the region together for networking and learning opportunities.

 

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Agriculturists can provide comment on Dept. of Ecology’s latest guidance chapters

The state agency is creating a technical resource that outlines best management practices for agriculturalists to use to protect water quality.

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Weekend storm offers glimpse of updated Snohomish PUD outage map

The new map allows customers to zoom down to house level and track where Snohomish PUD workers are in the process of restoring power.

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Lake Stevens signs its side of an agreement with Everett over waterline development

Everett will consider the contract on Nov. 5, which will allow development along its water transmission line that goes through Lake Stevens.

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Outside of Mountlake Terrace City Hall on Wednesday, July 30, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Mountlake Terrace talks rates at regional wastewater forum

Officials from partnering water and sewer groups discussed upcoming projects and how customer costs will be affected.

Outside of Mountlake Terrace City Hall on Wednesday, July 30, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A view of the Eastview development looking south along 79th Avenue where mud and water runoff flowed due to rain on Oct. 16, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Controversial Eastview Village development flooded Greenleaf neighborhood

Greenleaf HOA residents claim the development wasn’t following stormwater code, leading to floods that covered residents’ yards with an inch of mud.

A view of the Eastview development looking south along 79th Avenue where mud and water runoff flowed due to rain on Oct. 16, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A boat navigates the Snohomish River near the Lowell Riverfront Trail on Oct. 21, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

On Friday, a judge will consider whether the Snohomish River has rights

Developers are taking an initiative that grants the Snohomish River legal standing rights to court, arguing the law oversteps its bounds.

A boat navigates the Snohomish River near the Lowell Riverfront Trail on Oct. 21, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
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Join Green Snohomish on a walking fall tree tour

On Saturday, learn about the city’s heritage trees on a 2-mile walking tour.

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Snohomish Conservation District will host the eighth annual Orca Recovery Day

Help out planting native species in Ovenell Park in Stanwood on Saturday.

Sebastian Sanchez, left, instructor Hannah Dreesbach, center, and Kash Willis, right, learn how to identify trees near Darrington Elementary School in Darrington, Washington on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023. Environmental and outdoor education lessons are woven throughout the in-school and after-school activities in this small community, thanks to the Glacier Peak Institute. The non-profit arose from community concerns in the wake of the Oso landslide disaster. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Glacier Peak Institute will host a fundraiser in Everett on Thursday

The institute engages rural youth with science, technology, recreation, engineering, art, mathematics and skill-building programs.

Sebastian Sanchez, left, instructor Hannah Dreesbach, center, and Kash Willis, right, learn how to identify trees near Darrington Elementary School in Darrington, Washington on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023. Environmental and outdoor education lessons are woven throughout the in-school and after-school activities in this small community, thanks to the Glacier Peak Institute. The non-profit arose from community concerns in the wake of the Oso landslide disaster. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
A kingfisher perches on the top of a dead tree in the northernmost section of the Chinook Marsh Project site on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Snohomish County will pass grant funds to Everett to relocate water line

As part of the county’s Chinook Marsh restoration project, the city of Everett will relocate a 55-year-old drinking water transmission line.

A kingfisher perches on the top of a dead tree in the northernmost section of the Chinook Marsh Project site on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
People leave notes on farmers market concept photos during an informational open house held at the Northwest Stream Center on Oct. 9, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Snohomish County presents plans for Food and Farming Center

The future center will reside in McCollum Park and provide instrumental resources for local farmers to process, package and sell products.

People leave notes on farmers market concept photos during an informational open house held at the Northwest Stream Center on Oct. 9, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Adopt A Stream will host bat and bird events on Saturday

Get an introduction to birding or learn about the benefits of bats at the Northwest Stream Center.

A dead Chinook salmon lays on the bank of the Sultan River on Sept. 30, 2025 in Sultan, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Why too many pink salmon in Snohomish County may not be a good thing

New study shows booming pink salmon populations affect threatened Chinook salmon and Southern Resident orcas.

A dead Chinook salmon lays on the bank of the Sultan River on Sept. 30, 2025 in Sultan, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A woman crosses 5th Avenue South with an umbrella as it rains on Sept. 29, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

The end of September brings wind and rain to Snohomish County

With likely showers throughout the week, the National Weather Service predicts almost an inch of rain for the Everett area by Wednesday night.

A woman crosses 5th Avenue South with an umbrella as it rains on Sept. 29, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Cynthia Jones, with the Sno-Isle Sierra Club, at the Meadowdale Playfields on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Sno-Isle Sierra Club chapter to host public lands Zoom call

Join the call on Tuesday evening to learn more about proposed policy, current projects and efforts to protect public lands.

Cynthia Jones, with the Sno-Isle Sierra Club, at the Meadowdale Playfields on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
The South Fork Stillaguamish River flows out of Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, outside Verlot, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

U.S. Forest Service lifts for Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie forest public fire use restrictions

The federal agency is still encouraging vistors to check fire danger levels, but cooler weather is reducing wildifre risk.

The South Fork Stillaguamish River flows out of Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, outside Verlot, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Cali Weber, a marine biology intern for Surface Water Management, scoops the top layers of sand into a sample bag that will be analyzed for forage fish eggs at Picnic Point Park on Sept. 23, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Why scientists search for fish eggs

Data from the fish spawning sites act as a barometer of marine ecosystem health.

Cali Weber, a marine biology intern for Surface Water Management, scoops the top layers of sand into a sample bag that will be analyzed for forage fish eggs at Picnic Point Park on Sept. 23, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)