Environment

The Shoreline Historical Museum Miyawaki Urban Forest on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Sno-Isle Sierra Club hosts Miyawaki forest tour

The urban forest was inspired by a 1970s Japanese botanist and aims to combat community members’ climate change worries.

 

An American Robin picks a berry from a holly tree on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Calling all birders for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count

The Audubon Society will hold its 28th annual Great Backyard…

 

The peaks of Mount Pilchuck, left, and Liberty Mountain, right, are covered in snow on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Western Washington’s current winter drought may not last through the season

Even with last week’s snow flurries, there’s no denying this…

 

The amphitheater at Deception Pass during the 2021 concert series. (Photo provided by Deception Pass Park Foundation Facebook page.)

Deception Pass Foundation seeks Adopt-A-Trail volunteers

If you’re looking for a way to get outside and give back to the community, the Deception Pass Park Foundation is accepting volunteers… Continue reading

The amphitheater at Deception Pass during the 2021 concert series. (Photo provided by Deception Pass Park Foundation Facebook page.)
A salmon carcass lays across willow branches in Edgecomb Creek on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Tribes: State fish passage projects knock down barriers for local efforts

Court-ordered projects have sparked collaboration for salmon habitat restoration

A salmon carcass lays across willow branches in Edgecomb Creek on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
The Snohomish River turns along the edge of the Bob Heirman Wildlife Preserve at Thomas’ Eddy on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Developers challenge Snohomish River Watershed legal rights

Opponents of the voter-approved initiative filed a complaint Tuesday in Snohomish County Superior Court.

The Snohomish River turns along the edge of the Bob Heirman Wildlife Preserve at Thomas’ Eddy on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Gordon Mawson, 5, left and Lenora Mawson, 7, right, look for ocean creatures during the Starlight Beach Walk on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024 near the Olympic Beach Visitor Station in Edmonds, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Starlight Beach Walk returns to Olympic Beach

During the day, the intertidal can be a magical and mysterious place, where critters come and go with the tides and slip in… Continue reading

Gordon Mawson, 5, left and Lenora Mawson, 7, right, look for ocean creatures during the Starlight Beach Walk on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024 near the Olympic Beach Visitor Station in Edmonds, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Dave Boehnlein greets Mrs. Pigglesworth of Midgarden Farms located at Rooted Northwest on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Agriculture co-op village approved in rural Arlington

Rooted Northwest hopes to build a small village as part of a ‘trial run’ for a farm-focused neighborhood.

Dave Boehnlein greets Mrs. Pigglesworth of Midgarden Farms located at Rooted Northwest on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Bill Derry, president of the Pilchuck Audubon Society, at the Meadowdale Playfields on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Washington environmentalists respond to Trump’s rollbacks

County and state conservation and renewable energy groups plan to continue work during the new administration.

Bill Derry, president of the Pilchuck Audubon Society, at the Meadowdale Playfields on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A fully intact exoskeleton of a crab can been seen on Mukilteo Beach on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025 in Mukilteo, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Crabs at Mukilteo aren’t dead. They’re just molting

Washington Fish and Wildlife officials say crabs of certain size and sex tend to molt at the same time.

A fully intact exoskeleton of a crab can been seen on Mukilteo Beach on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025 in Mukilteo, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Tom Murdoch gives public comment to the Snohomish County Council about his disagreement with the proposed wetland ordinance amendments on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Snohomish County delays decision on changes to habitat ordinance

The delay comes after comments focused on proposed changes that would allow buffer reductions around critical areas.

Tom Murdoch gives public comment to the Snohomish County Council about his disagreement with the proposed wetland ordinance amendments on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A view of the Eastglen Wetlands that run through the Eastglen development on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Critics question proposed amendments to habitat ordinance

County council to consider amendments that would cut buffers around wetlands and streams up to half for development flexibility.

A view of the Eastglen Wetlands that run through the Eastglen development on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Emma Hill rides a bike along Phase 0 of the Bayview Trail on Jan. 6, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)

Marysville, Lake Stevens celebrate progress of Bayview Trail

Once Bayview Trail is completed, it will connect Marysville and Lake Stevens with a paved path.

Emma Hill rides a bike along Phase 0 of the Bayview Trail on Jan. 6, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Allen Creek flows through a portion of an land used for dairy that was recently acquired by the Tulalip Foundation to be used for conservation and restoration on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Tulalip Tribes aim to boost salmon habitat at Allen Creek

The fundraising arm of the tribes plan to restore the area for critical salmon habitat.

Allen Creek flows through a portion of an land used for dairy that was recently acquired by the Tulalip Foundation to be used for conservation and restoration on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
The Nosov family rides their bikes through a large puddle that formed next to the large piles of fill dirt at the Port of Everett on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Port of Everett plans for sea level rise in new development

And electrification projects aim to decrease the port’s fossil fuel emissions.

The Nosov family rides their bikes through a large puddle that formed next to the large piles of fill dirt at the Port of Everett on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Cars drive along West Marine View Drive past a derelict barge visible off of the shoreline on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Port of Everett to remove derelict barge early next year

State funding will support the port’s progress on environmental restoration at Bay Wood.

Cars drive along West Marine View Drive past a derelict barge visible off of the shoreline on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Bailey Vos, a pre-sales forester, stands on a fallen tree in the Stilly Revisited timber sale  on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. (Ta'Leah Van Sistine / The Herald)

New state policy could affect timber sales in Snohomish County

A resolution passed this month means the state could sell more older forests for harvest.

Bailey Vos, a pre-sales forester, stands on a fallen tree in the Stilly Revisited timber sale  on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. (Ta'Leah Van Sistine / The Herald)
A Mitsubishi Electric heat pump is installed on the wall of Jim and Chris Hallճ home on Thursday, Sep. 7, 2023, near Langley, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Whidbey Island’s Kicking Gas expands aid to electric stoves

The local environmental justice organization started with heat pump subsidies.

A Mitsubishi Electric heat pump is installed on the wall of Jim and Chris Hallճ home on Thursday, Sep. 7, 2023, near Langley, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Water cascades down the Lower Falls near the Woody Trail at Wallace Falls State Park near Gold Bar on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015. A nearly six mile round-trip to the park's Upper Falls offers hikers an array of vistas on a well maintained trail.

Wallace Falls closed due to bomb cyclone damage

Over 170 trees fell in last month’s storm. The park near Gold Bar is closed until further notice.

Water cascades down the Lower Falls near the Woody Trail at Wallace Falls State Park near Gold Bar on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015. A nearly six mile round-trip to the park's Upper Falls offers hikers an array of vistas on a well maintained trail.
The Evergreen Branch of the Everett Public Library is open and ready for blast off. Dillon Works, of Mukilteo, designed this eye-catching sculpture that greets people along Evergreen Way.   (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Snohomish County awards money to improve warming, cooling centers

The money for HVAC improvements will allow facilities to better serve as temporary shelters for weather-related events.

The Evergreen Branch of the Everett Public Library is open and ready for blast off. Dillon Works, of Mukilteo, designed this eye-catching sculpture that greets people along Evergreen Way.   (Dan Bates / The Herald)