Environment, ecology, and conservation - King County, Washington

Join King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks as we celebrate the 55th Anniversary of Earth Day!

A technical manual detailing stormwater management requirements for parcel development in King County, WA. Also applicable in any other municipalities that have adopted this manual. At present the most current version is the 2021 Surface Water Design Manual (amended 2024).

A technical manual detailing stormwater management requirements for parcel development in King County, WA. Also applicable in any other municipalities that have adopted this manual. At present the most current version is the 2021 Surface Water Design Manual (amended 2024).

A technical manual detailing stormwater management requirements for parcel development in King County, WA. Also applicable in any other municipalities that have adopted this manual. 

A technical manual detailing stormwater management requirements for parcel development in King County, WA. Also applicable in any other municipalities that have adopted this manual. At present this 2024 amendment to the 2021 SWDM is the most current version.

Noxious weeds are found everywhere in King County: in urban, suburban and rural areas; on developed and undeveloped land; in gardens, farmland, forests and natural areas, as well as in lakes, rivers, streams and in Puget Sound. Weeds are everyone's problem, directly or indirectly. 

We do tests that help to make sure water treated by wastewater treatment plants meets compliance permit limits. We test lake samples to protect the public and pets from toxic algae blooms and we track the phytoplankton living in the Puget Sound.

The Bear Creek Watershed Management Study report outlines recommendations to restore Bear Creek to existing and designated uses, so that it provides a healthy environment for the community and aquatic species.

Removing beavers and/or their dams can be difficult. If you are experiencing drainage issues because of beaver dams, a beaver deceiver may help. 

Find the latest on beavers in King County including biology and life history, environmental benefits beavers provide, challenges and solutions, and resources for beaver management such as scientific papers and illustrations.  

King County tracks stream health by examining “stream bugs”, known by scientists as benthic macroinvertebrates. Learn about our sampling program, how we collect these bugs, and how we use the data.

Biological diversity, or biodiversity, is life in all its forms. Learn about the importance of biodiversity, its threats and related regulations, and some of the amazing creatures that call King County home.

Approximately 220 species of breeding and non-breeding birds are typically seen each year in King County. There are also more than 100 mammal species that inhabit or visit King County, like the whales that travel through Puget Sound.

Information about the weed of concern bittersweet nightshade. Bittersweet nightshade is also known by its scientific name, Solanum dulcamara. Other common names include blue bindweed, climbing nightshade, felonwort, poison berry, and trailing nightshade.

Learn more about King County programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower energy bills, while improving indoor air quality and climate resilience in homes and other buildings.

Information about capital projects and programs that protect people and the environment from flooding, soil erosion, and drainage problems caused by stormwater. 

Information and services within the drainage area that includes the Cedar River and Lake Washington. Includes lakes, streams, wetlands, fish and wildlife habitat, pollution, flooding, open space, and forestry in the area.

This page provides information about the Cedar River Council (CRC), a public forum connecting people for Cedar River health.

Plan to restore and enhance the pond and surrounding wetland at the headwaters of May Creek to provide public benefits such as recreational amenities, reduced downstream flooding and clean water and healthy habitat to help salmon thrive.

Information and services for the area of King County where surface water runs off to local drainages and into Central Puget Sound.

Nước sạch rất quan trọng đối với nhiều người dân ở phía Nam của Quận King, mọi người thích vui chơi ở Poverty Bay như bơi, lặn, chèo thuyền, đi dạo trên bãi biển và câu cá. Tuy nhiên, chất lượng nước ở Poverty Bay đã trở nên tồi tệ hơn theo thời gian do các nguồn ô nhiễm phân khác nhau. Nếu trong nước có phân thì vi trùng, vi-rút, vi khuẩn và ký sinh trùng cũng có trong nước và điều đó có thể đe dọa tới sức khỏe của cư dân, du khách và động vật dưới biển. Chương Trình Xác Định và Khắc Phục Ô Nhiễm Nước Ở Poverty Bay (PIC) tập trung vào việc bảo vệ cộng đồng của chúng ta bằng cách sử lý phân của người và động vật một cách tốt hơn.

The effects of climate change on King County's biodiversity are only beginning to be understood, though they have already begun.

Best management practice (BMP) activity sheets are intended for commercial, industrial, agricultural, public, and multifamily residential activities. These pages can be found in Chapter 3 of the 2021 Stormwater Pollution Prevention Manual.

Information about the noxious weed, common holly. Common holly is also known by its scientific name Ilex aquifolium. Other common names include English holly, Christmas holly, inkberry, winterberry, and European holly.

Information about noxious weeds common ivy and Atlantic ivy. Common ivy is known by the scientific name Hedera helix and Atlantic ivy is known by the Latin name Hedera hibernica.

Conservation Futures grants can provide a match waiver for certain projects, which means the program could pay 100% of the eligible costs of buying open space.

Find a laboratory project manager or unit supervisor

The Toxic Chemical Assessment unit regularly monitors several chemicals across King County. Learn more about legacy toxic organic chemicals, contaminants of emerging concern, heavy metals, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

The Conventional Chemistry Unit tests natural waters, wastewater, soil, and sediment for many inorganic and organic substances. The results are used to track water quality in the Puget Sound region.

Find out how to access a lower-interest loan for projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower utility bills and save money on energy costs.

Come join us! Build your path to the future. The King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) has been sponsoring Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) crews since 1994. WCC provides the perfect opportunity to learn by doing through hands-on experience.

King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks

Select a water quality monitoring site and download data for selected time span including temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, nitrogen, phosphorus, E. coli, fecal coliform, alkalinity, total suspended solids and turbidity. For large queries, visit our open data portal.

The companies below perform drainage system cleaning and maintenance services. These companies have indicated an interest in appearing on this list by responding to Water and Land Resources Division notices.

An ecological region, or ecoregion, is a large area of the landscape with distinctive groupings of plants and animals and their interactions. Ecoregions provide a useful framework to better understand, plan for, and conserve the marine, freshwater, and terrestrial environments of the county.

Information about the aquatic noxious weed Egeria. Egeria is also known by its scientific name, Egeria densa.Egeria is in the frogbit family. Other common names for Egeria are Brazilian elodea, Brazilian waterweed, and South American waterweed.​

The Energize – Community Spaces program provides services and County-managed installations in community-facing buildings to improve energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and building occupant comfort, and to lower energy costs. This program is open to non-government owned community spaces located in King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties. Program applications are open! Deadline to apply is April 20, 2026. The deadline has been extended to April 27, 2026 at midnight. Click, tap or enter to apply. Support for completing the program application is available on a limited basis. If your organization would like to request support filling out the application, please review the program information below and then complete the Application Support Request Form.

Providing heat pumps and weatherization for homes and other buildings where covered in King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties.

King County's Energize program helps eligible homeowners and renters access energy-efficient low- or no-cost heat pumps and other upgrades.

Join us to learn about the environment we live in through programs appropriate for all ages. Plan field trips to treatment plants and landfills, find lesson plans and materials for schools and find opportunities for internships and summer jobs.

Supporting the King County Water and Land Resources Division by keeping watch over our waterways.

This project repaired a pipe and install fish passage features. A portion of the funding for this project came from the Fairwood West Homeowners’ Association and the King County Flood Control District Flood Control Grant.

Project on the mainstem Snoqualmie River about a half-mile downstream of the SR-203 Bridge in the town of Fall City to reduce flood risk and restore aquatic habitat.

The Farmland Preservation Program protects against loss of farmland in King County through the purchase of agricultural easements, known as Deed of and Agreement Relating to Development Rights. Purchases began in the early 1980’s and continue today. Most of the 16,400 acres protected to date are located in agricultural production districts, as well as other rural areas.  

King County tracks toxic contaminants in the tissues of marine fish and crabs in Elliott Bay and in the Main Basin of the Puget Sound. We share that information with King County leadership, partners, decision makers, and local fishers to support efforts to reduce pollution and its impacts on ecosystems and human health.

Learn how to identify salmon and trout that inhabit King County streams, as well as freshwater mollusks, and find out what King County does to protect and restore aquatic habitat to recover fish and shellfish populations and ensure they can thrive.

This program removes structures in streams and rivers that block salmon from reaching historic habitat. This will allow salmon to reach miles of historic spawning and rearing habitat. Access to more habitat will help ensure healthy salmon populations.

Benefits of forest carbon projects and overview of King County Forest Carbon Program.

Find services for forest land owners and look up King County programs, plans, regulations, opportunities and forest safety advice for King County residents who manage forest land.

Cống thoát nước mưa chảy trực tiếp nguồn nước địa phương. Điều này có nghĩa là nước mưa không được xử lý hoặc làm sạch. Phí Quản lý Nước Bề mặt (Surface Water Management, hoặc SWM) được sử dụng để xây dựng và bảo trì các cấu trúc quản lý nước mưa đến từ các tòa nhà và đường phố. Chúng tôi làm việc với chủ nhà, nông dân, doanh nghiệp, thành phố và những người khác để giúp ngăn ngừa lũ lụt, giảm ô nhiễm và duy trì nguồn nước ngầm.

This page  provides services and information in the land area that drains to the Green River, Duwamish Waterway and out to Puget Sound at Elliott Bay.

The King County Groundwater Protection Program maintains data on groundwater quality and water levels. Use our search tools or browse our collection of maps and reports to get groundwater data.

Groundwater is important to streams, lakes and wetlands that support fish and wildlife. Groundwater feeds surface streams in the summer months and provides water for salmon and other fish when there is little rain. Groundwater also provides drinking water for a significant percentage of King County residents.

King County has five Groundwater Management Areas (GWMAs) within the county boundaries. These areas are part of the provisions of Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 173-100.

Explore this page to learn about Vashon's groundwater, including where it comes from, data about water levels and water quality, and ways that everyone on the Island can care for this vital resource. 

The Groundwater Protection Program provides management, policy, and technical expertise to help protect the quality and quantity of the groundwater resources in King County.

The Habitat Restoration Unit (HRU) designs, permits, builds and monitors ecological restoration projects in King County to promote salmon recovery.

The Healthy Lands Project (HeLP) provides invasive weed control and stewardship assistance on conservation lands to keep open space healthy for people and the environment.

We manage specialized hardware and software that allow our field and lab scientists to access and interact with data and allow clients access to test results.

King County samples sediments at beaches, where people are most likely to interact with sediments. The sediments can contain chemicals, which attach as the particles settle out of the water. These samples are used to evaluate what chemicals are there and track chemistry changes over time.

Invasive species are typically non-native plants or animals that are highly competitive over native species. They are often difficult to control or eliminate, and in extreme cases may be quite destructive of native ecosystems or economically valuable plant and animal resources. Invasive plants that are highly destructive are termed "noxious weeds," and destructive invasive animals are "pests."

Invertebrates are any animals that don't have a backbone. Insects are invertebrates. So are cephalopods (octopus and squid), zooplankton, earthworms, clams and mussels, and a variety of critters we call benthic macroinvertebrates—also known as stream bugs. Learn about some of the invertebrates you can find in King County.

King County is a productive agricultural region with dairies, livestock operations, row crops, flowers, and berry fields. The King County Agriculture Program strives to preserve agricultural soils, support farmers and consumers, and protect natural resources.

Basin Stewards help King County residents protect and restore water and land in their watersheds and are there to answer questions about stream health and watershed conditions.

View recent news about King County's work on climate action, read and sign-up for our news releases or newsletter, and find a media contact to set up storytelling opportunities.

Advisory group of volunteer members, appointed by the King County Executive, who represent a variety of rural forest interests to King County.

The King County Site Management Plan (SiMPla) is a manual for King County workers. It lists stormwater pollution-preventing best management practices (BMPs) to follow while working throughout the county. SiMPla BMPs are not intended to supersede established, approved policies and procedures.

Learn about wetlands in King County such as their value to clean water and healthy habitat, reducing floods and supporting biodiversity and find wetland maps, regulations and studies.​

Local and regional news coverage about the Lake Sammamish kokanee population.

There are eight units at the Environmental Lab:

Lake Geneva is situated in the suburbs of South King County between Federal Way and Auburn. A public park is located at its northeastern shore while the rest of the lakeshore is surrounded by woods, private homes, and docks.

Learn about phytoplankton (algae) and zooplankton (tiny crustaceans) in the major lakes of King County and find help dealing with harmful algae blooms (HABs), which may produce toxins that harm people, pets and other animals.

The kokanee is a salmon native to King County. Local governments, residents, and organizations are working together to preserve this fish’s future.

The Kokanee Work Group (KWG) is an ad hoc collaborative group formed in 2007. Its goal is to prevent the extinction and improve the health of the native kokanee population so it is viable, self-sustaining, and eventually supports fishery opportunities.

King County provides an array of services and information to facilitate lake management, monitoring, and enjoyment.

The Lake Stewardship Program monitors the water quality of small lakes in King County to assess the real and potential changes over time.

Find answers to commonly asked questions about King County lakes.

Definitions and vocabulary for common lake and water quality terms.

The Land Conservation Initiative works to invest in parks, open space and trail access in localities historically deprived of amenities to ensure health and well-being in every neighborhood.

List of habitat restoration and flood reduction projects where large wood will be or is likely to be installed in a King County river or stream.

Find contacts for local cities and counties to report drainage and water quality problems. This webpage is updated when possible, however some contacts may no longer be active.

The Toxic Chemical Assessment unit investigates and documents contaminants in King County aquatic life and track how those contaminants vary across locations and time. This work supports the Clean Water Healthy Habitat initiative, specifically the goal to reduce toxics in our environment

Look at what King County has accomplished to date on its Land Conservation Initiative with maps and photos of land acquisitions.

King County monitors water quality at local marine beaches to understand current conditions, how conditions have changed over time, and where we have water quality issues that need to be addressed.

King County has been monitoring toxic contaminants in Dungeness crab (Metacarcinus magister) and red rock crab (Cancer productus) from Puget Sound every 4 years since 2014. This information helps our public health agencies update consumption advisories and helps King County track changes in environmental pollution over time.

Links and information for marine water quality, plankton, sediment, and tissue datasets. Contains access to program pages, data, and relevant documentation where available.    The map below shows all sampling sites for marine monitoring and can be filtered by program name. 

King County has conducted benthic (sea floor) trawling surveys to monitor for toxic contaminants in English sole and rockfish every 2 years since 2015, though we discontinued collecting rockfish in 2023. We collect fish to help our public health partner agencies update consumption advisories and we also track changes in environmental pollution over time.

King County’s marine moorings continuously measure water quality parameters, offering insight into how Puget Sound’s ecosystem is changing in real time. These autonomous data-gathering platforms help identify environmental changes in the previous hour to the previous several years, filling in data when we are unable to sample for the offshore monitoring program.

King County collects samples to determine the different types and number of marine phytoplankton at the base of the Puget Sound food web. Phytoplankton are important indicators of environmental health and can rapidly grow or disappear based on many factors, such as temperature, nutrients, mixing of the water, and predation.

We monitor the amounts and types (community composition) of phytoplankton and zooplankton in the Puget Sound Central Basin, as they are indicators of ecosystem health. This information allows us to understand the base of the marine food web and how it changes over time and in response to environmental factors.

King County monitors marine (salt) water quality at beaches and at locations further from shore. These data help us understand the health of Puget Sound and how climate and humans impact the marine ecosystem.

King County measures the amount and types of marine zooplankton to help assess the health of Puget Sound. Zooplankton have a critical role in the marine food web since they are important food for young salmon and other fish. In addition, many important species, such as Dungeness crab, spend part of their life in the water column as zooplankton.

The McSorley Creek Shoreline and Estuary Restoration Project will examine removing the rock bulkhead along the shoreline and the rock at the creek’s mouth to restore natural beach processes, make the creek more accessible for fish and the beach more accessible to people.

Our main goal is to test a range of samples for microorganisms to help keep the public and our environment safe and healthy.

Information about the noxious weed milk thistle. Milk thistle is also known by its Latin name, Silybum marianum. Property owners are required to control this plant. Milk thistle can cause nitrate poisoning in cattle and sheep.

Project will help clean the water in Mill Creek by upgrading the stormwater pond in the Kings Park neighborhood, so it can catch and treat more stormwater runoff before it flows into the creek.

This Program monitors and maintains habitat restoration projects designed and implemented by the Habitat Restoration Unit. We make sure restoration projects meet their goals and do not increase risk to people or infrastructure. We also inform the design of future projects and help to identify potential adaptive management needs.

The following resources are provided by the Water and Land Resources Division of King County, Washington as an aid to learning about northwest native plants. This list is updated periodically. If you have any questions, or know of a resource that you think should be included in the list, please contact Greg Rabourn.

The Neighborhood Drainage Assistance Program (NDAP) resolves stormwater related flooding, erosion, and sedimentation problems on private property in unincorporated King County. NDAP can design and fund projects to build new drainage systems or repair existing drainage systems. Technical assistance is also available for questions about construction, permitting, and storm drainage.

New Zealand mudsnails, Potamopyrgus antipodarum, are freshwater invaders from New Zealand. They can multiply very quickly and have the potential to become a serious economic and ecological problem for the Puget Sound region.

The Normative Flow Studies project, concluded in 2007, sought to enhance our understanding of the relationship between river and stream flow patterns with ecological parameters.

Consider applying to serve on the Noxious Weed Control Board to guide noxious weed policy for King County. The current deadline for applications is April 30, 2026.

Identification and control guidance and resources for noxious weeds and invasive plants in King County

King County’s Noxious Weed Control Program has a variety of free noxious weed related resources that they offer both online and in person. Learn more about their materials and opportunities below.

King County invests in water quality monitoring and analysis to better understand how excess nitrogen affects marine life. This is part of a shared commitment to protect Puget Sound marine life.

King County monitors ocean acidification conditions and trends in the county’s marine waters to help understand exposure risk to corrosive water as well as to inform management actions around mitigation. Corrosive water is a problem for shellfish and other animals with shells because their shells will either dissolve or not form properly.

Monitoring offshore water quality in King County is essential for understanding naturally occurring conditions across Puget Sound and how human and climate impacts are affecting this valuable marine ecosystem.

The Toxic Chemical Assessment unit conducts various studies, modeling and assessments to better understand and address contaminants in King County.

Information about the toxic, noxious weed poison hemlock. Poison hemlock is also known by its scientific name, Conium maculatum.​ It is a member of the carrot family. Other common names include poison parsley, deadly hemlock, spotted hemlock, wild hemlock, carrot fern, California fern, devil’s bread, and devil’s porridge.

Services and information to help reduce pollution in our environment such as chemicals, soapy water, oil, trash, animal waste and dirt, and where to report pollution.

Clean water is important to many people in South King County who enjoy Poverty Bay for swimming, diving, boating, beach-walking, and fishing. Yet, water quality in Poverty Bay has worsened over time from various fecal (poop) pollution sources. If poop is in the water, germs, viruses, bacteria, and parasites are present in water, which can be threats to the health of residents, visitors, and animals in the sea. The Poverty Bay Pollution Identification and Correction (PIC) Program focuses on protecting our community by taking care of poop from humans and animals. Learn more about what we are doing to find and fix sources of bacteria. 

남 킹 카운티에 사는 우리들에게 깨끗한 물에서 수영, 다이빙, 보트 이용, 해변 산책, 그리고 낚시를 즐길 수 있는 것은 매우 중요한 문제입니다. 그러나 Poverty Bay 의 수질은 오랜 시간동안 분뇨오염으로 나빠져 왔습니다. 분뇨가 물에서 퍼진다는 것은 사람과 물 속 동식물의 건강을 위협하는 세균, 바이러스, 박테리아, 그리고 기생충들이 물 속에 존재함을 의미합니다. Poverty Bay 오염확인 및 교정 프로그램은 사람과 동물에게서 나오는 분뇨가 잘 처리되도록 함으로써 우리 지역사회를 건강하게 유지시키는 데 초점을 맞추고 있습니다.

The private companies on the list below perform analysis, engineering, and/or design of stormwater drainage systems. These firms have indicated an interest in appearing on this list by responding to Water and Land Resources Division notices.

El agua limpia es importante para muchas personas en el sur del Condado de King que disfrutan la bahía Poverty Bay para nadar, bucear, pasear en bote, caminar por la playa, y pescar. Sin embargo, la calidad del agua de la bahía ha empeorado con el paso del tiempo por la contaminación producida por varias fuentes de sustancias fecales o excrementos. Si hay excrementos en el agua, hay gérmenes, virus, bacterias y parásitos que pueden ser una amenaza para la salud de los residentes, visitantes y animales en el mar o los océanos. El Programa de Identificación y Corrección de Contaminación de Poverty Bay (PIC, por sus siglas en inglés) se enfoca en proteger a nuestra comunidad mediante el manejo de excrementos de humanos y animales.

Amending the 2021 Surface Water Design Manual King County has amended the 2021 edition of the Surface Water Design Manual (SWDM), adding bioretention using WA Ecology approved High Performance Bioretention Soil Mixes (HPBSM) as an approved water quality treatment facility and as an allowable flow control best management practice (FCBMP).

Our Quality Assurance Program helps set up and maintain dependable methods for sample collection and analysis. These methods help us to meet regulatory standards as well as our own goals and those of our clients.

The Quartermaster Harbor Nitrogen Management Study and Report was completed in 2014. The report summarizes freshwater (groundwater and surface water) inputs to Quartermaster Harbor, marine water quality, and sources of nitrogen. It also provides recommendations for future studies to address management challenges.

Reed canarygrass is an aggressive, noxious weed. It can grow so thick in waterways that it causes sediment to build up and restrict flow in a waterway.

King County landowners are required to control a subset of noxious weeds that have been legally selected for regulation on properties that they manage. The Regulated Weeds team of specialists coordinate, manage, and occasionally fulfills the controls of these select weeds on a regional basis within King County.

Information and services within the drainage area that flows to the Sammamish River and into Lake Washington. Includes lakes, streams, wetlands, fish and wildlife habitat, pollution, flooding, open space, and agricutlure in the area.

King County scientists conduct research, analyze data, and share findings to protect and restore clean water and healthy habitat. This work supports a wide variety of King County’s environmental and public health programs, including those that address salmon recovery; harmful freshwater bacteria and algae; toxic contaminants in water, soil, and fish; habitat management; wastewater and stormwater; and land use and/or development.

A set of graphs showing the accumulated Sea-Tac precipitation beginning October 1, for the current water year.

King County measures the physical and chemical characteristics of sediments as well as assess the invertebrate (animal with no backbones) community that lives within the sediment. This information helps us understand more about habitat health at the bottom of Puget Sound and how it is changing over time.  

This project retrofitted King County’s Regional Detention Facility #DR0562 (Seola Pond) with water quality features. This is a collaborative effort between King County and the City of Seattle. A portion of funding for this project also comes from the Washington State Department of Ecology in the form of a stormwater facility retrofit grant.

Information about the noxious weed shiny geranium. Shiny geranium is also known by its scientific name, Geranium lucidum. It is in the geranium family. Other common names for this plant are shiny-leaf geranium, shining geranium, and shining crane’s bill.

This study reviewed the drainage basin within the Skyway - West Hill community. We evaluated the retention/detention facility needs to correct existing stormwater problems and prevent future ones. The study was called out in the 2016 Skyway-West Hill Action Plan (SWAP) (9.9 MB) and is now done.

King County's Small Habitat Restoration Program (SHRP) builds low-cost projects in rural and urban King County that enhance and restore streams and wetlands.

Community-driven effort to resolve conflicting priorities for salmon restoration, developing the farm economy and reducing risk of flood damage in the Snoqualmie Valley.

Evaluating needs for infrastructure, policy, and regulatory improvements for commercial farmers in the Snoqualmie Valley Agricultural Production District to solve problems well and produce good results for years to come.

This page  provides services and information in the land area in King County that drains to the Snoqualmie and Skykomish Rivers into the Snohomish and out to Puget Sound at Everett.

Information about the noxious weed spiked watermilfoil. Spiked watermilfoil is also known by its scientific name, Myriophyllum spicatum. It is also known as Eurasian watermilfoil and it is in the watermilfoil family.

We work with businesses to keep pollution out of the environment with Best Management Practices (BMPs). Pollution includes dirt, animal waste, trash, oil, soapy water, and chemicals.​ When it rains, water picks up what it touches, including pollution. Polluted stormwater is the leading threat to Washington’s environment, especially its waters, because pollutants are not removed from stormwater.

The Stormwater Pollution Prevention Manual (SPPM) provides best management practices (BMPs) for managing stormwater on commercial, multi-family, and residential properties. 

These 21 videos highlight why stormwater matters and how you can prevent pollution from entering our lakes, rivers, and creeks. You can view the different videos by clicking the drop down arrow in the upper left corner of the video screenshot below.

Definitions and vocabulary for common stream and water quality terms.

As human activities continue to impact the environment, it becomes increasingly important to monitor the health of our streams and rivers. Monitoring stream water quality helps ensure their continued health, as well as the health of the people and wildlife who use freshwater resources.

Map of King County stream monitoring sites providing access to water quality and land use data. Explore trends over time, compare findings to water quality standards and download data for further analysis.

King County monitors the community of animals that live in and on the sediments at the bottom of Puget Sound. These animals, called benthos, are crucial to the health of Puget Sound.

King County samples offshore sediments to determine what chemicals are captured in the sediments at the bottom of Puget Sound and to see how they change over time.

Schools have impervious surfaces, like rooftops, concrete and asphalt. These surfaces contribute to surface water problems. Schools can maintain their stormwater facilities and work with us to meet our community education goals.

Tarifa de la Gestión de Aguas Superficiales del Condado de King

Thank you! A PBRS staff member will respond within 5 business days of receipt of this form.

Lake Sammamish in King County is a significant and scenic lake that attracts over a million visitors annually for activities such as fishing, swimming, boating, and water skiing.

A thermosalinograph (TSG) measures temperature and salinity in the surface waters as our research vessel moves through Puget Sound. By providing continuous data as the vessel travels between sampling stations, a TSG adds greater spatial coverage to the King County marine dataset.

Learn about cyanobacteria and harmful algae blooms in King County lakes.

King County scientists track toxic chemicals, assess risks to humans and wildlife, and guide efforts to support healthier communities and ecosystems.

We measure potentially harmful organic (carbon-based) compounds in liquids, solids, and fish tissues. Many of the compounds we test for are human-made and can be toxic.

The transformation of King County's landscape resulting from development, agriculture, and forestry has affected all native wildlife species in King County in some way. Vertebrate and invertebrate wildlife species have experienced habitat alteration, interrupted migration patterns, displacement, reduced reproductive success, and exposure to invasive species.

The Vashon-Maury Island Groundwater Protection Committee (VMI GWPC) has been serving the Vashon-Maury Island community since 2001. The Committee is responsible for the Groundwater Management Plan and Watershed Plan. They continue to work on strategies for protecting Vashon-Maury Island's groundwater.

Find outdoor volunteer events near you.  Get conservation ideas.  Transition to clean energy. Restore nature where you live and help regenerate diverse and healthy ecology.

Working to protect the health and integrity of King County’s natural resources so they can be enjoyed today and for generations to come.

Detailed water quality scores for monitoring locations throughout King County.

Look up water quality data from across King County including biological, chemical, and hydrologic data. King County uses the data to ensure the continued health of our waters and to help track effectiveness of corrective actions.

Introduction to watersheds, the water cycle, flooding and pollution including how everyone lives downstream.​

The Noxious Weed Control Program works throughout King County to minimize the economic, environmental, and social impacts of noxious weeds.

King County monitors water quality in Whidbey Basin to get a more complete picture of current conditions and how the marine environment is changing over time in Puget Sound. We are particularly interested in understanding short- and long-term nutrient impacts in shallow bays.

King County is retrofitting the White Center Ponds between SW 100th and SW Roxbury Street to improve water quality, increase public safety, and improve the usability of the site.

This page  provides services and information in the land area in King County that drains to the White River into the Puyallup and out to Puget Sound at Commencement Bay.

Learn about the goals, people, and work of the King County Noxious Weeds program.

Learn about the living things that call King County home, and what we do to protect, restore and help them regenerate.

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