Eliza Aronson

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)

Department of Ecology extends drought funding

The extension opens $4.5 million in supportive grants through Dec. 5.

 

The newly rebuilt section of Index-Galena Road is pictured on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, near Index, Washington. (Jordan Hansen / The Herald)

Snohomish County honored nationally for Index-Galena road repair

The county Public Works department coordinated with multiple entities to repair a stretch of road near Index washed out by floods in 2006.

 

Excavator dug channels cover the surface of the Zis A Ba site on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

ICYMI: Stillaguamish Tribe merges both worlds to save salmon near Stanwood

The Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians partners with natural resource groups to resurrect the Stillaguamish River delta.

 

Public comment opens for cleanup plan at Paine Field site

The state Department of Ecology asks for public feedback on a plan to clean toxic chemicals from a training site at Paine Field.

The sun begins to set as people walk along the Edmonds Fishing Pier on Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Snohomish County heat wave will be short-lived, forecasters say

Snohomish County remains under a heat advisory until Tuesday night, with cooler, wet weather returning before the weekend.

The sun begins to set as people walk along the Edmonds Fishing Pier on Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Crane Aerospace & Electronics volunteer Dylan Goss helps move branches into place between poles while assembling an analog beaver dam in North Creek on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Adopt A Stream volunteers build analog beaver dams in North Creek

The human-engineered structures will mimic natural dams in an effort to restore creek health in an increasingly urbanized area.

Crane Aerospace & Electronics volunteer Dylan Goss helps move branches into place between poles while assembling an analog beaver dam in North Creek on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Kongsberg Director of Government Relations Jake Tobin talks to Rep. Rick Larsen about the HUGIN Edge on Thursday, July 31, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Norwegian underwater vehicle company expands to Lynnwood

Kongsberg Discovery will start manufacturing autonomous underwater vehicles in 2026 out of its U.S. headquarters in Lynnwood.

Kongsberg Director of Government Relations Jake Tobin talks to Rep. Rick Larsen about the HUGIN Edge on Thursday, July 31, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A person walks in the rain at the Port of Everett in Everett, Washington on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Wednesday predicted to bring summer showers

National Weather Service is forecasting rain and possible thunderstorms on Wednesday, with rain lingering through Thursday.

A person walks in the rain at the Port of Everett in Everett, Washington on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The “Risk of Repeal” map created by staff at the Clean & Prosperous Institute shows projects paid for with Climate Commitment Act money. Over 90 Snohomish County projects received funding from the policy. (Clean & Prosperous Institute)

Clean & Prosperous updates map to search Climate Commitment Act projects

The map shows an estimate 2,700 projects supported by $4.74 in state funding.

The “Risk of Repeal” map created by staff at the Clean & Prosperous Institute shows projects paid for with Climate Commitment Act money. Over 90 Snohomish County projects received funding from the policy. (Clean & Prosperous Institute)
Glass recycling at Airport Road Recycling & Transfer Station on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

WSU will host a sustainable community steward course this fall

The course will cover environmental sustainability and climate change solutions with a focus on waste reduction and recycling.

Glass recycling at Airport Road Recycling & Transfer Station on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Josh Thiel, left, places a nail into a dust pan while Rey Wall continues digging in a sectioned off piece of land at Japanese Gulch on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Archaeology students excavate local history in Mukilteo’s Japanese Gulch

Through July, the Edmonds College field camp uncovered artifacts from the early 1900s when Japanese immigrants were instrumental for the local Crown Lumber Company.

Josh Thiel, left, places a nail into a dust pan while Rey Wall continues digging in a sectioned off piece of land at Japanese Gulch on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Cars drive along Cathcart Way next to the site of the proposed Eastview Village development that borders Little Cedars Elementary on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 in unincorporated Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Community members file land use appeal of Eastview Village

The appeal is the latest move in a long controversy over the development slated just west of Highway 9.

Cars drive along Cathcart Way next to the site of the proposed Eastview Village development that borders Little Cedars Elementary on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 in unincorporated Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Outside of the Madrona School on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Olympic View Water and Sewer District sues Edmonds School District

The Olympic View Water and Sewer District filed a citizen suit against the Edmonds School District on Monday, alleging the district has failed… Continue reading

Outside of the Madrona School on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Doug McCormick (left to right), Dave Somers, Oscar Fuentes, Josh Brown, Clarissa Barrett and Kellie Snyder pose with Vision 2050 awards on Monday, July 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

County wins award for Little Bear Creek wetland restoration

The 17-acre site will compensate for future wetlands impacted by transportation projects.

Doug McCormick (left to right), Dave Somers, Oscar Fuentes, Josh Brown, Clarissa Barrett and Kellie Snyder pose with Vision 2050 awards on Monday, July 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Travis Bouwman with Snohomish County PUD trims branches away from power lines along Norman Road on Thursday, July 24, 2025 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Snohomish County PUD activates fire safety protocols

As wildfire risks increase in Western Washington, the PUD continues to implement mitigation and preparation efforts.

Travis Bouwman with Snohomish County PUD trims branches away from power lines along Norman Road on Thursday, July 24, 2025 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Bothell

Brush fire contained Thursday outside of Bothell

The 3-acre fire shrunk to 1.5 acres Thursday morning, with firefighters still at the scene.

Bothell
The orca Tahlequah and her new calf, designated J57. (Katie Jones / Center for Whale Research) 20200905

Whidbey Island local Florian Graner showcases new orca film

The award-winning wildlife filmmaker will host a Q&A session at Clyde Theater on Saturday.

The orca Tahlequah and her new calf, designated J57. (Katie Jones / Center for Whale Research) 20200905
A stormwater diversion structure which has been given a notice for repairs along a section of the Perrinville Creek north of Stamm Overlook Park that flows into Browns Bay in Edmonds, Washington on Thursday, July 18, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Edmonds Environmental Council files fish passage complaint

The nonprofit claims the city is breaking state law with the placement of diverters in Perrinville Creek, urges the state Department of Fish and Wildlife to enforce previous orders.

A stormwater diversion structure which has been given a notice for repairs along a section of the Perrinville Creek north of Stamm Overlook Park that flows into Browns Bay in Edmonds, Washington on Thursday, July 18, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
A car drives past a culvert blocked by grass along 123rd Avenue NE on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Little Pilchuck salmon project gets boost from $4.6M state grant

Washington’s Recreation and Conservation Office announced Tuesday that Snohomish County received $4.6 million from the Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board for… Continue reading

A car drives past a culvert blocked by grass along 123rd Avenue NE on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Kathy Johnson walks over a tree that has been unsuccessfully chainsawed along a CERCLA road n the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest on Thursday, July 10, 2025 in Granite Falls, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

How Roadless Rule repeal could affect forests like Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie

The Trump administration plans to roll back a 2001 rule protecting over 58 million acres of national forest, including areas in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie area.

Kathy Johnson walks over a tree that has been unsuccessfully chainsawed along a CERCLA road n the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest on Thursday, July 10, 2025 in Granite Falls, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)