Environment

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)
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)
Logo for news use featuring Snohomish County, Washington. 220118

Snohomish County will host climate resiliency open house on July 30

Community members are encouraged to provide input for the county’s developing Communitywide Climate Resiliency Plan.

Logo for news use featuring Snohomish County, Washington. 220118

National Weather Service issues red flag warning for slopes of Cascades

High temperatures, low humidity and winds are combining for critical fire weather conditions, either “imminent or occurring now.”

State’s draft of climate action plan open for public comment

Residents can submit public comments or climate-related stories online through Aug. 22.

Two visitors comb the beach at Kayak Point Regional County Park on Friday, June 14, 2024, in Tulalip, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Nate Nehring and WSU Beach Watchers to host beach cleanup at Kayak Point

Children and families are especially encouraged to attend the event at Kayak Point Regional County Park.

Two visitors comb the beach at Kayak Point Regional County Park on Friday, June 14, 2024, in Tulalip, Washington. (Ryan Berry / 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)

Snohomish County Council denies latest Eastview Village appeal

Council members affirmed previous approvals of the development planned off Cathcart Way near 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)
U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene, right, goes over a Chinook Marsh Project map with Snohomish County Surface Water Management’s Michael Rustay, left, and Erik Stockdale, center, at the project site on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

County receives $10 million grant for floodplain management

The state Department of Ecology funding will go toward 13 projects across the county working to restore habitat and support climate resiliency.

U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene, right, goes over a Chinook Marsh Project map with Snohomish County Surface Water Management’s Michael Rustay, left, and Erik Stockdale, center, at the project site on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A firefighter with Sky Valley Fire sprays water on a hotspot Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022, along U.S. 2 as the Bolt Creek fire continues to burn between Index and Skykomish. (Peter Mongillo / Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue)

Snohomish County releases draft of wildfire protection plan

Community members can submit feedback and questions online through July.

A firefighter with Sky Valley Fire sprays water on a hotspot Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022, along U.S. 2 as the Bolt Creek fire continues to burn between Index and Skykomish. (Peter Mongillo / Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue)
Snow dusts the treeline near Heather Lake Trailhead in the area of a disputed logging project on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, outside Verlot, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Utah Senator pulls public lands provision from tax bill

The original proposal would have put federal land in Snohomish County up for sale.

Snow dusts the treeline near Heather Lake Trailhead in the area of a disputed logging project on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, outside Verlot, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Commerce Director Joe Nguyễn plugs his car in to one of the available Skycharger stations during the grand opening of the state’s first electrical vehicle fast-charging station on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

State and partners celebrate new EV fast-charging station in Arlington

The station is the first of 136 planned sites funded by Climate Commitment Act dollars.

Commerce Director Joe Nguyễn plugs his car in to one of the available Skycharger stations during the grand opening of the state’s first electrical vehicle fast-charging station on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
An elevated walking path that runs along Heather Lake is covered with snow on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018 in Granite Falls, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Utah Senator revises public land sale proposal

The revision comes after a Monday ruling that the original proposal violated a Senate rule.

An elevated walking path that runs along Heather Lake is covered with snow on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018 in Granite Falls, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A recently finished log jam is visible along the Pilchuck River as a helicopter hovers in the distance to pick up a tree for another log jam up river on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 in Granite Falls, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Tulalip Tribes and DNR team up on salmon restoration project along the Pilchuck River

Tulalip Tribes and the state Department of Natural Resources are creating 30 log jams on the Upper Pilchuck River for salmon habitat.

A recently finished log jam is visible along the Pilchuck River as a helicopter hovers in the distance to pick up a tree for another log jam up river on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 in Granite Falls, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)